/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Department of Employment and Labour Chief Inspector: Occupational Health and Safety, Ms Millicent Ruiters, says the Department is embarking on new training, education and more advocacy sessions to proactively prevent the registration and pay out of billions of rands through the occupational injuries and diseases in South Africa. 

Ms Ruiters was speaking during the closing of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) 2023 National Conference hosted by the Department of Employment and Labour at the Vanderbijlpark’s Emerald Resort and Casino, in the Gauteng Province, today (18 August 2023). 

The Compensation Fund funds 100 percent of the OHS inspectorate nationally and the Department’s entity has two licensees which is Rand Mutual Assurance (RAM) and the Federated Employers Mutual (FEM). RMA is responsible for compensating for occupational injuries and diseases in the iron and steel sector as well as in the mining sector, and FEM is responsible for compensating construction workers who get injured and diseases in the workplace. 

“RMA indicated yesterday that they have spent between R600 Million and R700 Million on paying for injuries and diseases. The Compensation Fund is paying between R4 Billion and R6 Billion annually. So, between the RMA and the Compensation Fund, for injuries and diseases combined is about R7 Billion annually for medical services providers.

“We as the Department will need to play our part in making sure that the Compensation Fund, the RMA and FEM do not have to register any injuries and diseases. Currently they have injuries and diseases to register and make pay outs. So if we do our part, all those billions that they are talking about can be prevented,” said Ms Ruiters. 

The Chief Inspector said the Department would do a collaboration with the RMA in a proactive mission that can prevent workplace injuries and diseases. 

“So we are going to have a partnership with RMA. They have indicated that they want an MOU with the Department so that when we have advocacy sessions and inspections there can be a collaboration and the use of their data to do proactive inspections. We will also look into forging a similar relationship with FEM,” said Ms Ruiters.  

She said the Department would do more advocacy sessions such as conferences and do education and training “so that we can prevent injuries and diseases”.

The Department of Employment and Labour Inspector General: Inspection and Enforcement Services, Ms Aggy Moiloa called for a moment of silence in the closure of the conference for those who have passed on due to occupational injuries and diseases. 

“I am going to ask us to remember the souls of those people especially those that have died as a result of either of diseases that were contracted in the workplaces or injuries,” said Ms Moiloa. 

The Department hosted 19 external expert speakers who were sharing the knowledge and insights in iron and steel sector and almost 500 delegates had attended the conference. 

The experts shared knowledge on the risk assessments, prevention of injuries and diseases, occupational hygiene, medical surveillance, occupational health and hygiene, electrical and mechanical, presentation regarding gas and Major Hazardous Installations and construction presentations etc.

There were also messages of support from the organised labour, an indication of support for the conference. 

Issued by Department of Employment and Labour