The Department of Labor in South Africa is set to host a Construction Seminar ahead of the implementation of registration of construction Health and Safety Professionals and the Construction Work Permit new regulations.
The Construction Seminar which is set to be held on the 9th of July will be held at the Emperor’s Palace in Boksburg South Africa. This will be preceded by broad training session which targets Departmental Provincial Inspectors, Special inspectors and Principal Inspectors.
The training for inspectors will focus on administration of the new construction regulations 2014 which should be effective by August 2015. There will also be discussions on how to administer construction permits to control management of construction projects.
The South African Construction sector has been under scrutiny in the past two years after the fatal collapse of the Tongaat Mall in 2013. There was also the collapse of the Meyersdale Structural Collapse occurrence in Gauteng.
The new construction Regulations launched in 2014 is aimed at advancing the “Zero Harm” initiative in the work place while at the same time promoting social dialogue on occupational health and safety matters.
This has resulted in the signing of various Accords with industries including the Construction sector by the Department of Labor.
The first ever construction regulations were disseminated in 18th July 2003 after the Department of Labor and the Construction Union identified the need for one. Initially, there was the use of General safety rules which were not as sufficient.
The Construction Seminar will be held under the Theme: Construction Regulations 2014- Implementation Phase and more than 650 delegates are expected to attend.
