Assmang blast: operations ban stays put

Contrary to recent media reports, operations at the ill-fated Durban’s Assmang plant would remain forbade until the conditions guaranteed the government of workers’ safety, the Labour Department has warned.

The operations ban at the Cato Ridge plant was ordered in the wake of last week’s horror blast that has left six workers dead and several others severely burnt.

A high-level government inquiry that was set up soon afterwards is still underway to determine the cause of the tragedy.

Reacting to Thursday’s reports that investigating officials were considering revoking the notice prohibiting the use of the six furnaces that caused the blast, Spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said today (Fri) the outcome of the inspectors’ reassessment exercise should not be pre-empted.

She said Assmang had not yet responded to requests that the employer – together with workers’ unions – jointly appoint independent experts to conduct risk assessments of the plant.

“We are not revoking the prohibition notice. Not before our inspectors are invited to the plant and verify the independent experts’ risk assessment report. Only when they are satisfied that all safety measures have been met and conditions are safe will the prohibition notice be revoked,” she said.