During a national inspection campaign that took place in the food and beverage sector last week 17 to 21 May, inspectors in Free State handed out notices to 84 non-complying employers of the 332 workplaces visited for a wide range of hazards uncovered in the industry.
The food and beverage sector has been placed under the spotlight as part of the department's national drive to enhance the visibility of its inspectorate and ensure compliance on labour laws ahead of the world's soccer spectacle next month.
The national blitzkrieg was also aimed at improving compliance in industries with high incident rates as well as compliance on the basic conditions of employment for the sector.
The inspectors crusading throughout the province issued 40 contravention notices for health and safety violations that threatened the well being of workers while 44 improvement notices and undertakings were for not complying with basic condition of employment.
Inspectors were among other things checking for compliance with health and safety measures, availability of risk assessment plans where required, training of workers on health and safety issues and the provision of protective wear for workers.
Some of the main contraventions by employers, pointed to no health and safety reps or committees being appointed, no qualified first aider on duty, no electrical installation certificate being available, no protective wear being provided for workers, no evacuation plans for the workers in case of emergency, no toilet facilities or toilet paper available, no incident registers kept and no fire extinguishers available or if available, not properly serviced.
Other violations includes incorrect payment of over-time wages, underpayment of salaries, no employment contracts, not providing workers with payslips, attendance registers not in place, registration with Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act and Unemployment Insurance Fund for which written undertakings were served.
Employers served with notices were given 60 days to rectify the situation.
For more information please contact:
Wisane Mavasa
Tel: 051 505 6284
Cell: 082 806 1351
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
