Department of Labour office evacuated due to non-compliance to health and safety laws
The Provincial Office of the Department of Labour in the Free State province had to be evacuated owing to the Prohibition Notice issued on the building the Department occupies. Post the inspection conducted by one of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Inspectors of the Department of Labour, a Prohibition Notice was issued on the building.
The building did not comply with the prescripts as outlined in the Electrical Installation Regulations and this non-compliance posed fire and electrocution hazard. This led to some of the light fittings to explode intermittently. Other urgent non-compliances that required urgent attention were the faulty lifts as well as the leaking roof. The Landlord was engaged through the Department of Public Works on a number of occasions to fix all the non-compliances though a complete overhaul of the electrical wiring as well as the fixing of the lifts and the leaking roof as the the building was old.
“As a caring organization, we do believe that the greatest assets an organization can ever have are its employees. The wellbeing of our employees is of paramount importance and therefore our number one priority. The Department of Labour as the custodian of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is not immune from inspections of this nature. We also feel this building will have adverse implications insofar as health and safety of our staff is concerned. That is why all officials were evacuated,” said Nomfundo Douw-Jack, Head of the Department of Labour in the Free State.
Alternative arrangements are currently being made to ensure service delivery is not adversely affected by this. As a result, some of the officials will be accommodated at the nearby Labour Centre as well as at two other sites that were provided by the Department of Public Works whilst a permanent solution is being sought.
“We therefore plead with our clients to exercise patience and be considerate of the situation within which we find ourselves. We are trying our level best to find an amicable and speedy resolution to this setback,” concluded Ms. Douw-Jack.
Enquiries:
Josial Ramokoena
Cell: 076 092 8157
E-mail: josial.ramokoena@labour.gov.za
