12 April 2021
The display of legal posters is a requirement in terms of the Law. Employers that fail to post the prescribed legal posters in their workplace may receive a fine from the Department of Labour.
Legal posters are usually a summary of a prescribed legislation and are intended to be posted in a highly visible area in the workplace in order to create awareness of the legislation amongst employees and other individuals at the workplace.
It is a requirement to have certain posters displayed in the workplace:
1. Summary of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act
Section 30 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (Act 75 of 1997 as amended) requires all employers to display the employee’s rights at the workplace in the prescribed form and in the official language(s) spoken by employees.
2. Summary of the Employment Equity Act
Similarly, The Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998 as amended) at Section 25(1) requires employers to display a summary of that act. Again this is ordinarily an A2 poster available in the same format as the BCEA poster referred to above.
3. Summary of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993 as amended),
Awareness of this particular piece of legislation may be the preventative to a serious health and safety incident at the workplace.
In addition to the above, the below list summarizes general requirements an employer needs to make provision for at the workplace. Specific requirements in all situations (e.g., posting warnings about high noise areas, or warning of a temporary opening) may not be included.
- A copy of the OHS Act and Regulations Poster
- Copies of the relevant Labour Law Posters
- A copy of the COIDA Act Poster
- A signed copy of the Companies Health and Safety Policy
- A signed short copy of your COVID-19 Policy
- A signed copy of your Environmental Policy
- Names and contact numbers of key safety personnel (Safety Rep – First Aider – Fire Marshal) for a specified and particular area.
- A list of First Aiders and Fire Marshalls on site and their locations (Departments)
- Emergency Evacuation Plan – including locations of First Aid Stations and Fire Fighting equipment – as well as the location of Emergency Assembly Point.
- A list of Internal and External Emergency Telephone numbers - kept up-to-date - for use in emergencies
- Notice in respect of the COVID-19 appointed and responsible person on site
- In a Retail environment you must stipulate the number of persons allowed in the store at any one time.
- An up-to-date schedule of key Health and Safety monthly statistics – (Injuries, Inspections, Training conducted, etc)
The responsibility placed upon employers by various pieces of labour legislation does not have to make it difficult for you to successfully run your business.
Contact SafetyNet for assistance with Health and Safety requirements and to order the posters that you need to display at the workplace.
