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The Occupational Health and Safety Unit of the Department of Employment and Labour in Limpopo today (2 August 2022) hosted a training in Tzaneen Country Logde aiming at giving guidance to inspectors about the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993. The purpose of the training is to encourage the health and safety of persons in connection with the use of plant and machinery at the workplaces and also to establish an advisory council for the occasional health and safety.

OHS Principal Inspector: Steven Mokgethi said: “It is every employer's duty to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of his employees”.

Additionally, it is also important to implement OHS policies and avail resources to support OHS implementation.

Employers are prohibited to sell or charge employees any items related to OHS such as masks, gloves, safety boots, fire fighting equipment, emergency showers, and first aid box.

According to Mokgethi: “every employee shall take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and other person who may be affected by his acts or omissions to also comply with the safety rules”.

OHS Principal inspector: Madimabe Lebogo educated the inspectors about the basic principles in occupational hygiene and said, “employees should be protected from chemical agents such as gases, vapours, solids while physical agents such as heat, vibration, noise should never be ignored adding that ergonomic factors consisting of stress and work load should be identified as risk to employees”.

Principal inspector Theresa Baloyi added that, “people tend to undermine the safety of others by taking to work intoxication items such as alcohol, drugs, food and smoking and therefore prohibition signage must be put in place”.

It is therefore encouraged to take into account the health and safety of workers and to protect their rights.

For Media enquiries contact:

Lerato Mashamba

Provincial Communication Officer

Limpopo

082 908 1833/ lerato.mashamba@labour.gov.za

ENDS

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour.