Officials from South African oil and chemicals group Sasol and representatives from three major trade unions on Monday agreed to the establishment of an occupational health and safety charter.
The three trade unions registered at Sasol are the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu), Solidarity and the South African Chemical Workers’ Union.
“The objective of the meeting held in Johannesburg today [Monday] was to work towards the establishment of an occupational health and safety charter signed by all parties in the near future.
“The parties agreed that safety is the first priority at all Sasol operations and emphasised that the aim is to achieve ‘zero harm’,” Sasol said in a statement.
“There was a meeting today and we were fairly pleased about the progress toward establishing a zero-harm environment for our members and other Sasol employees,” Ceppwawu deputy secretary general Keith Jacobs said.
“Sasol appears to be serious about establishing a health and safety charter. The process will see a draft health and safety charter being formulated,” Jacobs added.
“This initiative follows recent safety-related incidents at Sasol and a commitment to working with unions and other stakeholders in finding solutions to these safety concerns,” Sasol said.
Sixteen people have died at Sasol facilities in the 2005 financial year.
In early September 2004, Sasol’s Secunda operations saw 10 people die as a result of an explosion. The incident is currently the subject of an inquiry.
“These discussions followed a week after United States safety consultant DuPont Safety Resources presented an overview of its preliminary findings on Sasol’s safety culture, practices and procedures to Sasol management and representatives of the three unions,” Sasol added.
Present from Sasol’s side was human resources director Jannie van der Westhuizen; labour specialist Fanie Ernst, who liaises with the unions; and safety, health and environment representative Dr Mike Rose, Sasol spokesperson Johann van Rheede said. — I-Net Bridge