FEATURES
and penalties for contractors that is that companies download safety
contravene the Act. documents off the internet. You can’t just
“Penalty could range from a charge of use a template and think you’ve mitigated
culpable homicide if a person dies or they risks. If you can’t afford a fulltime safety
can be fined up to R100 000. I don’t think officer, contract someone for a few days,”
the fine / penalty system is sufficient,” says Coetzer advises.
Coetzer. According to Coetzer,
Having an assessment that is done
imprisonment rarely happens for those in properly can be valid for life and the
contravention, plus many of the contractor may only need to tweak it here
construction projects have a budget that and there. “Most companies in the industry
runs on million so a fine of up to R100 000 do similar work from project to project.
doesn’t really cause a dent in the project. Profitability goes up if this is in order
Randall agrees, “The penalties are way
because you won’t be afraid to deal with
too light and does not act as a deterrent, any client or contractor out there. You can
but this will change when the new Act is confidently tender for any job because you
promulgated.” The act is currently under know you’re compliant,” he says.
revision and should be going to parliament
this year. Randall says that this is a Valuing lives
necessary move as it is an old act from As much as safety regulations are self-
1992, an updated version is required. “A regulating, it is up to the employer to make
newer act, like the mine health and safety safety on site a priority. “This can be done
act, is necessary because it needs to take by valuing the lives of their employees and
account of the real problem,” he says. by making it clear in their tender
Assessing the risks
submissions that they have allowed specific
funds for health and safety, and supervision
An investigation is necessary if an incident of hazardous work. Your employees deserve
occurs, even if no one is hurt. your loyalty. Every contractor should
“It is worth investigating because it
employ the services of a professional body
means one of the control measures failed. registered fall protection planner and
Investigating the accident allows us to should follow the requirements of the
improve on safety,” Coetzer says. fall protection plan meticulously,”
What he has also found is that
companies do cheap training which is most
advises Randall.
Additionally, procedures need to be in
likely illegal. “There are fly-by-night training place on site, should any incident occur.
institutes that offer training yet aren’t EHS advises to ensure that employees are
accredited. There are no half-day training properly trained on roof work; the correct
programmes that are accredited, this is risk assessment, fall protection plan and
impossible. It’s a waste of money,” he rescue plans are in place and
shares. Companies that participate in such communicated to all employees onsite.
training often end up having to do it again.
Accredited training facilities and companies The wrap
can be found on the IWH website. The construction industry still experiences
Often a risk assessment isn’t done to
mitigate or control risks. “What we’ve found
many problems when it comes to ensuring
safety of employees on site. The industry
People who
“ complain
are people
who don’t understand
the [Occupational
Health and Safety
(OHS)] Act and its
regulations.”
– Jaco Coetzer,
Riggers Steeplejacks
has the highest number of work related
deaths compared to mining and other
industries. More attention should be
focused on minimising the risk, both by
government and employees. Revision of the
Act and the South African Council for the
Project and Management Professions’
(SACPCMPs) mandate with the Council for
the Built Environment (CBE) and the
National Home Builders Registration
Council (NHBRC) to register building
inspectors is a step in the right direction.
Common onsite mistakes
• Workers tend to become forgetful
• Do not take proper adherence to set
safety procedures
• The client’s (onsite) failure to ensure
that contractors adhere to the set
standards and regulations
• Lack of knowledge
• Utilisation of wrong equipment
• Forget to check the basics such as
not hooking-on, not inspecting kit
before working, toolbox talk, not
doing risk assessments
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