Accident Site Closed Due To Deaths

The Department of Labour on Thursday, 11 August 2011 closed down operations on a construction site; days after two workers were killed at a construction site in Simbithi. (See earlier article).

Jay Anand, provincial spokesman for the Department said that preliminary investigations by the Department`s inspectorate had shown that four workers were excavating a trench approximately 2.5m deep when the side embankment collapsed burying all the workers under the soil. Two of the workers managed to escape but the other two were trapped and died.

The Department`s inspectors found the employer had not complied with health and safety requirements by failing to notify the Department of construction work, had no incident record book, nor a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS ) Act. It was also evident that there was no fall or collapse plan in place.

A prohibition notice was immediately served on the employer, halting all work until the excavation was properly shored and braced as required by law.

The go ahead for work to continue will not be given until the Department is satisfied that all safety requirements are met according to Siyanda Nxawe, deputy director-general of inspection and enforcement services.

Because of serious concerns about the increase of workplace fatalities in the province, she indicated that the inspectorate had been instructed to intensify their inspection campaign and general visibility in order to ensure that fatalities are speedily curtailed and prevented.

Pieter Rautenbach