Promoting Safety at Rhodes University

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (1993) requires Rhodes University, as an employer, to "provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of his/her employees". The responsibility for health and safety at Rhodes applies across a wide area. In line with the OHS Act, there is delegation of responsibility through the various lines of management, from the Vice Chancellor through to directors, deans, managers, heads of departments, supervisors and team leaders. Responsibility includes, as far as is reasonably practicable:

• Providing and maintaining safe / risk-free equipment and working systems;
• Assessing risks and hazards and removing or controlling hazards or, if no other alternative, providing precautionary measures or personal protective equipment;
• Not permitting any employee to work without the necessary precautionary measures;
• Providing information, instructions, training and supervision for employees, and ensuring that they know what is required of them and what they are authorised to do;
• Ensuring that supervisors are trained to understand risks and hazards, and have the authority to implement precautionary measures;
• Ensuring that the OHS Act is complied with in the workplace

Any employee may be liable to be convicted and sentenced, as well as the employer, if an offence is committed in terms of the OHS Act. In other words, safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Find out more about:

• Fire Safety

• Safety Signage

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Responsible Hazardous Waste Disposal

• Ladder safety

• Smoking in the workplace

• Questions and Answers - compliments of the SA Labour Guide.

Return to Rhodes University's Safety front page. Questions/Suggestions? Contact safety(at)ru.ac.za