Occupational Health & Safety for Manufacturing Companies

Yes. Employers have a legal duty under Section 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of employees. Manufacturing risk assessments help identify workplace hazards, evaluate risks and implement suitable control measures to protect employees and support compliance. 

Yes. Section 17 of the OHS Act requires employers with more than 20 employees at a workplace to designate Health and Safety Representatives in writing. Manufacturing facilities generally require at least one Health and Safety Representative for every 50 employees or part thereof. Health and Safety Representatives assist with inspections, hazard identification, incident investigations and employee safety concerns.

Manufacturing businesses commonly face hazards such as:

• Moving machinery and equipment
• Forklift and workplace traffic
• Hazardous chemical exposure
• Manual handling injuries
• Fire and explosion risks
• Noise exposure
• Contractor activities
• Slips, trips and falls

Identifying and controlling these hazards is essential for maintaining a safe workplace and reducing incident rates.

Training requirements depend on the activities performed in the workplace. 

Common manufacturing training includes workplace induction training, Health & Safety Representative Training, Accident & Incident Investigation Training, Fire Fighting Training, Legal Liability Training and task-specific equipment training. 

Employers must ensure employees are adequately informed, instructed and trained regarding workplace hazards and safe work procedures.

Yes, where two or more Health and Safety Representatives have been designated, the employer must establish a Health and Safety Committee. The committee assists in promoting workplace safety, discussing incidents, reviewing safety measures and making recommendations to management. Meetings must be held at least once every three months.

A manufacturing Health and Safety File may include:

• Risk Assessments
• Legal Appointments
• Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Inspection Registers
• Incident Investigation Reports
• Training Records
• Emergency Procedures
• Contractor Documentation
• Health and Safety Policies
• Chemical Registers and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

Maintaining accurate records helps demonstrate compliance during inspections and audits.

Manufacturing businesses may need to comply with:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993)
• General Safety Regulations
• Driven Machinery Regulations
• Hazardous Chemical Agents Regulations
• General Administrative Regulations
• Environmental Regulations for Workplaces
• Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA)

Applicable requirements depend on workplace activities, processes and hazards.

Workplace inspections should be conducted regularly to identify hazards and verify that control measures remain effective. Monthly inspections are considered best practice in most manufacturing environments and can help identify non-compliance before it results in incidents, injuries or enforcement action.

Manufacturing businesses should ensure that:

• Risk Assessments are current
• Legal Appointments are in place
• Health and Safety Representatives are designated
• Training records are available
• Workplace inspections are conducted
• Incident records are maintained
• Emergency procedures are implemented
• Corrective actions are tracked and completed

Preparation helps demonstrate due diligence and improve compliance outcomes during inspections.

Yes. The OHS Act places duties on employers and responsible persons to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that employees are not exposed to health and safety risks. Failure to manage workplace hazards, provide adequate supervision or implement required safety measures may result in enforcement action, fines or prosecution depending on the circumstances

Failure to comply with Occupational Health and Safety legislation may result in improvement notices, prohibition notices, fines, legal action and operational disruptions. In serious cases involving negligence or workplace incidents, employers and appointed responsible persons may face prosecution. Maintaining risk assessments, legal appointments, training records, inspections and documented safety systems helps manufacturing businesses demonstrate compliance and reduce legal exposure.

Yes. Manufacturing facilities should have documented emergency procedures that address foreseeable emergencies such as fires, chemical spills, explosions, medical emergencies and other workplace incidents. Regular evacuation drills help ensure employees understand emergency procedures, evacuation routes, assembly points and reporting requirements. Effective emergency preparedness can reduce injuries, minimise operational disruptions and demonstrate a proactive approach to workplace safety