4 May 2007
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana is to deliver the keynote address at
the International Occupational Health and Safety Day Rally in Rustenburg on
Friday. The event to be held at the Olympia Stadium will be attended by
stakeholders from business and the labour movement. Minister Mdladlana is
expected to focus on taking forward the occupational health and safety accord
endorsed by Nedlac social partners in 2002 which aims to make occupational
health and safety "a way of life".
The accord in part looks at integrating occupational health and safety into
all business processes and strategies, promoting health and safety awareness,
training workers and managers in safe working practices and ensuring compliance
with the relevant legislation. Zolisa Sigabi, the Department of Labour's
spokesperson, said, "It is pleasing to see social partners recommitting
themselves to the goals of health and safety that are enshrined in the
International Labour Organisation's conventions."
She said areas prone to occupational injuries and diseases include
construction, iron and steel, food and beverage as well as agriculture. Sigabi
said the last recorded figures in the last financial year showed that workplace
fatalities had dropped by 3,76 percent in all sectors. "We are confident that
in this financial year the situation will look even better," she said.
Sigabi said the department was serious about making inspection and
enforcement a reality so as to protect workers. It was with this in mind that
blitz inspections were conducted in several parts of the country. Details of
the event are as follows:
Date: 4 May 2007
Time: 08h00-16h00
Venue: Olympia Stadium, Rustenburg
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell:
082 906 3878
Issued by: Department of Labour
4 May 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
