No matter what type of commercial endeavor being operated in South Africa, safety in the workplace must always be a concern among owners and managers. Anyone who does not present a safe environment for employees could face civil and or criminal actions.
The public has become quite concerned about safety recently as the news media has done a solid job raising awareness about safety in the workplace.
For those who are curious about how safe South Africa is taking the issue of safety, all one has to do is look closely at recent reports regarding improvements in the mining sector.
The figures are quite frightening for anyone working in these industries. In 2012, 112 miners died on the job. The total number of injuries in the mining industry were roughly in the 3,000 person range. (Source: Business Day Live)
Upon looking at the 200 fatalities that occurred in South Africa in her company’s mines, the CEO of Anglo American, Cynthia Carroll, has taken proactive steps to improve conditions.
Sadly, for some workers, improved safety in some companies has meant merely replacing human workers with machines. While safer, the employees have become ex-employees.
For those small and mid-sized businesses concerned with safety, procuring the best possible safety equipment might be the only solution to cutting down the risks workers face. ( Kevcor.co.za is an excellent source of this equipment) With the right equipment, the safety of workers can be maximized.
Everything from hardhats to eye protection to safety gloves to rigging harnesses with industrial strength rope may be required for mining, construction and fire safety professionals to avoid suffering from unexpected mishaps.
Safety in the workplace, ultimately, is the responsibility of the owners and managers since they are responsible for their employees. At the very least, businesses should buy from a reputable supplier of such equipment and provide employees with the proper training on how to use it.
While this may never eliminate all accidents and mishaps, their numbers could be reduced.
Different industries will require unique safety equipment designed for the particular tasks of the job.
