Health and Safety news as on 15 October 2023

Here are some of the latest news articles related to health and safety in South Africa:

• A social media influencer who portrays himself as a doctor, Dr. Matthew Lani, is facing criminal charges for impersonating a medical doctor¹. He has been accused of giving false and misleading health advice on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where he has over 300 000 followers. He also allegedly performed illegal procedures such as lip fillers and botox injections on unsuspecting clients.
• Tesla has rejected claims by a German union and recent media reports that health and safety provisions at its gigafactory near Berlin were inadequate². The company said that protecting workers’ health was a top priority and that it had implemented strict measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at the site. The union had accused Tesla of violating labour laws and endangering workers by not providing adequate protective equipment, ventilation, and testing.
• The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has launched a new report on occupational health and safety in South Africa, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)³. The report reveals that there is a worrying lack of compliance with health and safety standards in some sectors, such as manufacturing and retail, and that the monetary value of claims to the Compensation Fund has been rising over the years. The report also highlights the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the informal economy for ensuring workers’ well-being.
• The mining industry reported that injuries declined from 3 036 injuries in 2015 to 2 350 in 2018, amounting to a rate of 1 incident per 150 employees per year⁴. However, fatalities remain a challenge, as 32 mineworkers have died to date this year in the country’s mines⁵. The Minerals Council of South Africa (MCSA) said it was aiming to end mine fatalities and improve safety performance through various initiatives, such as technology, training, and leadership.