With few days gone by already on the five days glaring on construction sector by the labour inspectorate, many constructions have been halted.
“We have closed Hill View Trading cc situated at 100 market street altogether because during our inspection we made findings that their formwork and support work was not as per SABS codes and there was an immediate danger of the building collapsing,” Rachel Aphane, who is the OHS inspector in the department said.
She further indicated that they were forced to halt some of the activities at Sanyati Construction situated at Biccard and Voortrekker Street whereby it was found that some operators of machinery did not undergo medical examination, noise survey was not conducted and there was no provision of relevant personal protective equipment and supervision of the work operations on a daily basis was inadequate.
Aphane further indicated that at construction for A1 building at Devenish and Jourbert Street in Polokwane the inspectorate had to evacuate the workers from site because it was found that their overalls and boots were totally worn out, and their health and safety file was found to be a dummy. “It must be realised that on these two projects, only some activities have been halted, not the whole operation, she cautioned.”
“The construction is a versatile sector and many employees are exposed to unsafe working conditions,” Aphane said. “Nevertheless employers are forced to comply with the provision of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, as ignorance of the law is not an excuse, she added.
Enquiries:
Johannes Mokou
Cell: 083 494 2180
Tel: 015 290 1603
E-mail: johannes.mokou@labour.gov.za
Source: Department of Labour
