The sociologic context of occupational health in South Africa.

Abstract

Introduction This paper seeks to present an account of the occupational health situation in South Africa. Part I is an historical documentation of the evolution of the occupational health system, covering both political and legislative aspects up until the early 1970s, which mark a political and social transition in the society; Part II consists ofa demographic and sociologic profile of the society in relation to occupational health; Part III deals with the relatively underdeveloped occupational health infrastructure in South Africa.

Extending Occupational Health and Safety to Urban Street Vendors

“…The practice of OHS in South Africa has always had a political aspect to it, but that politics has largely been one confined to worker-employer-state interactions. [40][41][42][43] Moving out of the world of formal employment takes OHS into a different politics-the politics of informality. Power relations play out here at several levels, as the reflections revealed.…”

Healthcare provider views on the health effects of biomass fuel collection and use in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa: An ethnographic study

“…Within the African setting, work-related health and noncommunicable diseases have received little attention (Boutayeb & Boutayeb, 2005;Delamothe, 2009;Jeebhay & Jacobs, 1999, Chap. 19;Myers & Macon, 1989;Unwin et al 2001), with recent exceptions of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. It is for this reason that the nurse-in-charge in Tsilitwa reported that focus was on "fashionable diseases such as AIDS", a statement which captures the tendency to emphasise a particular disease at a given period to the neglect of others.…”

Health and Health Care in South Africa: The Challenge for a Majority Ruled State

“…Other challenges facing a future South Africa include occupational and psycho-social diseases associated with industry (Zwi, Fonn and Steinberg, 1988). Black workers are subjected to numerous toxic substances from asbestos to pesticides (WHO, 1983: 194-204;Myers, 1987;Packard, 1989b;Durning, 1990: 18-20). Indeed, one open question is whether exposure to mutagenic pesticides is associated with high rates of congenital deformities and high peri-natal mortality (WHO, 1983: 107).…”