PHOTO BY: SUPERIOR DATA SOLUTIONS

All companies, schools, hospital and every industry type kind of business have a responsibility to ensure that every employee, worker, and visitor (however brief the visit) is properly trained and educated. It is essential that everyone in business complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Act , and amendments 2014*, and with the policies and regulations of the Department of Labour. The compliance with the law will be checked, probably unannounced visits direct to the employing institutions, by the Department of Labour.

Labour Relations Act 1995* has made illegal working a new criminal offence and widened the nature of the criminal offence of employing an illegal worker. The changes mean that an illegal worker can receive 52 weeks imprisonment and fines, and that an employer may be prosecuted not only if they knowingly employ an illegal worker but also if they had reasonable cause to believe that the person did not have the right to work.

The consequences of non-compliance are very serious, and the penalties that can be imposed are potentially severe as follows:

• Harsh fine
• Loss of profit (due to ongoing investigation)
• Factory shut-down
• Illness or death occurs
• A person is put at risk of injury
• Withdrawal of sponsor / loss of contracts and investors

The inspector will give you a chance to comply/serve with an improvement notice. Everything must be recorded from trainings, to audits.

Here is the list of what must be done or what might the inspector suggest:

• Appointment of Health and Safety Representative
• Initiate Health and Safety committees
• Have weekly tool box talks
• Daily report for; safety wear, machinery, hazardous chemicals and etc (daily checklist)

We at Proviso don’t just train but help restore and keep safety culture in the business by taking care of their Health and Safety needs.

Contact us

Written By Mahlodi Magane