Case study $1$: Building collapse in George, Western Cape, South Africa

On $6$ May $2024,$ a multi$-$story building under construction on Victoria Street in George Western Cape, South Africa, collapsed. The collapse of the building serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of prioritising safety in the workplace. With the loss of lives and the entrapment of individuals, this incident has sparked a call to action for organisations to re$-$evaluate their health and safety protocols and practices. The Department of Employment and Labour$$s occupational health and safety $($OHS$)$ inspectors were dispatched when the incident came to the Department$$s attention. The Department is collaborating with ground teams to establish communication protocols and is awaiting the handover of the construction site for an investigation$1\mathrm{.}1.$ Clarify the role and responsibilities of the health and safety representatives in preventing the collapse of the multi$-$story building.