OHS Chat

I have been galvanized into action by an article which first appeared in Die Beeld sometime ago by Sonia Carstens, a journalist who seems to have her pulse on OHS matters. In my Special Subscriber Newsletter entitled ‘Stinky Courts’, I actually touched on the topic but thought that I should spread it further since it appears to be taken on dimensions of its own and, at the same time, could be a useful exercise in exploring all the possible OHS criminal charges that could emanate from this particular case. Plus, of course, it feeds my twisted devilish mind.

Before I continue here is an extract from the report which is in Afrikaans so you Durban Banana Boys won’t understand a word….’ DG betaal nie, moet hof toe oor gebou vol gasse. Die Beeld van 10 Augustus 2004. 'Adv. Vusi Pikoli moet Woensdag as direkteur-generaal van justisie in die Pretoriase streekhof verskyn weens beweerde oortredings van die Wet op Beroepsveiligheid en Gesondheid. Pikoli het Maandag nog nie die R5 000 skulderkenningsboete betaal om vervolging weens die beweerde oortredings vry te spring nie. Dié boete is vroeër deur die kantoor van die direkteur van openbare vervolging (DOV) vasgestel ná 'n besluit om Pikoli te vervolg. Die staat beweer Pikoli het as direkteur-generaal 'n kennisgewing van die departement van arbeid gëgnoreer waarvolgens die Pretoriase landdroshof gesluit moes word. Dit was nadat forensiese toetse gewys het dat dodelike gasse deur die lugversorger versprei word. Dié gebou was ook 'n brandgevaar en sleg geventileer omdat daar nie vensters was wat kan oopmaak nie'.

Now there was an article that preceded it which stated that the Director-general (DG) of the Department of Justice was compelled to pay the fine for ignoring the Contravention Notice that DoL served on the Magistrates courts. I assume it was a Contravention Notice as opposed to a Prohibition Notice and it pertained to (deadly) noxious gases in the air-conditioning system of the courts which obviously had the potential of affecting the health of the workers in court. The article stated further that the DG compelled workers to continue working in these unhealthy conditions or face dismissal!

Now I know that I should not be smirking since we are talking about a deadly gas but I can’t help it. You see the Specialised OHS Court, which initially imposed the fine on the employer, (Department of Justice) is seated within those courts and these OHS Specialist prosecutors workers were thus also exposed to those deadly gases! Now those very same prosecutors have initiated through the courts (I guess) a warrant for the arrest of the DG as he has failed to pay the fine. Isn’t that what one calls poetic justice?

But it gets worse. Surely, if this report is correct, the DG and the Department of Justice must be charged with contravening section 8 of the OHS Act in that they failed to provide their employees, including the specialised OHS prosecutors, with a safe and healthy working environment? That carries a maximum fine of R50 000 or 1 years behind bars. Now if the DG did indeed threaten persons with dismissal should they refuse to work in an unhealthy environment that goes way beyond reasonable behaviour and into the realms of reckless or willful behaviour. That too is a crime in terms of section 38(1)(p) of the OHS Act. And reckless behaviour should aggravate in any OHS criminal matter and induce a magistrate to impose a prison term as opposed to a fine? If someone did indeed become ill, it could be regarded as assault. The lesser offence being negligent injury / illness (section 38(2) which carries a R100 000 fine or 2 years in jail or both. There is also the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces and then there is Contempt of Court. Or is that sommer plain contempt?

Should the DG of the Department of Justice go to jail if convicted? Click here for yes and click here for no. Please.

Folks, I’m working on a new look homepage on my website at www.klasslooch.com . Tell me what you think? I thought it needed a little spicing up. Remember I do it all myself and I have never had a single second’s training. So be nice.

In fact be so nice as to come or encourage / order you colleagues to come to my last OHS Legislation Workshops for 2004.

Click on http://www.klasslooch.com/2004_june_sem_booking.htm for On-Line Registration for 20 August and earn an immediate 10% discount per delegate.

Click on http://www.klasslooch.com/2004_june_sem_booking.htm for On-Line Registration for November and earn huge discounts. (25% per delegate if you register and pay before end September plus Group Discounts.

Mailers pertaining to the workshops will be posted soon and those of you who have been harassed by (Friendly) faxes, please forgive me. Our Fax polling system crashed with our motherfboard. (That’s a thing in a computer and I object to the sexist nature of the word. Where is the fatherboard?).

Well that’s me. I have managed to punch this out with a throbbing mouth as my butcher – I mean dentist – removed most of my mouth yesterday. The stitches tickles though. At least can lick my own wounds.

As ever.

Your Devil’s Advocate

PS. What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
Frostbite.

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