The Department of Labour (DoL) has launched an investigation into an incident at KatzStone Granite and Quartz, in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, which resulted in the death of one worker dead and the injury of three others.
Details of the incident were scant and remained the subject of an investigation; however, a preliminary investigation suggested that three employees and the owner of the company had been removing granite slabs inside a container last week.
It was alleged that, while removing the last batch, one piece of the granite fell, triggering the rest to tumble down and strike the workers.
The preliminary investigation by the DoL’s labour inspectors found that the deceased was not trained, a risk assessment was not conducted, precautionary measures were not determined and personal protective equipment was not issued to the workers.
If the employer was found to be negligent and to have flouted any aspect of the law, a recommendation to prosecute would be made to the Director of Public Prosecutions.