/ 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 National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] calls on the Minister of Health and the Department of Health to comply with the recommendations of the inspection report into the compliance of the Civitas building with Occupational Health and Safety [OHS] standards.
 
The report recommended that workers must be relocated to a temporary building while the Civitas building was being fixed to comply with OHS standards. However, the department is still hell-bent on compelling workers to work in an unsafe building that has already claimed the life of one of our members. We have also reported other incidents to the Department of Labour where members have collapsed in the building. It is our view that this is due to the black dust distributed through HVAC ventilation system as pointed out by the inspection report.
 
Following the discovery of the “Black dust” on the windows, walls and air-conditioning units in all the offices in the building the department was called upon to undertake scientific tests to establish the toxicity/health risk that this black dust causes, if any, to all employees. It is disappointing that the department has failed to undertake the necessary tests since the matter was brought to their attention in December 2018.  Our members cannot be subjected to potentially hazardous material in the circumstances where the Department has a duty to ensure their safety and provide a healthy working environment.
 
As NEHAWU, we will not allow our members to risk with their lives hence we will not allow them to enter the Civitas building up until all the recommendations of the inspection report are fully implemented. A total of seven people have collapsed at the building from breathing hazardous air. The national union will not accept any loss of live due to negligence and the insistence by the department that workers must return to work in that unsafe building.
 
We note with disgust the intention by the Department of Health to dock workers’ salaries for the time they could not enter the building because of unsafe and hazardous working conditions. It is the duty of the employer to provide a safe and decent working environment and failure to do so cannot in the disadvantage workers. In this regard, we will fight tooth and nail in defending our members against the arrogant employers. If the department is looking for a fight we will gladly give them one without hesitation.
 
Lastly, we call on the department to implement all the recommendations from the inspectors report without delay instead of focusing on trivial issues and stop blaming workers. We further wants to reiterate our position that unless the department addresses all issues identified in the inspectors report our members shall not be forced to enter the building. Our members will continue to render their services to the department provided they have the reassurances that their working environment is a safe and healthy one. In this regard, we therefore demand an compliance certificate and in addition:
 
a)   We demand scientific results pertaining to the black dust found in the offices
b)  We demand the fire safety inspection report showing complete compliance with fire safety regulations
 
In case the department cannot comply with the above an alternative building must be found to relocate the whole department. This is an urgent matter which cannot be delayed anymore.

 
Issued by NEHAWU