Hundreds of KwaZulu-Natal workplaces compromised workers' health and safety, the department of labour said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said this was revealed after an inspection of 871 workplaces in the province over the past week.
She said of the total, at least half had been in contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Sigabi said some employers failed to produce certificates of compliance for electrical installations, while others had no first aid programmes or proper house-keeping in place.
Defaulters, she said, were served with 60-day notices to improve or face prosecution.
Inspectors found that 176 employers had violated the basic conditions of employment, including non-adherence to the minimum wage.
04/06/2008