Health & Safety – is your company compliant?
Every business in South Africa with more than two employees is required by law to have a valid Health and Safety Compliance Certificate, issued by a registered company such as Hesscon (Pty) Ltd.
The Certificate of Compliance (COC) is valid for one year and must be re-issued annually. If you can’t produce a valid Health & Safety Compliance Certificate when required to do so by the Department of Labour or the Fire Department, you could face a fine of up to R1 million or 10 years in jail. Worse, if you don’t have the necessary health and safety structures and procedures in place, you could be putting the lives of your staff and customers at risk.
Don’t believe this could ever happen to you? The fact is that fatalities in the work place are far more commonplace than you might think. The risk of fire, especially, is hugely underestimated by many business owners, who skip fire drills and fail to draw up proper evacuation plans.
2.78 million fatal accidents annually
The fact is that globally 2.78 million fatal accidents occur at work every year. That means an average of almost 7 700 people lose their lives every week as a result of work related injuries or illnesses. Making your work environment safe is about more than just providing fire extinguishers and first aid kits. It’s about being aware of risk areas … putting safety procedures in place … and making sure that staff wear the prescribed protective clothing, and are properly trained to handle hazardous or flammable chemicals, equipment and machinery.
Whether your business environment is relatively low risk – e.g. offices or a retail store – or carries the higher risks associated with manufacturing, logistics or construction, Hesscon will conduct safety audits of your workplace, and ensure you’re legally compliant with a valid Health and Safety Compliance Certificate.
How do I get a Health and Safety Compliance Certificate?
Health and Safety Compliance Certificates are issued following a site inspection of your factory or business premises by qualified auditors from a company such as Hesscon, which is registered with the relevant authorities. Auditors check for workplace risks and hazards, and assess safety control measures that are in place, including evacuation plans. Any areas of concern need to be addressed before the business is issued with a Health and Safety Compliance Certificate.
How much does it cost?
Hesscon offers a range of options depending on the size of the company, the level of risk, and whether or not effective safety systems are already in place. Your Health and Safety Compliance Certificate could cost from as little as R3 700 up to R20 000 or more for large, high risk companies. Call us for a quote for your specific requirements.
What is a Safety File and can I create this myself?
A Safety File is a record of information related to the implementation and management of health and safety systems and procedures for a company or a specific project. It serves as proof of compliance to safety specifications set down by the
Occupational Health and Safety Act and protects the business owner or employer against liability.
In our experience, DIY Safety Files often fall short, because the business owner isn’t trained to identify potential hazards and shortcomings in the same way as a professional safety auditor, and lacks the necessary understanding of the various regulations in place. When it comes to securing the safety of staff, customers and business or factory premises, it doesn’t pay to cut corners. Don’t wait until something goes wrong to call in the experts.
Hesscon – it’s all about safety
We offer three core services:
- Health and Safety consulting;
- British Safety Council international training;
- Various SETA accredited training products that relate directly to workplace health and safety.
More recently, we’ve added other training courses for ISO, human resources, management, Microsoft software and wellness – to provide a holistic training service. Click here for more details on our courses.
Tailored to your needs
Every company is different … and so are their safety requirements. Our aim is to instill a positive health & safety culture within companies, and to ensure full legal compliance. We are committed to formalising the health and safety industry, and making sure that all businesses in South Africa understand their responsibility towards their staff and customers. We strive to be a source of advice and information, keeping clients up to date on all matters relating to Health & Safety and Training. Click here to see companies that work with Hesscon.
Our Credentials
Hesscon is a credible, professional Occupational Health & Safety Consultant and Training Service Provider. We are a British Safety Council Approved Training Centre for the International Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety, the Department of Labour and other institutes.
