For trustees of commercial sectional title schemes, compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is more than a legal obligation—it's an essential part of protecting occupants, contractors, visitors and the body corporate itself.
While the Sectional Title Schemes Management Act (STSMA) governs the administration of schemes, trustees are responsible for ensuring that the common property is managed in a manner that complies with OHSA. This includes identifying hazards, maintaining a safe working environment, ensuring statutory inspections and servicing are completed, and keeping appropriate safety documentation and records.
Trustees should ensure that:
- Fire detection and firefighting equipment is regularly serviced and certified.
- Emergency evacuation procedures and fire drills are implemented.
- Lifts, electrical installations, generators and other regulated equipment receive statutory inspections.
- Contractors comply with OHSA requirements before commencing work.
- Safety files, risk assessments and appointment letters are maintained and kept up to date.
- Corrective actions identified during inspections are monitored through to completion.
Failure to meet these obligations can expose the body corporate to regulatory enforcement, civil liability and significant financial risk following an incident.
How Spire Adds Value
At Spire Property Solutions, compliance forms part of our proactive property management approach. Our experienced team assists trustees by coordinating statutory inspections, monitoring contractor compliance, maintaining health and safety documentation, tracking corrective actions, and providing regular compliance reporting.
Through our cloud-based management platform, trustees enjoy 24/7 access to key compliance records, reports and documentation, providing complete transparency and improved governance.
Rather than simply reacting to compliance issues, Spire works with trustees to identify risks early, implement practical solutions and help ensure commercial sectional title schemes remain safe, compliant and professionally managed.
Need assistance with OHSA compliance?
Contact Martin Bester, Head of the Sectional Title Division at Spire Property Solutions, at martinb@spire.co.za to discuss how our experienced commercial sectional title team can help reduce risk, improve governance and support your trustees in meeting their statutory responsibilities.
