First Cut’s GSI celebrates 40 years
GSI celebrates 40 years First Cut’s training subsidiary, Gas Safety International (GSI), is proud to celebrate 40 years of pioneering work in compressed gas safety, training and equipment supply. This impressive milestone highlights a legacy of saving lives and shaping safety culture in the mining and industrial sectors.
F ounded in 1985, GSI was established to provide gas safety training, tech- nology, and equipment. In Septem- ber 1986, one of the worst South African industrial incidents occurred while using oxy-acetylene equipment, which tragically claimed 178 lives. This shocking incident served as a wake-up call for the mining sector, spurring national awareness of the need for higher gas safety standards. “Looking back, it has been an amazing rollercoaster of experiences. The most re- warding part has been seeing the impact of training and education on safety incident reduction,” says Peter Rohlssen, Managing Director of GSI. “If we have prevented just one incident and saved one life, then it has all been worth it.” Over the past four decades, GSI has become synonymous with compressed gas safety, creating awareness where previously little existed. Its training course remains the only one accredited by the En- gineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). It has evolved from a single-day programme into a comprehensive five-day course, delivered in English, Afrikaans and several African languages. “Awareness is the key,” says Rohlssen. “If companies do not know the risks, then there is no awareness of a gap or short-
coming in terms of their safety procedures and culture. However, once they see the dangers, they understand the importance of addressing them. GSI has played a piv- otal role in filling that safety gap through comprehensive compressed gas safety education and equipment solutions.” GSI’s reputation has also grown inter- nationally, with Rohlssen being invited to speak at numerous global safety symposia, some of which followed major mining inci- dents abroad. These experiences reinforced his commitment to knowledge sharing and challenging unsafe compressed procedures and practices in the industry. In 2021, GSI was acquired by First Cut, bringing together nearly 110 years of com- bined expertise. For First Cut, the acquisi- tion was a natural extension of its mission to deliver complete cutting, welding and grinding solutions with safety at the core. “When we first encountered GSI, it quickly became clear that their special- ised knowledge in compressed gas safety complemented our product range, spread across our broad national distribution network,” says Ian McCrystal, CEO of First Cut. “The synergy with GSI was therefore not only logical, but also essential to ensure that we differentiated ourselves in the mar- ket based on safety. We work extensively in the mining, manufacturing and fabrication sectors, where safety is essential—particu- larly when cutting, welding and grinding. Together, First Cut and GSI can now deliver a stronger, more comprehensive offering to
Ian McCrystal, CEO of First Cut, and Peter Rohlssen, MD of GSI. our mutual customers.” Although integrating cultures takes time, both Rohlssen and McCrystal believe that the relationship is beginning to bear fruit. “We are starting to see our sales teams dovetail, with the benefits of this partnership becoming clear, particularly in the mining and manufacturing industries,” says McCrystal. Far from slowing down at 40, GSI continues to innovate, with incremental improvements to the patent-pending S.A.T. (Safety Advanced Technology) valve system, developed by GSI in collaboration with Messer Cutting Systems globally. The S.A.T. system was designed to dramatically reduce the safety risks associated with the use of compressed gas. This innovation un- derscores GSI’s commitment to continual improvement, building on decades of incre- mental enhancements in both compressed gas safety training and product design. “Turning 40 does not mean compla- cency,” says Rohlssen. “On the contrary, our recent innovations show that GSI is as dynamic as ever. The legacy we are building is one of discipline, structure, and adher- ence to international safety standards. My plea to industry is simple: be proactive in preventing safety incidents - rather than reactive after they occur.” Looking ahead, First Cut and GSI to- gether see opportunities to expand their compressed gas safety solutions into new sectors locally and internationally. Suc- cessful international projects in India and Europe already demonstrate the export potential of GSI’s compressed gas safety technology and training. “Going forward, compressed gas safety will remain a serious topic and a vital op- erational requirement,” adds Rohlssen. Our role is to keep compressed gas safety top of mind at all times, across all industries,” he concludes. https://gas-safety.co.za
Scan the QR code or click on the thumbnail image here to see a video of how GSI’s SAT system shuts off the gas in the event of an acetylene hose failure.
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November-December 2025
AFRICAN FUSION
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