The Occupational Health and Safety Authority said it has identified two workers shown in a photo that went viral on social media and will be taking the “necessary” action.

The photo in question showed two people working on a balcony – one holding the other from his safety harness as his colleague applies paint to a wall.

In a statement, the OHSA said the photo did not show the location where the photo was taken but it managed to identify the place and spoke to the persons involved.

Health and safety should always be given topmost priority, it said. When people post such photos on social media without informing the authority, the people involved will remain in danger, it said.

The authority said it had it carried out around 5,000 inspections last year, issued 2,000 orders for measures to be taken and stopped 500 work activities. It also issued more than 300 fines.

It said, however, that its inspectors cannot monitor all construction sites all the time and urged anyone who witnesses any health and safety violations to report them anonymously.

The authority said it will investigate cases swiftly and take the necessary action.

The authority can be contacted on 21247677 or 99496786 (after work hours); on [email protected] or on its Facebook page.

One can also file reports - even anonymously - on the mobile app Bsafe@work.