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occupational health and safety actlatest news & developments
Primary risk: The most important part of scaffolding is the planning, engineering drawings, the load calculations and daily inspections. When the discipline slips, the system becomes vulnerable. Picture: Supplied
BUILDING INDUSTRY

Safety vs profit in building sector

Cutting corners while balancing construction pressure and tight deadlines can be fatal

  • Ash Müller
6 min read
Employers must ensure a safe and healthy work environment, which includes mental and psychological safety. Photo: File
BASIC CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT ACT

Trauma in the workplace should not be swept under the carpet

Addressing workplace trauma requires empathy, legal compliance and interventions such as counselling and training

  • Mase Leshilo & Tumi Mashego
6 min read
Draft regulations for hazardous chemical agents issued by the government affect the fundamental rights of farmworkers and other farm dwellers, who are routinely exposed to high levels of toxic pesticides, particularly on wine and fruit farms. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
AFRICAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY

Draft regulations on hazardous chemical agents leave farmworkers at risk

South Africa must exit pesticide treadmill, civil society groups say This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is…

  • Sheree Bega
1 min read
Smoke billows from the roof of a building at the South African Parliament precinct in Cape Town on January 2, 2022, during a fire incident. – A major fire broke out in the South African parliament building in Cape Town on January 2, 2022. Firefighters were present at the building as large flames and a huge column of smoke were seen at around 0530 GMT. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)
AMOS MASONDO

Nehawu members “very anxious” and “worried” following parliament fire

Parliament yet to implement health and safety recommendations from 2018, union claims

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
Africa’s largest mobile operator by subscription, MTN, has called off its talks with Telkom about a proposed takeover.
COVID 19 VACCINE

MTN staff members who refuse vaccination will be fired

MTN has joined the list of companies that have made vaccines mandatory

  • Anathi Madubela
3 min read
A scaled-down labour inspectorate will leave vulnerable workers at the mercy of ‘unscrupulous employers’
AGGY MOILOA

Budget cuts give bad bosses a break

A scaled-down labour inspectorate will leave vulnerable workers at the mercy of ‘unscrupulous employers’

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read
At a press briefing on Friday, Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla is reported to have said that the gear would be arriving over the weekend or early this week. He cited global demand and the weakening of the rand for the delay, reports said.
CORONAVIRUS

Nehawu launches urgent court bid over protective gear for health workers

The health workers’ union says the government has rebuffed its attempts to meet about mitigating risks to workers

  • Franny Rabkin
4 min read