I read the article in last Monday's SafetyXChange newsletter describing Dr. Richard E. Kauk's experience with an OHS inspector at an asbestos abatement project in Ontario, Canada.
As one who practices industrial safety halfway across the world, I would like to offer my personal perspective on the OHS/OSHA inspection process and Dr. Kauk's article.

South Africa's Proud Heritage of Workplace Safety

I work as Company Safety Officer for a mid-sized company (≈400 employees) in South Africa, based near Johannesburg. My employer provides a variety of high-tech industrial support and maintenance services to the major South African cellular service providers, not only in South Africa but also in 18 countries throughout Africa. My duties encompass a full spectrum of OHS-related tasks, ranging from policy and planning to inspections and auditing. In my 25 years of experience as a safety practitioner, I have just about seen it all. However, through your website and related forums I manage to keep abreast of the latest techniques, tips, news, etc, as no such facility exists within our country.

In South Africa, we attempt to practice OHS on the basis of the principles and legislation that apply in the USA and Canada. In fact, I believe South Africa was once the world leaders in this field (or very close thereto), thanks to our very strong and organised Department of Labour with its OHS Inspectorate. Along with this facility as backbone for OHS, in 1957 we established a non-profitable organisation called NOSA (National Occupational Safety Association) that pioneered many of the OHS standards and methods used throughout the world today.

The South African System Today

But that was a long time ago. Sadly, the effectiveness and expertise of both the aforementioned organisations has been ciphered away since democracy came to our country. The Department of Labour OHS Inspectorate is a shadow of its former self; and NOSA was forced to close last year due to mismanagement, bribery and theft.

Nowadays, a South African company can regard itself lucky if an OHS inspector visits a construction site or workplace at all. In the majority of cases when they do show up, inspectors are often unqualified, incompetent and totally out of their depth. Many don't know the contents of the OHS Act and Regulations, or how to apply the legislation to the particular workplace or circumstances.

Unsavory practices such as bribery are also rife among inspectors in the field. Many employers know this and use it to their advantage. In rare instances when cases get prosecuted, they take forever. I know of OHS investigations and court cases that are still outstanding after seven years! Employer correspondence or enquiries to the OHS Inspectorate virtually never get answered or followed up.

I can go on for a long time with horrendous stories about the OHS Inspectorate in this country that would make your hair stand up.

Other African Countries

Things are even worse in other parts of Africa, according to the stories we hear from our personnel who work in these countries. The absence of essential basic requirements such as OHS legislation, OHS programmes, practices, procedures and even basic OHS inspection principles is widespread. In certain African countries our teams are even forced to evacuate a worksite unless bribes are paid to the local vigilantes, who are forever demanding money for food, clothing, etc.

Conclusion

So to Dr. Kauk and other safety professionals in the U.S. and Canada, I would like to say that being able to complain about obnoxious safety inspectors and inconvenient inspection procedures is a luxury that we in South Africa don't possess. Spare a thought for us who would trade places with you at the drop of a hat. I, for one, would give almost anything to work in a professional and dedicated OHS work environment. In short, come to South Africa and you'll understand how good you got it in North America.

Regards,

Ben Esterhuizen

THE WORLD OF SAFETY

South Africa at-a-Glance

By Glenn Demby

With a population of 46.9 million, South Africa is one of the most technologically advanced countries in Africa. The nation is divided into nine provinces and 367 magisterial districts. The country was a province of Holland from 1672 until being ceded to England in 1810 during the Napoleonic wars. The country remained under English possession until 1910 when it became a self-governing member of the British Commonwealth. South Africa became independent in 1961. It was ruled by the white minority until democracy was established in 1994.

As throughout most of Africa, unemployment in South Africa is extremely high. Most of those who are able to find jobs work in mining, agriculture and industry.

South Africa was one of the early pioneers of workplace safety. It has OSHA/OHS legislation that is in many ways similar to that of the U.S. and Canada. But, as Mr. Esterhuizen notes, the biggest problem is enforcement and administration. Unions have lobbied for more aggressive enforcement but have achieved little success.

Data about the rate of workplace injury in South Africa is hard to come by. But it's fair to say that South African workers enjoy less substantial protections than their U.S. and Canadian counterparts.

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