Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational health and safety is the work of preventing injury and illness at work, and Ralmed supports employers with it on 086 1725 633. It covers both sudden accidents and slower harm to health, such as noise or dust exposure. In South Africa it is governed mainly by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.

Safety is about preventing accidents, such as falls or machinery injuries. Health is about preventing illness caused by work over time, such as hearing loss or lung disease. A good system manages both, because many of the same controls protect against each.

Rarely on its own. Protective equipment is the last line of defence in the hierarchy of controls. Removing a hazard, or separating people from it with guards and ventilation, protects everyone without relying on each person wearing the right gear every time.

Yes, scaled to their size and risks. Even a small office needs to identify its hazards, keep a first aid box once it has more than five employees, and make sure staff know what to do in an emergency. Simple written procedures and a named person in charge go a long way.

We run accredited First Aid and Occupational Health and Safety training anywhere in South Africa, and provide on-site clinics, remote ambulance stations and event cover at client sites. Contact us with your workplace details, head count and main risks, and we will suggest the cover and training that fit your operation.

A risk assessment is a structured look at the hazards in your workplace, who could be harmed and how, and what controls are needed. Record the findings, act on them and review them when work changes or after an incident. It is the starting point for every other part of a safety system.

Common hazards include slips, trips and falls, moving machinery, vehicles, manual handling, noise, dust and chemicals, electricity, and work at height. Psychological strain and fatigue also affect health. Which ones matter most depends on your work, which is why each workplace needs its own risk assessment rather than a generic list.

Yes. Employees must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others, cooperate with their employer, follow safety rules, use the protective equipment provided and report unsafe conditions or incidents. The employer still carries the main duty to provide a safe workplace, but safety works when everyone plays their part.

Review it at least once a year, and sooner when you change processes, equipment or premises, take on new types of work, or after an incident or near miss. Check that risk assessments, training records, first aid boxes and emergency plans still match the way the workplace actually runs.