The Department of Labour (DoL) and its social partners signed the Chemical Sector Health and Safety Accord to improve the status of occupational health and safety (OHS) in the South African chemicals sector, in November 2013.

The accord was signed by the DoL; the Chemical and Allied Industry Association (Caia); South African Paint Manufacturers Association; the Congress of South African Trade Unions; the Federation of Unions of South Africa; South African Pesticides Control Association; Cosmetic, Toiletries and Fragrances Association; National Council of Trade Unions and Solidarity.

The aim of the Chemical Sector Health and Safety Accord is to prioritise matters of OHS, eliminate fatalities, injuries and diseases in the sector and to identify and implement best practices.

The accord also aims to raise awareness and promote industry initiatives focused on continual improvement of OHS in the chemicals sector. It will be implemented through the devel-opment of a joint action plan.
Caia says this plan is being developed and will be implemented over the next three years, through regular progress and planning meetings that will be attended by all of the social partners.

Caia explains that the accord commits the social partners, which include business, labour and government, to a vision of zero harm through proactive collaboration, where all parties aim to improve the status of all aspects of OHS in the chemicals sector, without compromising its sustainable growth.

Additionally, the accord values ethical conduct, honesty, transparency, empathy and integrity in realising its objectives.
Speaking at the signing, Caia deputy direc-tor-general Thobile Lamati shed some light on the motivations behind the initiative and urged those present to mobilise everyone in the chemicals industry value chain to support the accord’s objectives.

Lamati also reinforced the importance and value of voluntary industry initiatives to move the accord forward into an action plan.

Business Unity South Africa (Busa) committed itself to using the accord as a basis for cooperation with other social partners to build safe workplaces. The business association said the partnership would build a basis for the compilation of accurate data from the Compensation Fund, and establish a baseline to gauge progress on the implementation of occupational health and safety.

Busa called for joint plans of action, the development of joint reports and scheduling of regular meetings.

The South African Chemical Workers Union national organiser Bosole Chidi warned that the signing of the accord should not be about empty speeches of commitment.

“There needs to be outcomes that will benefit the workers,” he says.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, DoL director-general Nkosinathi Nhleko said, it was imperative to ensure that the practice of regulation was carried out better to achieve safety in workplaces.

Nhleko called upon all social partners to play a collaborative role in the coordination and implementation of health and safety campaigns in the workplace.