FEATURES- HEALTH AND SAFETY
Health and safety inspectors and what they do
No system can work without checks and balances. When it comes to health and safety, one of those checks and balances is health and safety inspectors. We look at what inspectors do, the training they require and what their responsibilities are.
By Kelly-Ann Prinsloo
The Occupational Health and Safety Act gives workers the right to a healthy and safe work environment. It tells management to set up safety representatives and safety committees in the workplace. It also regulates things like toilets, change rooms, first aid, drinking water, washing facilities, protective clothing, machinery, stacking and packing, ladders, fire, ventilation, lighting, temperature, noise and asbestos.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out workers ' rights, including:
• The right to information- for example, the health and safety hazards in the workplace and the health and safety rules and procedures.
• The right to participate in inspections.
• The right to comment on legislation and make representations.
• The right not to be victimised- for example, the worker cannot be dismissed because they participated in a workplace inspection or reported an accident.
The act also sets out the responsibilities of workers and employers.
THE WORKER ' S DUTIES
The worker must:
• Take care of their own health and safety;
• Prevent harm to other people;
• Cooperate with the employer around improving health and safety;
• Give information to a labour inspector;
• Wear safety clothing or use safety equipment where it is required;
• Report unsafe or unhealthy conditions to the employer or health and safety representative as soon as possible;
• Report an accident to the employer and the health and safety representative as soon as possible; and
• Not to interfere with safety equipment.
An important part of keeping workers safe is the role of the labour inspector. Image: Pixabay
THE EMPLOYER ' S DUTIES
The employer must make sure that the workplace is safe and healthy and must not allow any worker to do work which is potentially dangerous.
INFORMATION AND TRAINING ABOUT DANGERS
Employers must:
• Inform workers of any dangers in the workplace.
• Ensure that there are warnings and notices on dangerous machinery.
• Train workers on how to use dangerous machinery or substances safely.
42 APRIL / MAY 2017 //