The Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993 is the cornerstone of workplace safety legislation in South Africa, and its importance is especially relevant in the agricultural sector.
Emerentia Patientia, senior project manager at Fairtrade, has said farming is a hazardous occupation with workers regularly exposed to dangerous machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and tough environmental conditions.
Experts in the industry noted that a safe and healthy working environment makes the farm a more attractive place to work, helping to retain skilled workers and attract new talent.
“Health and safety is increasingly becoming a concern and is very important because it protects employees from hazardous equipment, machinery and chemicals in the workplace,” Patientia said.
She explained that global warming adds to these challenges, as agri-workers are increasingly exposed to extreme weather conditions due to the outdoor nature of their work.
Importance of adhering to laws
“One might think there is no time to consider the dangers of the work out there, but it is very important that farmers and farmworkers attend regular training to bring these concerns to mind because it will help to prevent injuries and illnesses,” she said.
Ensuring health and safety on farms can be challenging, especially with limited infrastructure. However, crop and livestock farmer Thulani Magida from Keiskammahoek Eastern Cape is making strides to protect his workers.
“This is one of the difficult areas to comply fully with given our infrastructural circumstances. Nonetheless, we do what we can to ensure the safety of our employees on the farm,” Magida shared.
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Tightening loose ends
To reduce the risks posed by hazardous chemicals, Magida explained that he provides gas masks during spraying to prevent the inhalation of toxins. In addition, protective clothing such as gloves and safety boots are issued to workers.
While proper chemical storage facilities are unavailable, fertilisers are kept in designated areas to maintain a level of safety, he added.
“I have also provided training to my drivers for tractor operation which included safety requirements,” he said.
At Groote Post in the Western Cape, communications manager Peter Pentz shared that his team upholds high standards of occupational health and safety by complying with Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA) guidelines.
“The WIETA promotes ethical trade by providing training, technical assessments, and audits. These social audits help us ensure that we meet not just the legal requirements of South Africa’s labour and occupational health and safety laws, but also go beyond compliance,” he said.
Pentz explained that they aim to integrate sustainable ethical principles and practices into their daily operations.
“Maintaining high occupational and health standards in farming is not just a matter of compliance but a key factor in the overall success and sustainability of farming operations,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the department of labour and employment on the enforcement of the law in the farming communities were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
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