OHS BRIEFING FOR PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LABOUR

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OHS BRIEFING FOR PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LABOUR

• 20 AUGUST 2002

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OHS Briefing for Portfolio Committee on Labour

• 1. Presentation Outline (OHS Priorities for 2002
• a) Integration of OHS and Compensation
  competencies
• b) OHS Awareness Campaign
• c) Capacity Development
• d) Backlog reduction

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OHS - Briefing for Portfolio Committee on Labour

• e) Implementation of Inspection and Enforcement
  Strategy
• f) Creation of Stakeholder Structures

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Integration of OHS and Compensation competencies

• BACKGROUND
• Cabinet decision of 1 December 1999.
• The creation of single statute for OHS and
  compensation competencies and that these
  functions ultimately vest in the Department of
  Labour.

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Integration of OHS and Compensation competencies

• Ministers of Minerals and Energy and of Health
  amend their relevant legislation and thereby
  making the Minister of Labour responsible for the
  administration thereof and arrange transfer of
  funds for these functions.

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Integration of OHS and Compensation competencies

• Minister of Labour to initiate and oversee all
  OHS and compensation activities and steps
  necessary for integration on advice of the
  interim tripartite structure that would monitor
  the process.

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Integration of OHS and Compensation competencies

• Implementation Strategy
• The 3 DGs established the Interdepartmental
  Committee to facilitate the implementation of
  cabinet decision.
• The interim National Steering Committee was
  created with tripartite representatives to advise
  Minister of Labour and monitor this integration
  process.

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Integration of OHS and Compensation competencies

• The 3 DGs advised that the cabinet vision be
  translated into a national policy developed under
  the leadership of the Minister of Labour in
  conjunction with Ministers of Health and Minerals
  and Energy.

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Integration of OHS and Compensation competencies

• The national Steering Committee facilitated the
  drafting of overarching national OHS policy. Key
  tripartite stakeholders (COSATU, NACTU, FEDUSA
  and Business South Africa) made inputs.

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• POLICY PROPOSALS READY FOR ADOPTION BY THREE
  MINISTERS
• POLICY PROPOSAL TO BE TABLED IN CABINET
• GOVT POLICY TO BE DISCUSSED AT NEDLAC
• LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT

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THE WAY FORWARD FOR INTEGRATION

• Approval of this draft policy document by cabinet
  as a basis for stakeholders debate at NEDLAC
• National Occupational Health and Safety
  Integration Bill be tabled in Parliament the
  earliest possible time. The purpose of the bill
  is to establish a National Occupational Health
  and Safety Authority which will effect cabinet
  decision, establish and implement the integrated
  national OHS system (pp 32-34)

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OHS Awareness Campaign

• OHS strategic focus is prevention through
  awareness
• Signed National OHS Accord on 8 April 2002
• Established National Forum for OHS Stakeholders.
• Launched the campaign on appointment of Health
  and Safety Representatives (HSR).
• Provincial Forums for OHS Stakeholders being
  created
• HSR blitz launched in August 2002

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Joint Ventures with Social Partners

• Five provinces have created OHS Stakeholders
  Forum.
• Two provinces have signed OHS Accord with
  provincial partners.
• Nine provincial offices have created backlog
  focus units.
• The Advisory Council for OHS and the Diving
  Council meet periodically.

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Joint ventures with Social Partners

• Liaison with Business Chambers has started (27 B/
  Chambers targeted.
• Launched National Committee for OHS in
  Construction on 17 July 2002.
• Launched Electrical Safety forums in Gauteng and
  Limpopo.

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CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• Cleaning up the records to establish extent of
  backlog.
• Defining the backlog.
• Disaggregate cases.
• Developed strategy to handle backlog.

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Capacity Building

• Technikon-SA DOL agreement for inspector
  training.
• 393 inspectors completed training, 143 completed
  some modules.
• In-house Training for inspectors with OHS focus.
• Introduction to the SA Legal System 27
  inspectors, OHS ACT 31 inspectors, HBA Re-
• gulations Diving Regulations 126 inspectors
  and Construction Regulations 22 inspectors

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Cooperative Governance

• Signed Memorandum of Understanding with
• NDT (National Department of Transport).
• DME and SAPS agreed to sign MOU with DOL

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Legislation/Regulations

• For improved enforcement these regulations have
  been developed published for comments.
• Explosives Regulations
• Noise Induced Hearing Loss Regulations
• General Administrative Regulations
• Electrical Installation Regulations
• Construction Regulations

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Inspection Enforcement Services(IES)

• IES Strategy introduced integrated inspection
  which is starting to increase awareness and
  reduce incidents
• Proactive Inspections - 2102
• Reactive Inspections - 1974
• Total Inspections 4076
• Tools of trade( cars Cell phones) supplied

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I THANK YOU