The importance of health and safety in the workplace

Health and safety at work is important because it protects the wellbeing of employers, visitors and customers. Looking after health and safety makes good business sense. Workplaces which neglect health and safety risk prosecution, may lose staff, and may increase costs and reduce profitability. It is therefor important to understand the responsibilities of the employer as well as the employee in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (OHS Act).

Every chief executive officer shall as far as is reasonably practicable ensure that the duties of his/her employer as contemplated in this Act, are properly discharged. The OHS Act requires the employer to bring about and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a work environment that is safe and without risk to the health of the workers. This means that the employer must ensure that the workplace is free of hazardous substances, such as benzene, chlorine and microorganisms (bacteria, protozoa, algae, viruses and fungi), articles, equipment, processes, etc. that may cause injury, damage or disease. Where this is not possible, the employer must inform workers of these dangers, how they may be prevented, and how to work safely, and provide other protective measures for a safe workplace.

However, it is not expected of the employer to take sole responsibility for health and safety. The OHS Act is based on the principle that dangers in the workplace must be addressed by communication and cooperation between the workers and the employer. The workers and the employer must share the responsibility for health and safety in the workplace. Both parties must pro-actively identify dangers and develop control measures to make the workplace safe. In this way, the employer and the workers are involved in a system where health and safety representatives may inspect the workplace regularly and then report to a health and safety committee, who in turn may submit recommendations to the employer. To ensure that this system works, every worker must know his or her rights and duties as contained in the OHS Act.