Fifty out of 85 construction employers were found to be violating workplace safety regulations during an on-site crackdown by labour inspectors in the Eastern Cape, the Labour Department said on Wednesday.
Department spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said seven construction sites had been shut down and an additional 48 contravention notices were served.
The notices were served to 50 of 85 employers visited on site in Mthatha, East London, Queenstown and Port Elizabeth in the first two days of a five-day inspection blitz, which started on Monday.
”All nine provinces are currently conducting inspections in the construction industry — these are specifically to do with occupational health and safety.”
Employers were randomly chosen and not informed of the inspections, Sigabi said.
The contravention notices were served for minor violations in which employers were given 30 and 60 days to take corrective action.
Operations had been shut down where employers were served with prohibition notices. These employers had to address the violations before being given the go-ahead by labour inspectors in order to continue operations, Sigabi said.
On Tuesday Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana led a similar operation in the Western Cape, where a contractor was cautioned for contravening various Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Sigabi said disregard of workplace safety measures had continued to be a trend as the labour inspectors went on the surprise inspections.
Increased vigilance against non-compliance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations was needed with 2010 World Cup preparations putting the construction industry under rising pressure, she said. — Sapa