The trade union Solidarity on Friday said it finds it regrettable that oil and chemicals group Sasol has not invited organised labour to join in the internal inquiry into the recent explosion at its Secunda ethylene plant.
The death toll from the blast on Wednesday at Sasol Secunda ethylene plant remains at six, Sasol spokesperson Johann van Rheede said on Friday.
“Five people remain in intensive care and 15 in the general wards,” he added.
The ethylene plant site has been declared safe and investigations by Sasol. The Department of Labour has moved to determine the cause of the incident.
The investigation, conducted by the department, Sasol and the police, began on Thursday.
The trade union added that no attempt has been made to involve the trade unions that are organised at Sasol.
“Sasol’s actions show a disregard for transparency. The company is manipulating the process by excluding the trade unions from the proceedings,” Solidarity occupational safety expert Chris Pienaar said.
“Sasol now has exclusive access to the scene of the disaster. This gives rise to fears that damage control may be exercised in the absence of neutral observers and Solidarity as a stakeholder. In term of Section 18 2 (a) (b) and (d) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations 85 of 1993, Solidarity representatives have the statuary right to attend and participate in the in loco inspection, inquiry and investigation.
“The fact that this was the third explosion at Sasol this year is cause for grave concern. It is also regrettable that Sasol disregarded the results of the investigation into the explosion at the Synfuels Phenosolvan West plant on June 21st, in which Dyllan Ward was killed,” said Pienaar.
Solidarity had asked Sasol to perform a safety audit at its Secunda plant after that explosion.
The minister of labour ordered an investigation into the event and Solidarity joined in the investigation, since it has many members working at the plant in question.
Solidarity said during the course of the investigation it became clear that a new safety framework was needed at Sasol. — I-Net Bridge