Department of Employment and Labour places occupational health and safety under examination in the iron and steel sector
In a drive to keep a step ahead in the implementation of workplace safety post Covid-19 - the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch is to host an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) conference next week.
The three-day conference under the theme: “Prevention of injuries and diseases in the Iron and Steel sector” – will be held at Emerald Resort & Casino in Sedibeng.
Alongside the conference, there will also be an exhibition from Departmental entities such as the Compensation Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Supported Employment Enterprises (SEE) – which provides sheltered employment for people with disabilities and is responsible for manufacture of protective personal equipment, office furniture, school furniture, hospital clothes, office safes and gates. There will also be external exhibitors such as RMA, various associations, companies (suppliers and manufacturers) in the OHS space.
Sedibeng is located at the South of the Gauteng Province and is one of the districts of the province which includes Vereeniging. The area is the fourth largest contributor to the province’s economy with predominance sectors of metal and chemicals.
During the conference IES is expected to share the findings of blitz inspections conducted in the Iron and Steel sectors in the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo and the North West.
Some of the issues under discussion will include: the status of OHS in South Africa, latest on OHS amendments, compensation for occupational diseases and injuries, biological hazards, risk assessment, occupational exposures, and control of hazards among others.
Invited to the conference are external stakeholders such as organised business, organised labour and key stakeholders in the iron and steel sectors. The conference will also be attended by departmental officials including inspectors from the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo and North West. A total of 500 delegates are expected to attend.
Either Employment and Labour Minister T.W Nxesi or Deputy Minister Boitumelo Moloi is expected to deliver the keynote address. The conference is also expected to be addressed by the Department’s Director-General Thobile Lamati, the Department’s Inspector-General Aggy Moiloa and the Department’s Chief Inspector Milly Ruiters who will share the platform with OHS experts.
The Sedibeng conference is the second such event to be held in the current financial year following one held in Cape Town in February. Another OHS conference is planned to be held in KwaZulu-Natal in November 2023.
The media is invited to attend and the conference will be held as follows:
Venue: Emerald Resort & Casino in Sedibeng, 777 Frikkie Meyer Boulevard – Vanderbijlpark
Date: 16-18 August 2023
Time: 08:30–16:00
For more information, contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
E-mail: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za
