Construction World October 2022

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PRIORITISING SAFETY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES

S tatistics published by Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) reveal that 6 423 workplace accidents requiring medical attention were reported in 2021. Of these reported incidents, 56 resulted in fatalities. In addition, the report indicates that 11 761 days were lost in 2021 as a result of employees being injured and five people were permanently disabled. In light of this, the Master Builders’ Association Western Cape (MBAWC) urges its members, employers and employees in

the construction industry to prioritise safety both on and off site at all times with a view to eliminating accidents. Health and Safety Manager at the MBAWC, Deon Bester ( pictured ), says the FEM figures are concerning. “Not only is any death, injury or disablement unacceptable, the downtime that occurs as a result of accidents impacts the overall delivery of projects”. “This is why employers and employees need to work together when it comes to health and safety compliance. The Occupational Health and Safety Act states that all employees have the right to work in a safe environment, but with that comes the responsibility of complying with the health and safety standards that have been put in place,” he adds. A closer look at the most common accidents that occur within the construction industry reveals that motor accidents are one of the largest contributors to the issue. “This is a very difficult area to control, but people who make use of company transport, especially those being transported in open vehicles, must know the rules of the road. These employees should not allow themselves to be transported in unsafe modes of transport. Employers operating these vehicles should always ensure that they abide by the requirements of the National Road Traffic Act, as well as the requirements of section 23 of the Construction Regulations,” says Bester. While many contractors and employers invest significantly in training their staff about health and safety compliance, it is up to all parties to ensure adherence to the safety learnings and on-site measures. The MBAWC offers assistance to its members to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety Act. “We believe that nobody should lose their life while at work, which is why we offer advice on how our members can ensure that safety is constantly prioritised – both on and off site,” concludes Bester. 

MBSA TACKLES KEY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY MATTERS AT ITS ANNUAL CONGRESS

O n 9 September Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) addressed key challenges of the construction industry in South Africa at its annual Congress. The event was addressed by Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa from the Office of the Presidency. Dr Ramokgopa is the Head of Investment and Infrastructure in the Office of the President of South Africa. He shed light on key interventions to rescue the construction industry from collapse and how a closer working relationship between government and the industry can be fostered to address infrastructure challenges in the country. Commenting on the decision to host the event this year after a two-year hiatus, the Executive Director of Master Builders, Roy Mnisi said it was the considered intention of the

Federation to draw attention to the troubled sector following the impact of floods experienced in the 2021/22 rain season, social unrest of July 2021 and the socio-economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. “The combination of these adverse events has had a devastating impact on the construction industry, communities’ livelihoods and damage to social and capital infrastructure” said Mnisi. Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) is a Federation of registered employer Associations representing contractors and employers in the construction industry and is regulated in terms of Section 107 of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995. The Federation’s nine Master Builders Associations, and three Affiliate Associations represent more than 4 000 contractors and employers in the industry. 

12 CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2022