The effect of loadshedding on workplace safety
Published: 20th Jul 2023
By the nature of their work, risk assessors naturally look for things that might go wrong. Loadshedding, viewed by most South Africans as the worst of the country’s many failings, has a negative effect many people don’t consider: it can also affect workplace safety.
Loadshedding is inherently dangerous as all work environments are reliant on electricity to some extent.
Apart from the obvious impact of lost production, the risks posed to staff, equipment and property cannot be underestimated. Businesses must be aware of the dangers related to:
- Failure of equipment during loadshedding
- Lack of any back-up systems, or failure to link emergency systems to the power back-up (e.g. alarms, sprinkler systems and intercoms)
- Power surges after loadshedding
- Overloaded back-up systems
- Increased crime during loadshedding
Considering the unpredictability of loadshedding, it is critical to be aware of the potential thereof and to have plans in place to mitigate the risks, to ensure ongoing productivity while complying to the OSH Act and to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
The risks and solutions are different for every business, and every business needs to conduct the right assessments, formulate sound action plans, and get buy-in from the staff on any safety practices implemented. Professional OHS service providers have an important role in promoting workplace safety during loadshedding as they are trained to recognise potential problems and offer solutions.
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