Protocol:

• Director General

·       Inspector-General

·       Chief Inspector

·       Senior officials and inspectors

·       Representatives of Labour

·       Representatives of Business

·       Experts, academics and practitioners in OHS

• Ladies and gentlemen

Programme Director, the South African Constitution indicates that:

“Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing," and that the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to progressively achieve that right."

Furthermore; the objectives of local government include: “to promote a safe and healthy environment."

The Constitution sets a clear obligation to ensure a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

The purpose of this call – for safe and healthy environment

- is further clarified in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

At this juncture, I need to point out that we are at an advanced stage of finalising the incorporation of public

comments into the OHS Amendment Bill - an integral part of the process of reforming the Act. Once the process is completed, we will have an OHS Act that is enabled to mete out minimum requirements for a viable Health and Safety system, as well as to impose of heavier penalties on recalcitrant and non-compliant workplaces.

It has been well-stated that: “Safety is a small investment for a rich future." The ILO (International Labour Organisation) estimates that 2.3 million people die annually due to work related accidents or diseases. Occupational diseases and accidents usually result in significant costs to the employers, employees and economies. It is estimated that the annual direct and indirect costs resulting from occupational diseases and accidents, is approximately 4% of the global gross domestic product. As poor occupational health and safety practices affect the economy, our country needs to ensure

that decent work principles, as prescribed by the International Labour Organization, are adhered to.

South Africa is a signatory to a number of ILO Conventions; including Convention 155, which centres around Occupational Health and Safety. During the International Labour Conference of 2022; Occupational Health and Safety was adopted as a Fundamental Right. The attainment of workplaces that are free of occupational health and safety hazards; is one of the critical elements of Decent Work. If the Decent work agenda is not achieved, we would be most unlikely to attain the NDP Agenda 2030: entitled “Decent Employment through Inclusive Economic Growth."

Programme Director, it is just as critical to move towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 8.

There needs to be a systematic approach and a commitment to continual improvement.

The essence and purpose of our engagement – at this Conference - is to share information, knowledge and expertise, in order to further equip the inspectorate and to make them more able, more agile and adaptable to the environment in which they work. As the old adage goes “Knowledge is Power".

Ensuring growth and a sustainable work environment is probably one of the most challenging tasks for any country. Arguably, the most difficult aspect of health and safety is putting in place the necessary health and safety systems. Adopting a systematic approach to health and safety is key. People are fallible, but even systems too, can be deficient – which, in turn, can lead to loss of life or injury. We are all on this supreme quest to ensure that health and safety programmes and systems work. We spend millions on health and safety systems, and still we commemorate the lives of millions of people, worldwide, who succumb to systems that

have faults.

Should we throw our hands in the air in despair? ……. Of course not, programme director. On the contrary; we should take the proverbial bull by the horns and soldier on. We dare not lose hope. The key is to continually test, review and adjust systems based on our risk analysis and experience.

On a positive note, millions of lives are saved every year through the unerring and unwavering commitment of those who toil day and night to ensure that we make it through one more day. These are the men and women who should be celebrated – through their daily commitment to investigate, enforce and make safe the places in which we work.

We should not underestimate the value of stakeholder dialogue. All hands need to be on deck if we want to move towards vision zero accidents. One cannot overemphasise the need to ensure that all workers deserve a safe and healthy working environment and have a right to return home from work, safe and healthy.

I am reminded of a very famous incident that talks to the antithesis of 'sustainability' through the quote of Captain EJ Smith - (Captain of the Titanic – quoted in the press just before setting sail). I quote:

“When any one asks me how I can best describe my experiences of nearly forty years at sea I merely say uneventful. Of course, there have been winter gales and storms and fog and the like, but in all my experience I have never been in an accident of any sort worth speaking about. I have seen but one vessel in distress in all my years at sea, a brig, the crew of which was taken off in a small boat in charge of my third officer. I never saw a wreck and have never been wrecked, nor was I ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort.

“I will say that I cannot imagine any condition which could cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any

vital disaster happening to this vessel. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that." Close quote.

It is common knowledge what befell the historic Titanic. If you think compliance is costly, try non-compliance.

Programme director, the South African government remains invested in the wellbeing and health and safety of the South African workforce, and all those present in places of work.

In a gathering like this, it is imperative that we put the spotlight on our ability to provide policy direction and guidance with regards to the regulation of Occupational health and safety. I am therefore honoured to address this august sitting under the theme: “PREVENTION OF INJURIES AND DISEASES". Our approach has always been conducting focused advocacy and inspections programmes in a risk-based way.

In relation to the iron and steel sector – this has always been among the leading sectors with regards to contracting of occupational injuries and diseases.

The iron and steel sector has been identified as one of the high risk sectors. This is as a result of the high number of incidents recorded by the Compensation Fund. Iron and steel contributed about 22% of injuries in the previous financial year. Although incidents have been reduced over the past few years, the trend in the Iron and Steel sector has more or less remained constant. Our quest is to have a reduction of incidents in the sector.

The Department has conducted blitz inspection prior to this conference, as one of the interventions to create awareness and to improve compliance. The outcome thereof will be tabled a.t this Conference.

There are also allegations that some in the iron and steel sector employs undocumented foreign workers. It has been

brought to our attention that such companies tend to be exploitative towards foreign nationals and violate their worker rights, including in relation to health and safety.

As a matter of fact, my department has just concluded the investigation of a workplace, near this very venue, wherein most of those complaints were found to be true. Needless to say that the workplace was decisively dealt with. We continue to work with the Department of Home Affairs, as well as the Department of Police, to address the issue of companies employing foreign undocumented workers. Arrests have been made in the Meyerton area.

Our inspectors also participate and support joint operations such as “O kae molao" and “Vulindlela". It is through campaigns of this nature that we ensure that compliance is improved.

In keeping with the developments within our legal framework, we have promulgated a number of regulations such as:

Ergonomic Regulations, Commercial Diving Regulations, Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations, Asbestos Abatement Regulations and Major Hazardous Installations Regulations. The continual reviewing of such regulations has assisted us to keep in touch with the ever evolving labour market and work processes.

We have recently appointed the new Chief Inspector, Ms Milly Ruiters. She is currently preoccupied with the finalisation of the amendments of the OHS Act, among other priorities. Please give her the necessary support.

Undoubtedly, this Conference will add value to our development. I trust that we will learn enough to save even just one more life in the world of work. Any death or injury in any workplace, is one too many.

I wish you well for the rest of the conference.​

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