Every employee has the right to a safe and healthy workplace free from risks and hazards that could be harmful to them during their employment. Occupational Health and Safety or OHS in short is a set of laws that have been introduced in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 to govern safety in the workplace. The Act was established by the government and implemented and enforced by the Department of Labour. These laws serve the purpose of safeguarding and protecting employees, customers or any other persons involved in a workplace from any risks such as injuries, incidents, accidents, fatalities, and the possibility of these occurring.
Occupational health and safety are a legal requirement that all companies are required to adhere to. If a company fails to adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, they could potentially break the law. The consequences that come with disregarding the law range from paying fines, jail time, legal action, injury, loss of life to losing a business completely. The laws that need to be followed vary from industry to industry and of course business to business, it is therefore important for business owners to make the necessary means of researching and finding out which laws they particularly need to abide by. It is the legal responsibility of every employer or company owner to ensure the health and safety of all their employees.
Read the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Bill passed in 2021 here
Safety in the workplace refers to both people and property and the OHS laws intend always protecting people and property. There is however a shockingly high number of companies who are not concerned with OHS compliance and are not aware of the consequences of non-compliance. Employees are most valuable to an organization and are exposed to hazards and are therefore entitled to proper health and safety practices and programmes. It is the duty and the responsibility of every employer to ensure that such practices and programmes are in place. Employers are not always in control of employee’s behaviors or actions when on duty especially the irrational and unsafe behaviors. However, having legislation in place will guide employees to act safe and responsible on duty. Compliance with the act will also help to reinforce the right behaviors in the workplace which in turn will cut down on injuries, accidents, and fatalities in the workplace.
Compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act is important in every workplace be it a corporate setting or more hazardous settings like industrial plants or construction sites. Compliance with the Act has many benefits for employers inclusive of:
Reduced financial expenditure related to workplace accidents and injuries.
Increased businesses efficiency.
Increased productivity
Safer work environments and happier employees
Decrease in employee insurance claims
Lower insurance premiums
In conclusion, every company should comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act for the safety of their employees and to avoid costs in the long run. Chamberlink offers online OHS training courses which are in accordance with the act and can assist both employers and employees.
For further assistance with your business plan please feel free to contact Chamberlink. 010 040 8328 marketing@chamberlink.co.za