Labour on health and safety campaign for iron and steel industry

23 March 2009

The Department of Labour has kicked off its health and safety campaign into
the iron and steel industry by urging industry players to ceaselessly work
towards achieving accidents-free time zones.

Speaking at Columbus Steel, a major player in the sector in Middelburg,
Mpumalanga, today (Monday), Thobile Lamati, the newly appointed chief
inspector, said “health and safety in the workplace should be everybody’s
concern.”

“We have targeted the iron and steel industry considering that it is one of
those that are accident prone. We ask large employers to assist us in helping
smaller companies to comply with the legislation.

“Our intention is not to punish anybody. We want to work together to
eliminate incidents that have bedevilled this industry,” Lamati said.

He commended the company for ensuring that top management was involved 24
hours with occupational health and safety. “This is a far cry from the
situation in other companies where health and safety is often relegated to
lower ranks,” he said.

Dave Martin chief executive of the company said, “While we can never say we
are 110 percent correct in complying with health and safety regulations, we are
prepared to work with the department to improve it all the time. Together we
can help to enhance the industry performance.”

Lamati said, “His inspectors were currently embarking on similar health and
safety blitz inspections in all nine provinces. The drive will end on Friday
after which a review of the inspections would be done.”

Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195

Issued by: Department of Labour
23 March 2009