The Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund has paid more than R2,7 billion to employees and service providers in the financial year ended March 31, 2011 from R2,2 billion the previous year for injuries and safety related incidences in the workplace.
Department of Labour’s Deputy Director-General of inspection and enforcement services (IES) Siyanda Nxawe told a chemical seminar attended by 300 delegates in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, today (Thursday) that the escalating payments were having a devastating on the economy.
The Department of Labour will strive for a labour market which is conducive to economic growth, investment, employment creation and decent work,” Nxawe said.
The seminar was organised by the department to provide a platform for exchange of information and practices aimed at promoting occupational health and safety (OHS) in the industry.
The chemical sector, which was the focus of discussion had in the last financial year alone lodged 20 375 claims and more than R105,2 million was paid to the sector, making it one of the highest claims.
Payouts from the Compensation Fund showed that the chemicals, together with iron & steel, agriculture/forestry and construction were identified as high risk sectors.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the Department of Labour established to provide for compensation for disablement caused by occupational injuries or diseases sustained or contracted by employees in the course of their employment, or for death resulting from such injuries or diseases among others.
Nxawe said in the year under review these sectors were targeted for blitz inspections.
She said to prevent and control incidents and exposure of employees to hazardous chemical a number of factors should be implemented including: instituting safety committees in the workplace, conducting of regular audits, using substitutes for less hazardous substance, conduct thorough audits and make recommendations, institute safety inspection programmes, have a disaster prevention plan and provision of personal protective equipment.
Millie Ruiters, director: Occupational Health and Hygiene at the Department of Labour said the extent of: “cost implication alone provides a clear obligation to renew and redouble our efforts to improve workplace health and safety in the chemical industry.”
Department of Labour Provincial manager Kenny Fick told the gathering that human resource development and a happy labour force were at the centre of ensuring a safety working environment. Fick said although big companies were complying with safety regulations, he said this should not only be restricted to the company premises, but should go beyond.
Fick said the chemical sector was guilty of not reporting on-job injuries. He added that a lack of medical surveyance was posing a serious problem and becoming an expensive exercise during the claims stage when Compensation Fund had to be involved.
“Complying with regulations was not about preventing the Department of Labour from coming with a stick. Compliance should be about taking responsibility.
“The chemical sector has tentacles in every sector including the home, school and hospitals in the country and the world,” said Fick this made it imperative to make safety a habit, “The sector has the potential for growth and opportunity, and can create decent and sustainable jobs”
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