Engineering News reports that the Building and Construction Industry Medical Aid Fund (BCIMA) has called for a review of the safety practices on construction sites and the prioritisation of the health of construction workers.
This followed the collapse of a five-storey residential building in George, in the Western Cape earlier this month. The fund pointed out that the 34 lives lost in the tragedy were a reminder of the risks and sacrifices construction workers faced daily. The five-storey residential building was under construction along Victoria street, in George, and would have been occupied from 1 August. The BCIMA reaffirmed its commitment to the health and wellbeing of the building and construction industry’s men and women, without whom there would be no hospitals or cities or other infrastructure being built. It expressed the hope that the George building collapse would be a turning point in the industry and that the safety of workers would be carefully considered at all times. The search and rescue operation since the incident occurred lasted a total of 260 hours, with personnel having worked on a 24-hour basis.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
- Read too, George building collapse exposes long-standing blindspots in construction industry’s regulatory framework, at Business Report
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