Construction health and safety (H&S) has long been the focus of attention of many industry stakeholders and role players in South Africa, and while it is acknowledged that many industry associations and professional societies, contracting organizations and others have made significant efforts to improve H&S within the construction industry, overall construction H&S is not improving commensurately.
Notably, construction continues to contribute a disproportionate number of fatalities and injuries relative to other industrial sectors, and there continues to be high levels of non-compliance with H&S legislation generally, and specifically the construction and other H&S Regulations in South Africa.
Construction H&S Statistics Excluding Motorvehicle Accidents
According to national statistics drawn from the records of FEMA for 20072 :
• 10 231 claims were registered (which is 1047 more than for 2006);
• the amount paid out in claims was R104 million (R7 million less than in 2006); and
• 60 fatalities were registered (14 less than in 2006).
Construction H&S Claims and Fatalities: FEMA
A more detailed analysis of the FEMA statistics shows that:
• the dominating causes of injuries were struck by (44%), falls on to different levels (14%) and striking against (10%);
• the dominating causes of fatalities were motor-vehicle accidents (MVAs) (47%), struck by (17%) and falls on to
different levels (17%);
• penetrating wounds (30%) and superficial wounds (31%) predominated in terms of the nature of injuries sustained;
• multiple injuries caused 47% of fatalities;
• injuries to hands (24%), head and neck (19%), and legs (16%) were common anatomic regions involved; and
• in terms of agency, automobiles (10%) and hand tools (6%) dominated as causes of injuries
How long is a health and safety certificate valid for in South Africa?
A Health and Safety Compliance Certificate is valid for a year. Every year, companies should have another audit conducted at their premises as per legal stipulations. A year is a long time and new hazards may occur due to ever-changing workplaces.
What legislation covers health and safety issues in South Africa?
In South Africa, the most important regulation surrounding occupational health and safety is the Health and Safety Act of 1993. The two main pillars of this act are: The duties and responsibilities of employees to support a safe work environment.