25 October 2006
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana will deliver the keynote address at the
national conference on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) next week on
Tuesday, 31 October 2006. The event is part of an ongoing drive by the
department to make workplaces safer amidst several cases of high-profile
workplace accidents.
These include accidents on the mines, construction industry, workers
contracting diseases related to working in unsafe places like quarries and the
use of pesticides in the agricultural sector. The conference, to be held at the
Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg, will also feature other speakers from
business, trade unions and the departmentâs Compensation Fund.
Well-known occupational industry campaigner Richard Spoor will speak about
the challenges and the obstacles to overcome in order to achieve a safe and
healthy working environment. It will take place under the theme working
together towards improving Occupational Health and Safety in high-risk sectors
of the economy.
Organisers will also use the conference to release statistics about
workplace fatalities, status of compensation of injured employees and problems
encountered by claimants. The conference will also review the accord signed by
industry stakeholders and the department in 2001 about making workplace safer.
This will be done through commissions and recommendations.
Enquiries: Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Issued by: Department of Labour
25 October 2006
