South Africa

The National Institute For Occupational Health estimated the South African workforce to be in the region of 11.5 Million people in 2010. It's role is to 'develop and support occupational health initiatives to improve and maintain the health of the South African workforce'.

Efforts have been made to improve South African workers health and safety. In 1993, South Africa amended their comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety Act, which is intended to cover employers and their employees in most work settings. This Act is similar to the United States OSHA of 1970, in that it includes the requirement that employers have a "duty to inform" employees of as well as protect them from workplace hazards. In addition, safety inspectors may investigate any injury or death incidents. Further, in the case when an employer flagrantly violates the Act, and a worker is consequently killed, the violator can be charged, fined (up to 100,000 rand, which is equivalent to US $16,500), and imprisoned for up to two years (Department of Labour, South Africa, 2004).

This safety Act, however, does not apply to mines, mining areas, or mining works. Those working in mines, however, are covered by the 1996 Mine Health and Safety Act. Under this Act, employers of all active mines (i.e. those that are currently being worked) must maintain as is "reasonably practicable," a working mine environment that is designed, constructed, and equipped "to provide conditions for safe operation and a healthy working environment" for miners (Acts Online, 2004). As part of this Act, employers and employees are required to "identify hazards and eliminate, control and minimize the risks relating to health and safety and mines" (Acts Online, 2004).

In terms of specific sectors facing violence, a study was undertaken as part of an ILO / ICN / WHO / PSI consultative programme where health sector workers were found to be subject to a wide range of violence in the workplace. Taken over a 12 month period statistics showed that 9% of the healthcare staff suffered physical violence in the workplace, with an overall 17% suffering from it across the public sector. Over 50% of private sector workers studied had suffered verbal abuse as part of their job. (Violence at Work 3rd edition).

To speak to an authorised resller of Connexion2 products in South Africa please visit:
www.cstelectronics.co.za