New era for OH

OH Director's UK move opens new doors for ECOSERV

ECOSERV's Occupational Health (OH) Director Julie Hills heads for the green hills of England in November, taking some deserved rest and then considering the launch a foreign office. She leaves behind senior occupational hygienists Gaby Mizan and Nirvana Sewsunker and a dedicated team of consultants to take over the daily operations of the local OH division.

Julie, who has made an immense contribution to ECOSERV over the past five years, will be relocating to the UK at the end of 2005 when her husband takes up a transfer.

Julie is supremely confident she is leaving the OH division in capable hands. “I can truly recommend Nirvana, Gaby and the ECOSERV OH team to continue to service clients' OH programme needs at the high standard expected,” Julie said. Gaby's areas of expertise are mines, quarries and noise services and Nirvana's are OH services, asbestos and training.

While Julie will relinquish her directorship, she will continue working with ECOSERV's team and will perform advisory back-up services including planning, report generation and compilation, quality control and industry expertise. Julie will offer any advice or guidance the new managers require.

With Julie's impending departure, OH staff are working hard to ensure the take-over will be a smooth transition and are using the remaining time to glean necessary skills from her. Her colleagues are not the only ones to have done so …

“Julie is top of my list of people who have willingly taken me under their wing and selflessly imparted their knowledge on me,” said Compass Waste's Zeenat Sheik. “Apart from the immense knowledge and skills I have learnt by working with Julie, she also went out of her way to be a friend. She has been a real mentor to me in every way possible. Her reputation as a leading expert in the occupational hygiene field is always buzzing around the environmental health students.”

There is no doubt that Julie's friendly face will be sorely missed by colleagues and clients alike but ECOSERV is pleased that she will not be lost on a professional basis.

“Julie has been a huge asset to ECOSERV,” says Managing Director Quentin Hurt .

“We were very pleased when she agreed to merge Poltech KZN with ECOSERV. She is professional, dedicated and committed to raising the standards of the profession. She has developed a sound team that will be testimony to her contribution to the company and the industry at large. While she will remain connected to our network, we will miss her presence dearly.”

Clips from clients on hearing the news of Julie's departure .…

“KZN will be profoundly less fabulous without your personality and energy in it. It has been an absolute honour working with you and I wish you the most fantastic future in the UK .”  Sean Chester – Apex.

“It has been a wonderful experience to have met and dealt with a person of your nature. I wish you and you husband all the best with your relocation and may God bless you all the way. Ties cannot be broken.” Cassius Malbane – South Deep.

“I am quite happy with the team that you are leaving behind and am sure they will not let you down. They definitely have the necessary expertise.” Faizal Noorgat – ­Karbochem.

“You have been such an incredible support and leader in many ways to our small group of people dedicated to occupational hygiene in KZN. Being able to rely on your friendship, advice and most of all cheerful enthusiasm for occupational hygiene made it that much nicer to be part of the KZN occupational hygiene group.” Garth Hunter – Engen.

“Thanks for the invaluable support you have shown us. I wish you all of the best. I believe that Gaby and Nirvana will deliver the outstanding service that we have received in the past.” Russell Moyce, Area Safety Officer  – Engen Refinery.

“You have certainly tried very hard to improve the OH perception and awareness in SA and I think you have made a positive impact on a lot of us.” Dave Gassner – First National Battery .

“Thank you for all you support. It's been an absolute pleasure working with you.” Keith Harker – Frame Textiles.

“This is both congratulatory as well as regretful as your contribution towards assisting me in my capacity of Safety Officer has been much appreciated. Our loss is certainly the UK 's gain.” Wayne S Hodgson – Smiths Industries.