Occupational health and safety (OH&S) management relates to the risks faced by any business in terms of ensuring a safe working environment. It is to the long-term detriment of the profitability of any undertaking, and harms the overall satisfaction of its stakeholders, to ignore such risks or merely comply superficially to legal requirements.
An OH&S risk assessment, with its related plans and implementation, does not constitute a magic bullet for success. However, it does contribute to protecting an undertaking against non-compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993 and other relevant regulations. In addition, the important new international ISO 45001:2018 standard provides a framework to manage and improve OH&S.
Also consider the fact that all employers are legally responsible for their employees’ safety—irrespective of the industry or economic sector in which they are active. Employers can be prosecuted both civilly and criminally—and both as a business and in their personal capacity—if the relevant OH&S measures are not in place. This could happen in addition to fines, non-payment of insurance claims and, in extreme cases, a business’ closure until it is in full compliance with the law.
Specialist knowledge and advice can help to design effective and relevant OH&S strategies and plans. Leo van der Walt, the CEO of Beehive OH&S, is a registered member of the professional South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH). He has been technically trained at UCT and NOSA and can act as internal auditor for ISO standards ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO45001. Leo and his staff assist clients to overcome the minefield of regulatory OH&S requirements.