albeit at a snail's pace
3 May 2007
Results of countrywide blitz inspections conducted by the Department of
Labour have shown that the greater Johannesburg region leads the pack in
non-compliance with occupational health and safety. The campaign was a
forerunner to the all important international occupational health and safety
day due to be addressed by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana in Rustenburg
tomorrow (Friday). Among provinces visited were KwaZulu- Natal, Free State,
Western Cape and Gauteng North.
Out of the 412 companies visited in greater Johannesburg, 293 were found to
be non-compliant with health and safety standards, Zolisa Sigabi, departmental
spokesperson said. Of the 103 companies inspected in the Free State, 38 failed
to meet the expected standards. "The campaign is part of the department's
effort to make this year a period of inspection and enforcement. Those that
were served with non-compliance orders will be expected to address the mistakes
that were identified failing which our inspectors will have no option but to
recommend prosecution," Sigabi said.
In KwaZulu-Natal, inspectors served 33 non-compliance notices out of 76
sites visited. A total of 28 notices were served out of 51 companies checked in
the greater Pretoria region. Western Cape got away with the least number of
contravention notices with only five companies out of 198 surveyed.
Common areas of concern to inspectors were the lack of health and safety
plans, unavailability of risk assessment on sites, failure by management to
train workers in health and safety issues and workers not being provided with
protective clothing. Sigabi said blitz inspections will become a permanent
feature of the department's drive to protect vulnerable workers.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
3 May 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour
gov.za)
