Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996)Guideline for a Mandatory Code of PracticeMinimum Standards on Ground Vibrations, Noise, Air-Blast and Flyrock near surface structures and Communities to be ProtectedPart C : Format and Content of the Mandatory COP7. Risk Management |
| 7.1. | Section 5(2) of the MHSA provides that, as far as reasonably practicable, every employer must: |
| 7.1.1. | Identify the relevant hazards and assess the related risks to which persons who are not employees are exposed. |
| 7.1.2. | Ensure that persons who are not employees, but who may be directly affected by the activities at the mine, are not exposed to any hazard to their health and safety. |
| 7.2. | Section 11 of the MHSA requires the employer to identify hazards, assess the health and safety risks to which employees may be exposed to while at work and to record the significant hazard(s) identified and risk(s) assessed. |
| 7.3. | The COP must address how the significant risks identified in the risk assessment process must be dealt with, having regard to the requirements of sections 11(2) and 11(3) of the MHSA, which states that as far as reasonably practicable, attempts should first be made to eliminate the risk, thereafter, to control the risk at source, thereafter, to minimize the risk and thereafter, insofar as the risk remains, provide personal protective equipment and to institute a programme to monitor the risk. |
| 7.4. | To assist the employer with the hazard identification and risk assessment processes, all possible relevant information such as routine inspections, accident statistics, research reports, geotechnical parameters, rock excavation processes as well as information on geology, hydrology and seismology must be considered. |
| 7.5. | In addition to the periodic review required in terms of section 11(4) of the MHSA, the COP must be reviewed and updated, if necessary. |
| 7.5.1. | After every reportable incident or accident relating to the topic(s) covered in the COP. |
| 7.5.2. | If significant, changes are introduced to procedures relating to the implementation of the COP. |