SAFETY
CORPORATE PROFILE
WORKER SAFETY
AND REHABILITATION
© ISTOCK – sezer66
should be top of mind
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have a moral imperative to ensure the safety of their workers. Moreover, suggests Dr Miranda Moloto, head of Rehabilitation at Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA), they must understand that there is a holistic benefit and broader contribution to the organisation through enhanced productivity and cost management for employers and improved wellness for employees. “RMA, as an organisation that focuses on administration compensation of occupational injuries and diseases, we constantly witness that compensation involves far more than just the payment of a disability claim. “It also encompasses the impact of an injury/disease on an employee’s health, post-
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orking closely with the Compensation Fund, RMA is focused on supporting employers to inculcate a culture of safety and a deeper understanding of injury rehabilitation in the mining and metal, iron and steel, and manufacturing industries. There are several pieces of national legislation on health and safety (in both mining and manufacturing) that direct organisations on what to include in their health and safety systems and the set-up to prevent injuries and diseases in the workplace. These have very specific sections on the responsibilities of the employer and employees. But employers need to understand and appreciate that they also
Instilling a culture of safety in every aspect of the business begins with leadership. – Moloto 28
SA MINING
MAY / JUNE 2022
www.samining.co.za
affliction mental state and sexual health, as well as the family’s earnings and dependents, due to workers sometimes being sole providers, not only for their immediate but also often their extended families,” she says. “To this end, we encourage companies to implement codes of good practice that are in line with the Mine Health and Safety Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act and their respective regulations. “This includes aspects such as training, elimination of hazards and/or management of risk exposures in a workplace, providing relevant warning signs and safety equipment etc. “The real challenge with some organisations is that the health and safety programmes are not supported by leadership, and the tone at the top is not strong in promoting a health and safety culture. Therefore no basic health and safety systems exist with procedures, performance indicators, incentives and toolkits. “An effective health and safety framework
