The safety and well-being of employees are of utmost importance in today’s dynamic and rapidly changing work environments. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) is crucial in setting forth regulations and criteria to safeguard employees from potential dangers and guarantee their well-being. This blog offers a concise overview of the OHS Act, emphasising its significance and main elements, with a specific focus on the identification and reduction of occupational risks. Introduction to the Occupational Health and Safety Act The Occupational Health and Safety Act is an all-encompassing ..read more

Ensuring the safety of your property and employees is crucial, and obtaining a Service certificate of compliance for your firefighting equipment is an essential step toward achieving this. A Service certificate verifies that your fire equipment meets the required stringent South African National Standards (SANS) for occupational health and safety. But what exactly is a Service certificate, and how do you obtain one? Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process smoothly. What is the difference between a service certificate and a certificate of compliance? A service certificate ..read more

Sound health and safety practices in the workplace are very important for a thriving business and integral to the welfare of employees. With a shift in focus to ‘health and safety management’, it’s clear that this isn’t just about ticking regulatory boxes—it’s about actively managing risks and ensuring the well-being of everyone involved in the day-to-day operations of a company. From the factory floor to the executive office, health and safety management is an essential part of a company’s DNA. It’s about taking proactive steps to minimise hazards and to create a culture of safety that resona ..read more

Any bodily pain or injury that an employee sustains while carrying out their work responsibilities, or as a direct result of their employment is referred to as an “injury on duty“. This covers a broad variety of injury events, such as trips, slips and falls, gear-related mishaps, repetitive strain and back injuries. Exposure to dangerous materials, chemical or environmental hazards such as noise, heat, cold or vibrations causing occupational diseases is also classified as an injury on duty. The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 (COIDA) is there to assist both ..read more

Introduction In order to manage Health and Safety effectively an organisation needs to be aware of and record all incidents that can occur in the workplace. The term “incident” refers to an unexpected event that does not necessarily cause injury or damage but has the potential to cause harm. All incidents can be prevented, so investigations must be carried out when an incident occurs with the belief that the cause will be identified, recorded in a workplace incident report and then measures and corrective actions can be put in place to prevent reoccurrence, or prevent similar incidents from oc ..read more

There are numerous possible concerns to an employee’s health and safety in every industry and there are a large number of incidents reported on a yearly basis. These figures highlight how important efficient hazard identification and risk assessments are in order to reduce risks and guarantee a safe working environment. Workplace accidents can have serious consequences, such as property damage, sickness, and injuries, with a huge financial impact to the company. The secret to prevention is to conduct hazard identification and risk assessments (HIRA) early on and take action before they become ..read more

Treating a wound needs proper care and monitoring. A young paramedic had to learn the hard way that not all wounds are the same, when through a freak accident a family member encountered a very bad burn, which later turned out to be third degree burns as they were unfortunately diabetic. Not all wounds can be treated the same as there are various types and degrees of severity. Therefore it’s important to know how to treat them, what to use, what not to use and the types of bandages and wound dressings available for usage in and around the workplace and more specifically in your First Aid kit ..read more

Did you know that more than 40% of people in the workplace have suffered a fatigue related accident or injury. That is almost half the people you work with on a daily basis. Fatigue reduces our focus and affects our judgement in doing our tasks correctly. When we have to make a split-second decision, our reaction is also slower, meaning that we could have prevented an accident or injury making it a safety hazard. When we are fatigued, our body and brain go almost into a “sleep mode” so we think and do things a lot slower than when we are alert. It is important for both the employer and the em ..read more

A workshop manager at a large fishing company had instructed his workshop crew to flush out the remaining diesel sediment at the bottom of a very large tank, which had a carrying capacity of 250,000 liters. This operation was an annual event, and the seasoned crew were familiar with the procedure. However, on this occasion the crew had been assigned to dismantle the trawler’s engine, which left the workshop manager no other choice but to utilize the workshop apprentices to remove the sediment from the tank.  Due to pressure from senior manager, to reduce the time spent on repairs and mai ..read more

In the realm of workplace safety and daily life, understanding the intricacies of fire hazards stands as an imperative. Recognising ignition sources and flammable materials is crucial for fire safety, as they pose potential dangers. Fire hazards encompass an array of risks that can lead to catastrophic events if overlooked. Doing fire risk assessments and installing fire prevention systems like sprinklers and alarms helps prevent disasters. Join us on this exploration into the world of fire hazards. We’ll define these risks, explore common occurrences, and unravel the significance of fire safe ..read more