Limpopo labour dept closed school due to bat infestation

Africa: The Limpopo Department of Employment and Labour has recently closed a school in Musina after a bat infestation on classroom roofs was discovered during an inspection. 

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) inspector at Sigonde Primary School carried out the examination.  

In that Inspection, OHS Inspector found that the school did not comply with the OHS Act 85 of 1993, which specifies that if the state of the building threatens or is likely to be threatened the health or safety of any person, the building should be banned with immediate effect from the occupation or continued used. 

The administration inspection was held on May 24. In that Inspection, it was uncovered that 50 students were absent from school after it was found that they were sick due to the bat infection. 

The school was prohibited based on the following: – Grade R 1,4,5,6 and 7 had bats on the classroom roofs, which pose a danger to health and safety ad may cause sickness or death. 

[Video] The Sigonde Primary School in Limpopo was recently closed following a proactive inspection that took place on 27 May 2022. The school was prohibited based on the following:
– Grade R 1,4,5,6 and 7 had bats on the classroom roofs which poses danger to the health and safety https://t.co/rCkW2ANc5D pic.twitter.com/CwQ0ln9mam

— Department of Employment and Labour (@deptoflabour) June 1, 2022

“Educators alleged that snakes are killed every week as the bats attract them in the classrooms,” the department said.

During Inspection, they found cracks at the door of Grade 4, which overlapped with the Grade 5 classroom. 

However, one mobile classroom for Grade 2 students is the only classroom which is still functioning. 

And the school is going to be closed until the following notice.

Health and safety are the most prominent part of the business. We do not leave anything to chance. Employers make sure that, at any given time, they comply with OHS legislation. When they are not sure, they must call us for advocacy so we can assist them in getting their house in order.

Inspector Reckson Tshitshivheli: Inspections our day to day business. When we face any life-threatening situations, we choose to close the building. We applaud our inspectors who do not compromise the health and safety of people and encourage them to continue their jobs in order to mitigate non-compliance.