Pretoria - The Department of Labour and its social partners have signed an accord to improve the status of occupational health and safety in the chemical sector in South Africa.
The aim of the Chemical Sector Health and Safety Accord is to prioritise matters of occupational health and safety, eliminate fatalities, injuries and diseases in the chemical sector and to identify and implement best practices.
The accord also aims to raise awareness and promote industry initiatives focused on continual improvement of occupational health and safety in the chemical sector. It will be implemented through development of a joint action plan.
The accord was signed by the Department of Labour, the Chemical and Allied Industry Association; SA Paint Manufacturers Association; Cosatu; Fedusa; SA Pesticides Control Association; Cosmetic, Toiletries and Fragrances Association; Nactu and Solidarity.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held in Irene on Thursday, Labour Director-General Nkosinathi Nhleko said to achieve safety in workplaces, it was imperative to ensure that the practice of regulation was done better.
Nhleko called upon all social partners to play a collaborative role in the co-ordination and implementation of health and safety campaigns in the workplace.
“We should not cooperate for the sake of cooperating. We need campaigns to ensure effective mobilisation. The question of safety is not what the government will do, but what we must all do.
“Social partners need to drive a level of consciousness on matters of health and safety in their workplaces. All parties should be on the lookout for best practices to implement,” Nhleko said.
He added that the extent of the success of the accord will reflect in the number of injuries and diseases workers sustain at work.
“Also, if safety is not our priority, the public purse, as managed by the Compensation Fund, will be under pressure to meet the undue claims. By signing the accord as government, we express our commitment to ensure safe working environments free of diseases and hazards.”
Business Unity South Africa (Busa) committed itself to using the accord as a basis for cooperation with other social partners to build safe work places. The business association said the partnership would build a basis for the compilation of accurate data from the Compensation Fund, and establish a baseline to gauge progress on the implementation of occupational health and safety.
Busa called for joint plans of action, the development of joint reports and scheduling of regular meetings.
The South African Chemical Workers Union National Organiser, Bosole Chidi, warned that the signing of the accord should not be about empty speeches of commitment.
“There need to be outcomes that would benefit the workers,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
