Any injury or disease contracted in the line of duty should be reported to the Compensation Fund

This was said during the last lap of two days of training scheduled for organised labour in the North West by the Compensation Fund which is focusing on Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act and Occupational Health & Safety Act compliance in the workplace.

This training started yesterday in Mahikeng and ends today, 3 February 2023.

The main objectives of this training are to provide the organised labour representatives with the relevant knowledge, information, and capabilities to effectively and efficiently support, educate and guide workers with their claims and other COIDA processes as well as to ensure that occupational injuries are curbed at the workplaces.

Presenting at the session, Paul Nyathela, Assistant Director: Compensation Benefits indicated that it is important for the employer to report any of the injuries contracted on duty irrespective of their nature or urgency as complications may resurface at a later stage. He also indicated that if the employer does not report cases, an employee is also allowed to report.

“All occupational injuries and diseases should be reported to the Compensation Fund by the employer to avoid any unfavourable circumstances or complications that may arise as a result of failure to report cases. An injury may appear as not serious at the time it took place but can resurface at a later stage and with the request of the treating Doctor it can be reopened. We, therefore, plead with you to always urge your colleagues and employers to ensure that all the cases are reported whether big or small,” said Nyathela.

The training covers among others, Compensation Claim Processes; Government Employee’s Pension Fund benefits; Compeasy Demonstrations; Introduction to the Occupational Health and Safety Acts; Construction, Explosives & Major Hazards Installations regulations, and the Explosives regulations.

The Compensation Fund provides compensation to employees who are injured or contract diseases while on duty. The Fund is governed by the Compensation for Occupation Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) of 1993 (amended in 1997) which determines how, and by whom the fund is administered and the conditions for eligibility for compensation.

Some of the benefits covered by the Fund include Temporary Total / Partial Disablement; Compensation for Permanent Disablement (PD); Constant Care Allowance (CAA); Fatal benefits payable to dependants of deceased employees and Commutation of pensions.

Source: Government of South Africa