| 8.3.1 | In considering management of COVID-19 infection transmission, the employer must consider the following principles: |
| 8.3.1.1 | To prevent the COVID-19 workplace infection, the employer must develop a policy and/or integrate COVID-19 management into the existing mine's policies, COPs and standard operating procedures for Health and Safety. |
| 8.3.1.2 | The mine's COP and procedure must include the following for employees who have signs and/or symptoms of COVID-19: |
| i. | A dedicated 24-hour hotline which employees will use to reach the mine's dedicated healthcare workers or the mine's contracted service/s of healthcare workers assigned to assist with COVID-19; |
| ii. | Procedure to report when an employee is sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; |
| iii. | How, where and the duration (the required number of days being determined by the NICD) of isolation will take place for employees suspected of being infected with COVID-19; |
| iv. | The site(s) where employees with suspected COVID-19 infection will be screened, diagnosed and treated. This must include what will lead to admission to a health care facility and all associated transport arrangements. |
| v. | The requirements of self-isolation |
| 8.3.1.3. | The mines' COP and procedures must also include steps that will be taken by employees who have been in contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases and are/not symptomatic which, must include as a minimum: |
| i. | A dedicated 24-hour hotline which employees will use to reach the mine's dedicated healthcare workers or the mine's contracted service(s) of health care workers assigned to assist with COVID-19 from home/mine accommodation. |
| iii. | Procedure to be followed and arrangements for the employees to be tested (including the associated PPE required for such an employee). This must include what will lead to admission to a health care facility and all associated transport arrangements. |
| iv. | How, where and the duration (the required number of days being determined by the NICD) of self-quarantine or isolation (as determined by the test results and the advice of the health care worker) will take place for those employees. |
NOTE:
The criteria for a PUI are dynamic and changed from time to time.
For the latest criteria visit the NICD website.
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| 8.3.2. | The following must be considered in the development of the COVID-19 COP: |
| 8.3.2.1. | Provide adequate, usable and appropriate training and information material about: |
| i. | Mine's relevant job functions. |
| ii. | Proper hygiene practices and the use of any workplace controls (including PPE). |
| iii. | Prevention of COVID-19 stigma and discrimination amongst the suspected, the infected and their families. |
| iv. | The provision of the mine's support service or collaboration/contracted support service for the employees through the EAP or collaboration with the public service. |
| v. | The employer must develop a process where an employee will be able to disclose any pre-existing conditions prior to returning to work; and |
| vi. | The available COVID-19 National Hotline/s for their knowledge and information sharing with other community members. |
| 8.3.2.2 | The employer must as far as possible with employees' consent and respecting medical confidentiality be informed through the designated healthcare worker if the employees have pre-existing conditions that will make them more susceptible to severe COVID-19. Such employees will only be permitted to work after receiving a certificate of fitness to work from an occupational medical practitioner. Where employees are not permitted to work due to a confirmed pre-existing condition, the employer must arrange for transportation of such employees back to their homes. |
| 8.2.2.3 | The employer must utilize a risk-based method to prioritise high-risk individuals for more active interventions such as prophylaxis and individualised counselling. |
| 8.2.2.4 | Review of the mines emergency response plans in consideration of COVID-19. |
| 8.3.3 | Before arrival of employees at the mine's premises, the employer must: |
| 8.3.3.1 | Develop a procedure for the management of the return to work of employees after the lockdown, which must include a history of COVID-19 contact from areas of residence during the lockdown through the use of a questionnaire. |
| 8.3.3.2. | Communicate and establish a process for collaborating with the DOH District Communicable Diseases unit in order to be familiar with the district's plan including the district's process on early outbreak detection, diagnosis (testing) procedures, isolation, quarantine, reporting procedures for COVID-19 and arrangements for hospitalisation of employees who require it (if a mine does not have the hospital facilities). |
| 8.3.3.3. | Ensure sufficient availability of resources such as: |
| i. | Facilities - pre-screening areas, isolation areas, quarantine areas. |
| ii. | Staff - security personnel, medical staff, social worker, counselling psychologists, EAP specialists and administrative assistants. |
| iii. | Equipment and medical supplies including soap and water, sanitisers, appropriate PPE for healthcare workers and employees, and waste disposal receptacles for used PPE. |
| iv. | Flu vaccination that prioritizes those at high risk of contracting COVID-19 and give prophylaxis where required. |
| v. | Cleaning and disinfection consumables and services. |
| vi. | Disinfecting single use wipes made of non-woven, high strength material. |
| vii. | Single use dispensing tissue. |
| 8.3.3.4. | As far as reasonably practicable communicate new procedures to employees to be implemented for medical surveillance before they leave areas of residence during and after the lockdown. |
