In terms of the  Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, the employer must ensure that the workplace is free of hazardous substances, such as benzene, chlorine and micro organisms, articles, equipment, processes, etc. that may cause injury, damage or disease. Where this is not possible, the employer must inform workers of these dangers, how they may be prevented, and how to work safely, and provide other protective measures for a safe workplace.

To ensure that these duties are complied with, the employer must:

• identify potential hazards which may be present while work is being done, something is being produced, processed, used, stored or transported, and any equipment is being used
• establish the precautionary measures that are necessary to protect his or her workers against the identified hazards and provide the means to implement these precautionary measures
• provide the necessary information, instructions, training and supervision while keeping the extent of workers’ competence in mind. In other words, what they may do and may not do
• not permit anyone to carry on with any task unless the necessary precautionary measures have been taken
• take steps to ensure that every person under his or her control complies with the requirements of the Act
• enforce the necessary control measures in the interest of health and safety
• see to it that the work being done and the equipment used, is under the general supervision of a worker who has been trained to understand the hazards associated with the work
• such a worker must ensure that the precautionary measures are implemented and maintained

It is the duty of the worker to:

• take care of his or her own health and safety, as well as that of other persons who may be affected by his or her actions or negligence to act. This includes playing at work. Many people have been injured and even killed owing to horseplay in the workplace, and that is considered a serious contravention
• where the Act imposes a duty or requirements on the worker to cooperate with the employer
• give information to an inspector from the Department of Labour if he or she should require it
• carry out any lawful instruction which the employer or authorised person prescribes with regard to health and safety
  comply with the rules and procedures that the employer gives him/her
• wear the prescribed safety clothing or use the prescribed safety equipment where it is required
• report unsafe or unhealthy conditions to the employer or health and safety representative as soon as possible
• if he or she is involved in an incident that may influence his or her health or cause an injury, report that incident to the employer, and authorised person or the health and safety representative as soon as possible, but no later than by the end of the shift