In a pledge to strengthen and continuously improve Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) systems in order to realise the Decent Work Agenda in workplaces in South Africa, the Department of Employment and Labour is to host a national OHS conference.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic - occupational health and safety (whose goal is to prevent the occurrence of occupational accidents and diseases) – has assumed an elevated importance.

The Department's Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch through the Occupational Health and Safety Chief Directorate intends to host the conference under the theme: “Improving health and safety in the iron and steel sector".

The theme resonates with the three IES pillars of Advocacy, Inspection and Enforcement.

Through the conference IES branch seeks to strengthen and continuously improve Occupational Health and Safety systems by Government, Organised Business and Organised Labour in workplaces. The OHS Act requires of every employer to provide a safe working environment without risk to the health of employees.

The objective of the gathering is to share best practices and empower small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to comply, address the challenge of underreporting in the iron and steel sector, reduction and elimination of incidents and injuries in the sector, ensure that the level of compliance with Occupational Health and Safety at workplaces is improved.

According to IES the iron and steel sector was as far back as 2005 identified as one of the high risk. Following that, the Department together with social partners signed an accord in 2013 as part of the intervention where partners committed themselves on ensuring safe and healthy workplaces. However, high number of incidents are still being reported.

This conference is expected to focus on: Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act ( COIDA) Amendment Bill; Unemployment Insurance Fund compliance; OHS international perspectives; snapshot of compliance in the Iron and Steel sector; OHS strategy and OHS Accord; construction challenges in the iron and steel sector; implementation of hearing conservation program; safe handling of liquefied petroleum gas in the sector; future of Major Hazardous Installation; safety in the use of conveyor systems; lifting machinery in the sector; electrical machinery in hazardous locations; and electrical installation.

The conference is expected to be attended by more than 400 delegates who are playing a key role in the iron and steel sector. Speakers will deliberate on challenges as well as proposed solutions to address injuries and diseases in the iron and steel sector.

The conference is targeted at OHS practitioners, labour inspectors, health and safety managers, General Machinery Regulation (GMR 2) appointees and associations that are active in the iron and steel sector.

ILO estimates that every year over 1.2 million workers are killed due to work-related accidents and diseases and 250 million occupational accidents and 160 million work-related diseases are occurring. The economic loss related to these accidents and diseases are estimated to amount 4% of world gross national product.

According to ILO Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) goal is to prevent the occurrence of occupational accidents and diseases. The organisation says employers have to comply with OSH laws and regulations. Workers and their representatives should cooperate with employers by taking reasonable care of their own safety, complying with the instructions given regarding safety and health, using protective equipment correctly and reporting any hazardous conditions or events and accidents.

“There is a business case for safety and health at work. Good OSH performance can help ensure business continuity, preventing high levels of absence and avoiding losses of skilled workers. It can raise productivity and competitiveness as well as lead to reductions of insurance premiums," ILO said.

Media is invited to attend and the National OHS conference will be held as follows:

Venue: Protea Hotel (Barend and Margaretha Prinsloo Streets) – Klerksdorp

Time: 08:30 - 15:00             

Date: 26-28 February 2025

For media RSVP, please kindly contact:

Botsang Huma

Provincial Communications Officer: NW

Cell: 082 082 497 7438

Email: botsang.huma@labour.gov.za

For media enquiries contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/  teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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