The South African Bureau of Standards

The South African Bureau of Standards in Risk Management is an equivalent Risk Management Standard in Africa to the Australian Standards in Risk Management.

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is a body that was established in 1945 as a direct result of an act of parliament and continues to update current standards (SABS 2010, p.1). SABS has members appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry and have many objectives. These include the issuing of National Standards and obtaining membership of Foreign and International Bodies that have similar objectives. A large difference in this format and other standards found globally is the involvement of public enquiry in its design.

For example, a new draft Standard is made available for public comment both nationally and internationally, during a period of public enquiry. A comment period of sixty days is normally required and a thirty-day comment period applies in the case of adoptions. The comments are received and then are reviewed. If no comments are received, or technical changes needed, the standard is deemed to be approved and is forwarded to the Standards Approval Committee for ratification. After ratification, the document is released for publication. With this focus on health, safety and the environment the basis for legislation is provided (SABS 2010, p.15).