Pretoria – The Gauteng Department of Labour has launched an investigation into the death of a worker, who was crushed by a machine last Thursday, at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition, in Boksburg.
According to preliminary investigations, a supervisor at a production line was called by one of the computer numerically controlled (CNC) operators to inform him about water leakages at his machine.
“The supervisor stopped the machine and went inside the machine to check where the water was coming from. While in there, the machine started to engage and the supervisor was caught in between the fixture and tool and got crushed inside.
“After the incident, labour inspectors immediately issued a prohibition notice to halt all work at the site and ordered for the erection of safety guard rails along the area where the accident happened,” spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Labour, Mishack Magakwe, said.
Magakwe said inspectors are investigating the cause of the fatality and whether the employer was complying with the occupational health and safety procedures during the time of the accident.
The department has also urged workers to take full charge of their workplace health and safety at all times to avoid unnecessary injuries and fatalities. – SAnews.gov.za
