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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) in KwaZulu-Natal condemns Foskor in Richardsbay for exposing our members to an unsafe working environment. On Friday three contractors were rushed to the clinic after they were exposed to Ammonia. In another incident that same day, a worker was exposed to caustic fumes whilst on duty.
 
Fortunately, the workers were treated at the local clinic and they have been released. These incidents are happening two weeks after a worker died after he was allegedly exposed to dangerously high Ph levels in the factory. The management refused to evacuate workers from the factory floor when the Ph levels went up and the worker died. It is our view that if proper health and safety processes had been followed these incidents would never have happened.
 
It is clear that the management at Foskor is failing to create a safe and healthy working environment for workers. Foskor is a chemical manufacturing company, which is partly owned by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in Richardsbay. We do not understand why the IDC is silent on this matter, whilst workers are exposed to a dangerous working environment. Management has done very little to improve health and safety, and it is likely, that another worker may lose his/her life again because of sheer negligence.
 
The lack of proper health and safety are the reason why we are preparing to embark on a strike at Foskor. We demand a drastic improvement in health and safety at the factory. Furthermore, NUMSA will be part of the investigation which will look into the incident which resulted in the loss of life at Foskor. We demand that the management at Foskor improve on safety immediately.
 
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!
 

Issued by NUMSA