| 8.3.3.5. | Develop a calibration or a verification procedure for non-contact thermal scanning/screening e.g. when, where, who and how to calibrate or verify the non-contact instrument(s) to correlate with the core body temperature. The calibration or verification procedure should be in line with the original equipment manufacturer's specifications. |
| 8.3.3.6. | Screen on a daily basis healthcare employees and staff assisting with the RTW before mass screening of employees. |
| 8.3.3.7. | Screen employees from labour sending areas within South Africa who use their own transport at the mine before they RTW. |
| 8.3.3.8. | Where the employer transports the migrant employees, screening must be done before boarding the transport,in collaboration with the relevant DOH. |
| 8.3.3.9. | Where quarantine provisions for international employees apply and in line with the requirements in the DMA. The employer should at the start and increase of capacity at the mine consider making arrangements to transport employees from their homes to their respective areas of operations and put mechanisms in place to screen employees before boarding, isolation and quarantine at source where required. |
| 8.3.3.10. | The employer must provide two cloth face masks for use by the employees at the mine's premises and while commuting. Where the mine's risk assessment has identified a respirator zone(s), specific respiratory protective equipment must be used as guided by the mine's risk assessments. |
| 8.3.3.11. | The determination of the appropriate PPE used, must be done in combination with a risk assessment and expert advice on the characteristics and limitations of each type of PPE, in the context of reasonably practicable. |
| 8.3.3.12. | Apply de-densification and physical distancing opportunities (between 1-2 metres) and the provision of relevant PPE for mass transport, and at areas of the mine where close contact may occur. |
| 8.3.3.13. | Apply a staggered approach on the number of employees screened per day for RTW to minimise crowding at the screening areas and at the medical centre as well as transporting employees to a medical centre. |
| 8.3.3.14. | Create awareness material for employees on COVID-19 and where necessary update with the latest available information. Awareness material should be created as far as possible in predominant language spoken in the peri-mining community areas. |
| 8.3.3.15. | Display posters on COVID-19 to be visible at all areas of the mine as identified through the risk assessment. |
| 8.3.3.16 | Inform employees of their duty to report should they test positive for COVID-19 during the nationwide lockdown, long weekend or leave. |
| 8.3.3.17 | The employee is obliged to provide COVID-19 test results to the employer where available, and with a letter from the relevant health facility stating the date of onset of symptoms, diagnosis, date of specimen collection of positive tests if applicable, and expected date when isolation ends. |
| 8.3.3.18 | The employer is obliged to provide COVID-19 test results to the employee. |
| 8.3.3.19 | Establish a procedure for screening all persons entering the mine and ensuring that they comply with protective measures including PPE and social/physical distancing while on site. |
| 8.3.4 | At arrival of employees at the mine's premises, the employer must: |
| 8.3.4.1 | Implement an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures at all areas as identified by the mines risk assessment. Also, implement single use disinfection or industrial sanitising of eating utensils at kitchens, dining areas and hostels, to be used as employees prepare to eat. |
| 8.3.4.2 | Ensure that hand hygiene practices are maintained at the strategic points as identified by the risk assessment and work places where close contact among employees is likely to occur including in underground working places. |
| 8.3.4.3 | Ensure that in highly congested areas (such as residences, kitchens, cages and underground working places), a maximum occupation/capacity as guided by the relevant regulation/s and risk assessment is always maintained. |
| 8.3.4.4 | Implement social/physical distancing between 1-2 metre/s when in contact with other people, and where this is not possible, issue appropriate PPE. |
| 8.3.4.5 | Induct and regularly update employees' awareness training material on signs and symptoms of COVID-19 as well as information on viability and survival of the SARS-Cov-2 on different surfaces. |
| 8.3.4.6 | Implement a calibration or verification procedure for non-contact thermal scanning/screening i.e. when, where, who and how to calibrate or verify the non-contact instrument/s to correlate with the core body temperature . |
| 8.3.4.7 | As far as possible with employee consent and respecting medical confidentiality be informed through the designated healthcare worker if an employee has pre-existing condition that will cause an employee to be unfit to RTW or classified as vulnerable employee. |
| 8.3.4.8 | Intensify awareness on the importance of adherence to taking of chronic medication for management of non-communicable diseases . |
| 8.3.4.9 | Ensure that hand hygiene practices are maintained at the strategic points as identified by the risk assessment and work places where close contact among employees is likely to occur including in underground working places. |
| 8.3.4.10 | Specify minimum standard required PPE to be worn in order to prevent exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (including to and from work) and these requirements must take into consideration other standards and regulation dealing with PPE for occupational hazards at mines (See Annexure 6). |
NOTE:
Taking into account the risk classification groups described in section 8.1.2.11 of this guideline, a guide is made in Table 1 below to classify the risk for the purpose of providing appropriate PPE, jobs in the mining industry according to the level of risk. This exercise can only be refined and concluded by the individual mining companies, depending on such mining company's specific circumstances and within the context f what is reasonably practicable.
