Municipal employees have to work in mouldy offices
It is a health risk to go to work in moulded offices at Govan Mbeki Municipality.
SECUNDA – The state of offices on the third floor of the Govan Mbeki Municipality are unbearable for staff working there.
These offices have apparently been in this bad state for a while although the head of marketing and communications of the municipality, Mr Henry Masango, said it is because of the recent rain.
He said: “Water has been permeating into some offices on the third floor of the municipal building, given the heavy rainfall which we have been recently been experiencing.
“Most of the working areas are no more habitable and has resulted in the evacuation of the municipality’s important asset, the employees.
“The occupational health and safety section has conducted an investigation and has recommended a health and hygiene survey to be done on the building to determine the effect of mould and biological fungus on the health of employees in the building, the building control department to do an evaluation of the building as to ascertain the cause of the leaking roof that caused the water seepage and damp and a civil engineer must to an assessment on the damage and find solutions.
“The section also recommended us to clear the employees in the worst affected areas temporary and to find a solution in the meantime to the ever increasing damp areas and drying of the affected areas.
“The obvious root cause identified is the roofing area that is not sealing properly, hence this defect be treated with the highest priority and an electrical inspection will be done because electrical equipment was exposed to the water.”
However according to DA councillor, Ms Ena van Rooyen, employees told her they have reported these problems often in the past and nothing has been done.
Some of the employees have been removed from these offices, but a few of them still have to work in these concitions.
“It stinks and it is a health risk to work in such conditions,” said Ms Van Rooyen.
