Saiosh Members – Essential Service

Saiosh Members – Essential Service

Many Saiosh members in particular OHS Practitioners and Consultants have enquired about their potential status as an Essential Service. In response to these queries Saiosh has examined the categories of Essential Services in order to determine whether OHS Practitioners and Consultants resort within a category for which a Certificate (Permit) is currently a prerequisite. Certificates are restricted to registered companies who must apply to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) Bizportal website at www.bizportal.gov.za and download the Certificate that allows them to continue trading during the extended Lockdown period.

The application is a simple declaration requiring minimal registration details, type of business/trade involved in, what trading name if any is used and whether it meets the requirements contained in the essential services list, the contact details of the person applying as well as the number of employees that will be working during the lockdown period.

OHS Practitioners / Consultants and Saiosh members have succeeded in obtaining a Certificate using category 1 below.

1. Medical, Health (including Mental Health), Laboratory and Medical services and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

OHS Practitioners / Consultants who are sole proprietors can offer similar services without a Certificate. It is recommended that both Corporate Body and Sole Proprietor OHS Practitioners and Consultants restrict their services to Clients who themselves provide essential services and goods. When travelling it is recommended that they have copies of their Certificates in their possession and a Letter from the Client confirming the service. Since Sole Proprietors will not have the benefit of a Certificate, an affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oaths, should suffice. Saiosh has obtained its own Certificate as an Essential Service although this does not mean members can automatically operate as Essential Service providers. It is also recommended that Saiosh members retain a copy of their essential service certificate as well as a copy of their Saiosh membership certificate (Privyseal Certificate) when travelling.

Safety Officers who are employed in a sector which may resume operations at level 4 can report for duty and all employees must be in possession of the prescribed letter from the employer to this effect.  (The format is contained in the regulations promulgated in terms of the Disaster Management Act). OHS Practitioners and Consultants will undoubtedly play a vital role in assisting businesses, who qualify to resume operations, to compile mandatory and detailed health and safety protocols designed to protect employees at the workplace and plans to enable disease surveillance to prevent the spread of the virus.

Before any sector resumes activity, the following conditions must be in place:

• In addition to generally applicable health and safety protocols, each sector must agree upon a COVID-19 prevention and mitigation plan with the Minister of Employment and Labour, the Minister of Health and any other Minister relevant to the sector.
• Individual businesses or workplaces must have COVID-19 risk assessments and plans in place and must conduct worker education on COVID-19 and protection measures.
• Identification and protection of vulnerable employees
• Safe transport of employees
• Screening of employees on entering the workplace
• Prevention of viral spread in the workplace
• Cleaning of surfaces and shared equipment
• Good ventilation
• Managing sick employees
• Monitoring systems must be in place to (1) ensure compliance with safety protocols and (2) identify infections among employees

Article prepared by:

Adv Raynard Looch
Klass Looch Associates
www.klasslooch.com

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