Lolo Madonsela
The Department of Employment & Labour in Vryheid issued a warning to Smaldeel Farm in Louwsburg for contravention of Occupational Health & Safety measures under Covid-19 regulations.
Dire living conditions and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees was discovered during the unplanned visit to the farm by members of the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) on Covid-19.
The JOC assessed the farm after screening the employees. The visit also included health and safety education, such as the importance of wearing masks and washing hands often.
It was found that the living conditions were not up to standard, as the rooms had no windows or ventilation. Electric wiring was also not up to standard, the rooms were dirty and the area surrounding the staff quarters was not clean.
“It looked like the rooms used to be an animal stable which was then turned into rooms for employees. There was lack of cleanliness inside and outside these rooms. Even though the owner indicated that the employees were the ones who were bringing dirt into their own rooms, this was still in contravention of the Occupational Health & Safety measures; therefore a warning was served to the farm owner to correct all these things,” said Falakhe Dladla from the Department of Labour.
He indicated that after issuing the notice, they normally give a two-month period for owners to correct their mistakes, after which the department does a follow-up.
Also read: Rural areas get sanitized to fight Covid-19
“We give two months’ notice. However, this situation we found was terrible and it will need to be addressed urgently. It would be wise for the JOC to do a follow-up sooner than two months,” added Dladla.
The Department of Labour’s Occupational Health & Safety measures in the workplace for Covid-19 require employers to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all persons who may be directly affected by their activities (such as customers, clients or contractors and their workers who enter their workplace or come into contact with their employees) are not exposed to hazards to their health or safety.
This obligation also applies to self-employed persons (for example, plumbers or electricians) whose working activities bring them into contact with members of the public. It also requires the employer to provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of workers and to take such steps as may be reasonably practicable to eliminate or mitigate the hazard or potential hazard.
On social distancing, the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) says that every employer must arrange the workplace to ensure minimal contact between workers and as far as possible ensure that there is a minimum of one and a half metres between workers while they are working (for example at their workstations). Depending on the circumstances of the workplace or the nature of the sector, the minimum distance may need to be bigger. Reducing the number of workers present in the workplace at any time in terms of clause 16.5 may assist in achieving the required social distancing.
Also read: Premier tightens up regulations
The Department of Labour also stated that every employer should implement health and safety measures, which include symptom screening, and that employers must comply with any guidelines issued by the National Department of Health in consultation with the department. If a worker presents with symptoms or advises the employer of these symptoms, the employer must not permit the worker to enter the workplace or report for work; or if the worker is already at work, immediately isolate the worker, provide the worker with a FFP1 surgical mask and arrange for the worker to be transported either to be self-isolated or for a medical examination or testing in a manner that does not place other workers or members of the public at risk.
Regarding sanitizers, disinfectants and other measures, employers must ensure that a hand sanitizer has at least 70% alcohol content and is in accordance with the recommendations of the Department of Health.
With cloth masks, the main benefit of everyone wearing a cloth mask is to reduce saliva / mucus droplets being coughed up by those with the infection and transmitted to others. Since some persons with the virus may not exhibit symptoms or may not know they have it, the Department of Health requires that all persons wear cloth masks when in a public place.
Additionally, every employer must keep the workplace well-ventilated by natural or mechanical means to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Where reasonably practicable, they must have an effective local extraction ventilation system with high-efficiency particulate air HEPA filters, which is regularly cleaned and maintained, and its vents do not feed back in through open windows. Also ensure that filters are cleaned and replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions by a competent person.
Lastly, every employer must check regularly on the websites of the National Department of Health, National Institute of Communicable Diseases and the National Institute for Occupational Health whether any additional PPE is required or recommended in any guidelines, given the nature of the workplace or the nature of a worker’s duties.
Make sure you follow us on our social media platforms for regular updates