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Table 1: Risk classification for the purpose of providing PPE
CLASSIFICATION
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MINE EMPLOYEES AT RISK
(This list is not exhaustive)
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| (b) | Occupational health practitioners conducting cough inducing procedures, e.g. spirometry. |
| (c) | HCWs collecting specimens for diagnosis of COVID-19, e.g. throat swabs. |
| (d) | Ambulance personnel that do intubation into trachea. |
| (e) | Health care employees that do removal of cardio-respiratory organs for autopsy. |
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| (a) | Health care employees that examine employees at occupational health centres, medical stations and other places with potential to be in contact with a COVID-19 patient (known and unknown), ambulance drivers transporting the sick. |
| (b) | Underground employees who are in confined environments during waiting to be transported, during transportation to underground and to various working stations. |
| (c) | Security staff at high volume access points or conducting temperature checks and/or alcohol testing. |
| (d) | Health and Safety reps during investigation of underground working sites |
| (e) | Hospital waste cleaners |
| (f) | Change room attendants |
| (g) | Cleaners involved in workplace disinfection e.g. Following the removal of a PUI and under round sanitation employees. |
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| (a) | Security staff at entrances to facilities and mines |
| (b) | Mine employees in work areas where social/physical distancing is possible and being practiced |
| (e) | Occupational hygienists -personal sampling procedures |
| (f) | Clerks working at occupational health centres |
| (g) | Human resource practitioners that interact very closely with people |
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| (b) | Control room operators |
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| 8.3.4.11 | Ensure that awareness is conducted in respect of correct PPE usage, fit testing (where applicable), removal, storage, disposal and workp lace practices required to prevent exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Awareness should be conducted as far as possible in predominant language spoken in the peri-mining community area. |
| 8.3.4.12. | Provide receptacles for all used PPE and where applicable receptacles for hazardous biological waste. |
| 8.3.4.13. | Ensure that waste management procedure is in place and that it addresses equipment handling; transport and disposal sites. |
| 8.3.5. | Screening and testing for COVID-19 |
| 8.3.5.1. | The employer must put a system in place to screen all persons (who are not employees) entering all mine premises, at the designated areas. Anyone who fails screening must be denied access and advised to seek medical assistance. |
| 8.3.5.2. | The employer must put in place a system to screen all the employees on a daily basis at mine's accommodation, at designated areas. This is to isolate and quarantine any possible cases and suspects. |
| 8.3.5.3. | The employer must establish a system of symptom screening by a designated person at the start and end of every shift at designated areas. Pre-shift screening must include a temperature check. Any reported symptoms (e.g. loss of taste and smell, shortness of breath and possible fever) during or at the end of the shift must be referred for a temperature check.(The employer to also refer to the latest guidelines from the NDOH on symptom screening). |
NOTE:
The employer must note and follow the calibration or verification procedure prior to screening the employees.
