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News24 reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi has called for an official hearing following the death of two poultry workers and injuries to five other people at the Astral Foods facility in Paarl last week.
Workers were busy with normal work duties a week ago when they sensed an offensive smell coming from the bottom of a pit. "According to a worker, his colleague went into the pit to investigate but was overwhelmed by the strong odour and collapsed. The supervisor rushed to assist the worker but also collapsed," a DEL spokesperson reported. Astral, which is SA’s largest poultry producer, said on Thursday that the incident took place while the men were working at the waste disposal plant, "which is separate to the main plant and which does not have any septic pits". The two employees developed breathing difficulties, with both of them succumbing to their injuries. A further six were sent to hospital for observation, with five being kept overnight. All employees have since been discharged from the hospital, and the cause of their breathing difficulties was under investigation, the company indicated. That statement issued on Thursday advised that thorough cleaning of the area had been undertaken and that any preventative action determined from the investigation would be immediately implemented. On Friday, the minister visited the company as well as the families of those affected by the incident and said the department would also be "looking at the company" to make sure it was complying with regulations.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24
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