Rocklands machinery accident kills worker
Rocklands machinery accident kills worker
Released by Department of Labour on 12 January 2004
The Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana has reiterated the
Department?s commitment to providing all South Africans with a safe
working environment after Eastern Cape labour inspectors issued a
prohibition notice following the death of a worker on Friday
night.
Department of Labour inspectors have issued a prohibition notice
to a Uitenhage employer ? Rocklands Poultry ? after a worker was
decapitated at when he was dragged into the wheels driving a conveyor
belt.
The prohibition notice prevents further operation of the machinery
and the inspectors also instructed the employer to install an emergency
stop device.
?The Department of Labour will not stand by while workers are
injured or killed at work. In this case, like others, the incident will
be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken,? Ministers
Mdladlana said.
?While it is the employers? duty to provide a healthy, safe
environment, it also makes business sense for work not to be disrupted
by accidents and incidents,? the Minister added.
The Minister emphasised that it is the right of every worker to
refuse to work in an unsafe environment and called on workers to report
contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to the
Department.
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