Deputy Minister of Labour Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa told the 2014 Master Builders’ Association Congress that the department is deeply concerned about occupational health and safety standards in the building and construction sector.

“Lately, we have witnessed too frequently the collapse of buildings, resulting in many people losing their lives,” she said.

According to the Department of Labour’s report on occupational health and safety incidents in 2013/14, there were 230 fatal incidents, 780 non-fatal incidents and 12 non-casualty incidents.

“This is totally unacceptable. One death on the construction site is one too many,” stressed Holomisa. She highlighted that some of these incidents can be prevented if the industry complies with the minimum standards and stops taking short-cuts.

“It has become so dangerous to work in the building and construction sector that a number of workers are still working there out of sheer desperation; if they had a choice they wouldn’t come anywhere near a construction site.”

Holomisa pointed out that building and construction is an important industry not only from an economic perspective, but also from a social point of view.

“For this reason I truly encourage the industry to ensure compliance and adherence to health and safety policies and procedures thereby eliminating the dangers that are associated with the trade.  A safe and healthy environment will make construction jobs more desirable and continue to contribute towards skills development,” she concluded.