Khangale Makhado

Khangale Makhado

Construction at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo, one of the venues to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup matches, complies with safety and health standards.

This was announced by inspectors from the Department of Labour who made an unannounced visit to the site yesterday. The visit was part of a two-week inspection campaign in the construction sector throughout the province.

Department spokesman Joe Maila said their assessment found that the stadium complied with the provisions of health and safety.

"Among other things, they have trained health and safety representatives working at the site," Maila said.

"We have also found that their lifting equipment is properly mounted and serviced. There are visible signs to indicate where the danger areas are."

But Maila complained about a sub-contractor who did not provide workers with protective clothing at the site.

He said the workers had been ordered to stop working until they were provided with protective clothing.

The Department of Labour intends to visit 90 sites. The focus of the inspections would be on provision of protective equipment, appointment and functioning of safety representatives and committees, maintenance of cranes, the availability of on-site risk assessment plans and proper erection of scaffolding.

"The aim of the visits is to determine the level of compliance in the construction sector with the objective of fostering a safe and healthy working environment at workplaces," said Maila.