Article by Lieutenant Colonel A.H. Lishivha, Staff Officer 1, SA Army Occupational and Safety  

Occupational Health and Safety Act no 85 of 1993, provide for the health and safety of persons at work and for the health and safety of persons in connection with the use of plant and machinery; the protection of persons other than persons at work against hazards to health and safety arising out of, or in connection with the activities of persons at work. Section 8, General duties of employers to their employees, requires that every employer shall provide and maintain as far as reasonable practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of his employees. Section 14, General duties of employees at work, every employee shall at work take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions. In order to achieve the aim of the Act, training must be provided to employer, managers, practitioners, safety representatives, and other delegated personnel’s for the purpose of compliance.

Due to the facility challenges and limited capacity to present mandatory Occupational Health and Safety, competency training for members of the SA Army at the SA Military Health Service training facilities in Pretoria, an option for decentralised Occupational Health and Safety competency training was encouraged for all services and divisions.

The following courses were presented at difference decentralised venues.

• Occupational Health and Safety Act no 85 of 1993, A to Z learning programme over the period 25 to 29 June at Dektra training facilities in centurion. 20 SA Army members accepted on course and they were all found competent.

Advance Occupational Health & Safety Act (Act Number 85 of 1993) Course

• Safety Health Environmental Representative course at Joint Support Base Garrison over
  the period 25 June 2012 to 29 June 2012. 14 Joint Support Base Garrison members course and they were all found competent. (See picture 2)

Safety Representatives Course (Joint Support Base Garrison, Thaba Tshwane)