NATIONAL NEWS - The Department of Employment and Labour is looking to appoint 500 Occupational Health and Safety inspectors in a move that is set to drastically change workplaces in the South African labour market, Soweto Urban reports.

The fourth industrial revolution has thrust many industries into a period of change and the health and safety profession is no different. The high workplace accident rates have forced the department to work towards reducing these rates to focus on the changes brought about by the fourth industrial revolution.

“In the next 10 years, health and hygiene will never be the same. We are clear about what we are about to do. When we look back this will be a major turning point. We will be leveraging on the use of technologies to fulfil our objectives,” said the Department’s Chief Inspector, Tibor Szana.

Szana was speaking at the Department of Employment and Labour’s Occupational Health and Safety Conference held last week. The theme of the conference was “strategic co-operation to promote decent work and achieve ‘Vision Zero’ in occupational injuries and diseases”.

The safety of workers was another big talking point at the conference.

“Workers have a right to work in an environment that is not harmful. Decent work cannot be achieved without a sound, safe and healthy environment, and when that gets compromised productivity levels suffer,” said Aggy Moiloa, Department of Employment and Labour Inspector-General.

Moiloa furthermore concluded by noting that the safety of workers should be a priority for employers rather than an afterthought.

Source: Caxton publication, Alberton Record.