Shortly ahead of the introduction of a new dispensation for registration of construction health and safety professionals in South Africa and the implementation of the construction work permit in terms of Construction Regulation 2014, the Department of Labour (DoL) says it has found that the construction industry has a less than 50% rate of compliance with health and safety regulations.
Addressing the DoL Construction Sector seminar, in Boksburg, DoL occupational health and safety (OHS) chief director Tibor Szana appealed for further collaboration between industry and the department over health and safety compliance and enforcement.
“Today marks [the start of a] collaborative effort with the construction industry”. The challenge is to step up inspection and enforcement.
“We need your assistance, [as] the unnecessary loss of life cannot be tolerated. It is imperative that the industry joins hands with the department to reverse the loss of life,” he said.
The seminar was preceded by a specialised training session targeted at departmental provincial chief inspectors, specialist inspectors and principal inspectors on the elements of administering of the new Construction Regulation 2014 and the adjudicating of construction safety permits.
