8 September 2006
The Department of Labour in the Eastern Cape has ordered an immediate halt
to operations of a blasting company in East London following the fatal injury
of an elderly patient who was hit by a stone resulting from a rock blast
nearby. The fatality occurred on Wednesday when a stone broke through the roof
of the Nkqubela Tuberculosis Hospital ward in Mdantsane and hit the patient on
the head, who later died at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.
A preliminary report by the department's Occupational Health and Safety
inspectors shows that the workers of Blast East Cape, a company contracted to
The Billion Group, were blasting a rock at a shopping mall construction site
not very far from the hospital in the afternoon when the stone flew from the
debris and landed on the hospital's roof.
Early the following day on Thursday the inspectors, on receiving the report,
immediately visited the area where they issued a notice prohibiting any further
blasting to ensure safety of both the workers and members of the public while
investigations continued. The company has been ordered to supply the department
with a plan demonstrating how it plans to carry out the blasting without
endangering lives, and to produce written permission issued by or under the
authority of the chief inspector explosives, to use explosives in that
site.
In terms of the explosives regulations promulgated under the Occupational
Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993, as amended), the employer is supposed to
inform the Provincial Director of the department, not less than 24 hours before
commencing with the use of explosives.
Further investigations into the incident are underway, and a report of these
investigations will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions in
Grahamstown, who will decide on whether to commence with prosecution or conduct
an inquiry.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Issued by: Department of Labour
8 September 2006
