Health & Safety

Why is it required?

Health and Safety in the workplace is a serious matter with significant legal penalties for those who do not implement and comply with the Act and Regulations. The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993, requires the employer to bring about and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a work environment that is safe and without risk to the health of the workers. The workers and the employer share a dual responsibility for health and safety in the workplace.

What is the benefit?

What are the benefits of following health and safety practices?

There are numerous benefits to following health and safety practices in the workplace, and benefits are based on employers demonstrating a ‘duty of care’ for their workers and anyone else who may be on their premises or acting on their behalf.

Benefit 1 – Protecting your workers
Following health and safety guidelines is primarily to protect employers and their workers from injury, illness, or coming into any other form of harm in the workplace. One of the main benefits of following health and safety practices is, but is not limited to, the prevention of common workplace injuries such as back pain, falling from a height, asthma, injuries from slips and trips, and asbestos-related illness.

Benefit 2 – Reducing absences
Following health and safety guidelines and maintaining a safe workplace will reduce the risk of work-related illnesses and injuries, and therefore reduce staff absences. Employers therefore also save money on the direct costs of absences, such as paying salaries.

Benefit 3 – Improving productivity
If your colleagues and employees are able to work in a safe environment, this will improve morale and overall productivity.

Benefit 4 – Saving money
By maintaining health and safety practices in the workplace, and therefore reducing absences and improving productivity, you will be saving money by retaining staff. Money spent on absences and recruitment processes will decrease, and the business’ profits will increase.

Following health and safety guidelines and maintaining a safe workplace will reduce the risk of work-related illnesses and injuries, and therefore reduce staff absences. Employers therefore also save money on the direct costs of absences, such as paying salaries.
Our Safety Division will help you keep your business up to date and ensure you are able to ensure employees follow correct procedures.

Flip de Witt

Flip started his career in 1981 as a Safety Officer, implementing and managing Health and Safety, Management Systems, administrating and maintaining policies and practices in line with statutory requirements and specific contractual and project requirements.

Career based on experience as a Health and Safety Manager within manufacturing, telecoms, and facilities management.

Member of the Institute of Safety Management (IoSM) and registered as an Occupational Health and Safety Professional. (RosProf)

He has completed the SAMTRAC certification requirements and also obtained his National Diploma in Safety Management at Technicon RSA in 1992.

Flip’s main hobbies are family, research, camping, and various outdoor activities.

Derek Doveton

Derek started his career in Safety in 2000 as an Occupational Health and Safety training officer within the corporate environment and later moved into the Governance and Operation fields of Safety management where he remained until his voluntary early retirement as Senior Manager of Risk and Compliance / Occupational Health and Safety in 2019.

Accreditation

Tertiary:
Certificate in training – Rand Afrikaans University

Certification:
Integrated Internal SHEQ auditor – Certificate
SAMTRAC – Certificate / Cum laude
OHSAS 18001:2007 & ISO 14001:2004 certified
Risk Assessor – Certificate
Incident investigations – Certificate
Environmental Management & Systems – Certificate

Interest / Hobbies
Golf
Camping
Family fun