Building collapse: Biggest tragedy in EMM’s history

MEYERSDAL – The recent collapse of a building structure in the Meyersdal Eco Estate, which claimed seven lives is the biggest building construction tragedy in the history of the Ekurhuleni Metro. Closest to this was the three people who died during the building process of Carnival City.

“Safety and security measures should be any contractor and owner’s first priority before any building starts on any site,” says OHS consultant, Marius Claassen from Absolute Safety Occupational Health and Safety Consultants.

According to Marius there are about 45 contractors working in the Estate at present.

Guidelines in a nutshell:

It is important to note that all owners and contractors comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and the Construction Regulations of 2014.

Before building starts the owner should issue the contractor with safety specifications to comply with before work on site commences, for example:

All workers have PPE (personal protection equipment, which includes hard hats, safety boots, reflector vests, dust masks, gloves etc.).

Depending on the type of work additional safety measures must be in place: i.e. workers doing work higher than 2m from the ground or the nearest platform should wear full body safety harnesses or lifelines.

• All workers should be in possession of a medical certificate of fitness, clearing them for the work they are about to do. Such a certificate can only be issued by an Occupational Health and Safety Medical Practitioner. These certificates along with all other personal details of such worker should be in a safety file on site.
• There must be risk assessments in place. For instance should excavation be necessary, a complete risk assessment should be done, the hazards should be identified and this must be shared with all workers – workers must then sign that they are conversant with the hazards and risks pertaining the task on hand.
• Every site should have in writing an appointed site manager competent (certificate) and work experience for supervising the construction site.
• A supervisor or an assistant supervisor must be on site at all times. They should be in possession of a competency certificate certifying that they are able and competent to do the work.
• If more than 10 people are working on site, a qualified first-aider with at least a level 1 certificate should be on site at all times.
• For less than 10 but more than five workers on site, a first-aid box, filled with the needed as prescribed by law, must be on site.
• There should be fire extinguishers and trained fire marshal on site.
• A safety file should be on site at all times and this file must include the safety policy and safety plan pointing out the hazards of the job.
• Weekly toolbox talks must be held with all workers to ensure they understand the hazards and safe work procedures involving the tasks on hand, and they should sign that they have attended such talks.
• Induction training should take place, pointing out the hazards of the workplace and again, worker must sign that they understand these.
• Supervisors or inspectors should be appointed in writing to inspect activities, inspection checklists must be in place: example for scaffolding, excavations, ladders, lifting equipment, plant and machinery in use – supervisors differ for excavations, electricity etc.
• Checklists for every job should be in place: painting, scaffolding, slabs, electricity – every little thing done should have a checklist.
• Engineers must check every bit of steel and slab work.
• According to the new Construction Regulations of 2014, every owner must apply for a permit, before building can start. This must be handed in a month prior to the start of building works with clear indication of a baseline risk assessment and health and safety specifications and health and safety plan.
• This must also specify the details of the owner, contractor, subcontractors (if any), how long building will last for, how many workers will be on site.
• Every contractor or subcontractor should be registered with the Compensations Commission – this is for insurance purposes for the workers of the contractor/subcontractor should a tragedy like this occur. A valid letter of good standing will be issued if a contractor/subcontractor is a paid-up member of the commission.

“We would suggest that the Estate put something in place like a checklist to comply with these regulations, before they allow anyone to start building.

“Owners who are laymen when it comes to building should appoint a Safety and Security company to put these things in place. We do regular checks to oversee the process and make sure that everything is in place and according to the book,” Marius said.

“Our job will entail site audits on contractors and subcontractors. Prevention is better than cure, and things like this could have been prevented if everything was in place.

“In cases like these, fines will most probably be issued by the Department of Labour, and these exclude the possible civil suits which could be brought against the contractors and the owner by the families of the deceased.”

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