Times Of Swaziland: COUNSELLING AFTER WORKER  FALLS FROM SCAFFOLDING, DIES

COUNSELLING AFTER WORKER  FALLS FROM SCAFFOLDING, DIES
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Mthunzi Maziya on 29/06/2022 08:53:00


MBABANE - Hancy Construction Company has promised its employees counselling a
day after one of their colleagues died after falling from scaffolding while
plastering at Mona Flats.
The incident which happened on Monday evening, left the employees traumatised.
It was, therefore, unclear as to whether they would be able to cope the
following day at work. To try and calm down the employees, the company decided
to engage a psychologist to assist them before returning to work.
Confirmed
This was confirmed by Hancy Construction Foreman; Bonginkosi Zwane, when he was
asked about the steps taken by the company to try and help those employees who
witnessed the death of their colleague. He stated that they had met with their
superiors to have a discussion on the matter and about the way forward. “The
employees were called yesterday morning for a serious discussion about a way
forward, after the incident that claimed a life. The reason for the counselling
is to help all those who were traumatised following the incident. We have
resolved that they must all see a psychologist before they resume their work.
This means everyone is expected to take part in the counselling session,” said
Zwane.
Comment
One employee, who preferred to comment on condition of anonymity, said they were
called by their superiors’ yesterday morning, where they were told that they
must all undergo a counselling session. He also stated that they were expected
to start their counselling sessions today. “Everyone is expected to go for
counselling after the incident. We were told by our superiors that no one would
be allowed to return to work unless we attended the counselling session.
Suspend
Zwane said the company decided to suspend its operation until further notice. He
said the reason was to allow safety inspectors to do their investigation on the
cause of the incident. The foreman did not specify the time frame when they were
expected to continue building the structure, which was half way through. One
impeccable source found on the site yesterday said an investigation was expected
to commence as soon as possible with the aim of gathering all the facts about
the incident. The source also revealed that it was going to take time for the
company to resume its operation. Zwane confirmed that Hancy’s employees were
not on duty as of yesterday and did not specify as to when they were expected to
return to work.
Passing
Tibiyo TakaNgwane Managing Director Dr Absalom Themba Dlamini said they had
received the sad news from Mandla Zwane of Tibiyo Properties (PTY) Ltd, on the
passing on of a worker at Mona Flats on Monday after he fell from the building
while plastering. He said it was an unfortunate incident. “We got a report
about the man who is said to be the owner of a sub-contractor who fell from the
building. Hhawu uvele wabuya liwonkhe letulu, after the scaffolding broke down.
We are saddened by the incident,” said Dlamini. Mona Flats is owned by Tibiyo
Properties. The name of the deceased will not be revealed as efforts to trace
his family were futile.