Civitas row heating up

HUNDREDS of national Health Department employees have referred their dispute over an unsafe working environment at its head office in the city to the chief inspector of occupational health and safety.

The Public Servants Association (PSA), which represents about 800 workers at Civitas Building, told the chief inspector’s office this week that employees have complained about health issues ranging from air quality, noise levels, dirty tap water and carpets to fire hydrant challenges.

The union has warned that its concerns over the Civitas Building needed to be addressed urgently as lives could be lost as in last month’s tragedy at the Bank of Lisbon Building, where three firefighters died and several Gauteng provincial government employees were injured.

A request has been made for an inspector to be appointed, as the Department of Labour had done investigations and failed to effect the changes or address the issues within its report. “The issues cited herein are still outstanding and also led to us referring the matter to the Labour Court,” reads the PSA’s request.

According to the union, the chief inspector’s intervention is needed on a very urgent basis.

The PSA’s move follows the Labour Court’s decision dismissing its bid to have the Civitas Building declared unsafe and that they must be paid for not reporting for duty due to health and safety concerns.

On Friday, the PSA was unsuccessful in its Labour Court application to enforce findings of an inspection by the Department of Labour in May that directed the Health Department to assess noise levels and air quality.

Another National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) survey found that noise levels were excessive in two of the four measured areas and that on different floors air velocity and relative humidity did not conform to the recommended standards.

The PSA accused the Health Department of intentionally refusing to comply with its statutory duties to ensure a safe working environment at Civitas Building but Judge Andre van Niekerk found that there was no evidence to support the union’s claims.

Instead, Judge Van Niekerk told the PSA to approach the Labour Department’s chief inspector of occupational health and safety.

The Labour Department said it had tried several times to meet PSA shop stewards at Civitas but they refused to meet with its officials.