Occupational Health and Safety Act

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993) (OHSA), makes both employers and employees responsible for the safety and health at workplaces. It is, however, the responsibility of management to ensure that the act is implemented and that the specific regulations are complied with, e.g. safety must cover the following aspects:

• The facilities and environment in which work is being done.
• Different machinery and equipment that are used.
• Workplaces with high risk, e.g. dangers of fire, electrical shocks, or the air pollution.
• Work processes that contain high risks such as dangerous chemical substances, work at heights or the handling of heavy objects.
• The wearing of safety clothes and equipment to ensure personal protection to workers.
• The erection of safety signs to indicate dangers and regulate safe behaviour, as well as training of employees on safety.
• The protection of other persons' safety and health at the workplace (workers from other sites, clients, suppliers, contractors, visitors).