A strong and willing leadership was key to ensuring a safe and competitive working environment, said Department of Labour (DoL) Director General Nkosinathi Nhleko today (March 9).
Delivering a speech on behalf of Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, the Director General said a neglect of occupational health and safety issues has a negative bearing on competitiveness. Nhleko said South Africa need responsible corporate citizens, and therefore “it is our duty that we ensure that we empower companies with the necessary incentives to comply with the laws”.
“Our labour market policies seek to provide an enabling environment where investment could be realised. Our role as Department of Labour is to work towards improved productivity by regulating working conditions and ensuring work places reduce loss time due to strikes, injuries and occupational diseases sustained at work place,” he said.
Nhleko was addressing the DoL’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) national conference under the theme: “Road To Zero”. The four-day event held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg next to O.R Tambo International Airport ended today.
He said it was unfortunate that occupational injuries, fatalities and illness do no only affect those who are employed, they also cause misfortune to broader society and economy. He said, ‘therefore to prevent this misfortune we will intensify our inspection and raise awareness’.
“As a department, we are keen to take the high road to zero tolerance. We need to improve work environment and ensure there is strong leadership. Our aim is the total eradication of injuries and fatalities and improvement of working conditions. For far too long we have accepted that many employees will die and get occupational injuries at work as if this was a war where collateral damage had to be expected,” Nhleko said.
The question is who should shoulder the blame? The quick assumption is that the Department of Labour inspectorate is ineffective and lacks the gumption to force employers to implement laws, he said.
“We are aware as a department of our shortcomings. As a department we do not run businesses, the most fundamental responsibility of business is to deal with issues of occupational health and safety.
“Even if the DoL were to increase its inspectorate unit tenfold, I am convinced that accidents will still occur at workplaces. Many employers are of the view that occupational health and safety must be complied with because legislation says so,” Nhleko said companies do not seem to understand the imperatives of complying.
According to Nhleko OHS Act requires strong leadership and this was not the responsibility of a safety officer or safety manager only, but rather by the entire organisational and institutional leadership.
“If leadership cannot infuse occupational health and safety into its business strategy it cannot expect to influence others in the lower rung of the organisation. It is common knowledge that whatever happens in the workplace permeates to society. It is therefore not far-fetched for society to expect companies to be socially responsible,” he said.
Said Nhleko: “To stem this tide we call upon companies and business to be socially responsible. It is not necessary to compromise values for short term gains. The responsibility to ensuring a safe working environment lies with both employers and employees”.
“We are fully aware of the role of the department as a regulator and that it has to provide leadership. Health and safety will be on top of our priority. We are on our way to build capacity and competency. This includes providing information, advice and guidance and conducting inspections,” he said.
Some of high risks sectors to be targeted by the department’s inspection and enforcement unit include construction, chemical, iron and steel sectors.
Nhleko said the challenge was to work collaboratively. He said provision of adequate protection was non-negotiable even if this includes repealing legislation.
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Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in South Africa should form part of organisational strategy to ensure sustained productivity - Department of Labour
