Labour Inspectors Close Unsafe Limpopo School Residence

Life threatening safety conditions spurred labour inspectors to act against a Limpopo school for the blind yesterday (Wed), slapping it with a ban prohibiting the use of new hostels for flouting occupational health and safety laws.

Labour inspectors conducting workplace inspections in the province following a shocking assessment report by the Department of Health and Social Development ordered management of Setototlwane Elson High School to shut down the new hostels until the main electricity transformer and the distribution boxes are substantially locked to prevent access to high voltage to live electrical wires.

During the raid, inspectors found the two main substations permanently opened and open live wires exposed, fire fighting equipment removed and fire hoses not serviced posing dander to persons and workers.

“We would not like to see people electrocuted due to negligence, exposure to high voltage wires is very dangerous” Labour Department warned.

Terms of the prohibition notice are the following:

Both the main electricity transformers and distributions boxes are substantially locked to prevent access to high voltage to live electrical wires.

All electric wires in both hostels have been rendered safe, and a certificate of compliance has been issued.

All fire fighting equipments have been provided and or repaired.

The prohibition was issued in terms of the Electrical Installation Regulation as well as Environmental Regulation for Workplaces.