NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO:1767 NW1996E
Mrs PC Duncans (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:
(1) Whether her department has inspected any of the Department of
Health's Forensic Chemistry Laboratories (FCLs) with regard to health
and safety and occupational injuries and diseases; if so, in each
case, (a) when, (b) which aspect of the specified legislation did the
FCL fail to comply with, (c) what action has her department taken, (d)
what follow-up inspection has her department conducted; if not, (i)
why not and (ii) how frequently is her department obliged to inspect
workplaces;
(2) Whether her department intends inspecting the specified FCLs in the
near future; if not, why not, in each case, if so, when, in each case?
MINISTER OF LABOUR RESPONSE:
1) Department of Labour has never inspected the Department of Healthâs
Forensic Chemistry Laboratories
However during 2009 and 2010 Inspection and Enforcement Services embarked
on Blitzes as well as monthly hospital inspections to establish the
compliance levels of the Department of Healthâs hospitals and clinics with
the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The following notices were issued
during the inspections and blitzes
⢠Prohibition
⢠Contravention and
⢠Improvement Notices
Follow-up inspections where done within 60 days and special training
sessions were held with some of the Hospital staff to improve Health and
safety awareness. The following Hospitals were inspected in 2009-2010:
|Name of the hospital |Place |
|1. Dr JS Moroka Hospital |Thaba Nchu |
|2. Thusanong District Hospital |Ondendaalsrus |
|3. Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital |Welkom |
|4. St. Helena Private Hospital |Welkom |
|5. Pelonomi Private Hospital |Bloemfontein |
|6. Bongani Regional Hospital |Welkom |
|7. Universitas Academic Hospital |Bloemfontein |
|8. Pelonomi Regional Hospital |Bloemfontein |
|9. 3 Military Hospital Tempe |Bloemfontein |
|10. Medi-clinic |Bloemfontein |
|11. Milpark Hospital |Johannesburg |
|12. Shongwe Hospital |KaMhlushwa |
|13. Unitas Private Hospital |Pretoria |
|14. George Mukhari Hospital |Garankuwa |
|15. Cosmos Hospital |Witbank |
|16. Seshego Public Hospital |Seshego |
|17. Limpopo Medi-clinic |Polokwane |
|18. Kimberley Medi-clinic |Kimberley |
|19. Kimberley Public Hospital |Kimberley |
|20. Chris Hani Baragwanath |Soweto |
|Hospital | |
Question 2
Yes.
Inspection and Enforcement Services Branch focuses on different high risk
and problematic sectors. The Chemical Sector has been identified as one of
these problematic sectors and during March 2012 IES will focus on
Laboratories and this will include the SAPS and the Department of Healthâs
forensic laboratories.