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| 8.3.5.4. | The employer must put systems in place to ensure that employees with elevated temperature ≥37.5°C to be referred for further assessment by the healthcare worker and employees with the temperature of ≥38.0°C to be isolated (isolation in this cases referring to separation of such employees into temporary waiting areas while awaiting assessment) for assessment by a healthcare worker. |
| 8.3.5.5. | Employees will be tested only if they meet the PUI criteria, which includes having symptoms of a respiratory illness of recent or sudden onset. (As per the latest NDOH guidelines on the PIU criteria (see annexure 7 and annexure 7(a) on the PUI criteria). |
| 8.3.5.6. | The employer must ensure that results are communicated with the employee. |
| 8.3.5.7. | Employees returning to work at the start and increase of capacity at the mine, and pass the COVID-19 screening test must be referred to the Occupational Health Centre for fitness to work assessment. |
| 8.3.5.8. | Employees with pre-existing conditions that will make them more susceptible to severe COVID-19 must be identified and only be permitted to work after being declared fit by an occupational medical practitioner. |
| 8.3.5.9. | A risk-based method to prioritise high-risk individuals for more active interventions such as prophylaxis and individualised counselling, must be used. |
| 8.3.5.10. | Scheduling of dates for flu vaccination should be made when vaccines are available and employees with pre-existing conditions must be prioritised. |
| 8.3.5.11. | The employer must put in place a contact tracing programme for contacts of COVID-19 cases identified on the mine and communicate with the DOH on tracing of contacts beyond the mine. The NICD contact tracing protocol must be followed. |
| 8.3.6.1. | The employer must identify and implement designated areas for isolation, whereby the following must apply: |
| i. | Assessment of employees for COVID-19 signs and symptoms. |
| ii. | Referral of employees who meet the NICD criteria of a PUI. |
| iii. | For employees who show symptoms whilst at work, the employer must put systems in place in order to ensure that such employees are removed from the working place to designated isolation area, in order to protect the other employees. |
| 8.3.6.2. | The employer must put in place a contact tracing programme for contacts of COVID-19 cases identified on the mine and communicate with the DOH on tracing of contacts beyond the mine. The NICD contact tracing protocol must be followed. |
| 8.3.7.1. | The employer must implement a follow up system,whereby the following will be applied: |
| i. | An arrangement will be made for medical assessment and a letter be obtained from the isolation/health care facilities. In case of self-isolation an employee must submit a letter from the legal health care worker. |
| ii. | The fitness to work assessment and issuing of a certificate of fitness . |
| 8.3.8. | Referral for further management for other conditions other than COVID-19 |
| 8.3.8.1. | The employer must implement a referral system that will assist in determining the following: |
| i. | Employees with abnormal findings (which are not related to COVID-19) to a medical centre for further assessment and management. |
| ii. | The provision of psychosocial support services by the mines through in-house or contracted EAP or collaboration with the public service. |
| 8.3.8.2. | Differential diagnosis for elevated temperature and respiratory symptoms in mine employees and exclude underlying medical condition. |
| 8.3.9.1. | The employer must allow the employees to self-isolate where possible, under the following conditions: |
| i. | Under the guidance of a healthcare worker employees whose test results are positive for COVID-19 and have mild disease, with the capacity to self-isolate may do so at home in accordance with NDOH guidelines. |
| ii. | Employees must be provided with the necessary PPE and contact tracing must commence thereafter in accordance with NDOH procedures. |
| iii. | The medical centre team/healthcare worker must follow-up telephonically with the employee on a daily basis, record progress and recommend further medical assessment, as required. |
| iv. | A register of employees presenting with symptoms, i.e. PUI and who are referred for isolation, as per NDOH guidelines, must be kept, as well as list of contacts. |
| 8.3.10. | Prevent infection to employees and those visiting the mine operation |
| 8.3.10.1 | Alignment of the medical surveillance system to the COVID-19 pandemic: |
| i. | The employer must perform a risk assessment with regard to potential cross infection linked to the different activities (e.g. spirometry, eye testing, audiometry, temperature measurements, heat tolerance screening, etc.) embodied in the medical surveillance system. Protection of health for all is paramount. Consider as an option full protective gear where applicable for protection of health care workers. Unless sufficient infection prevention control measures are put in place, all spirometry and/or audiometry is to be suspended. |
| ii. | At the discretion of the appointed occupational medical practitioner, the employer must conduct a heat tolerance screening test as per the mine's risk assessment, and if not practical to implement heat tolerance screening test only allow specific occupation(s) to undergo natural acclimatisation. |
| 8.3.10.2. | The employer must establish and maintain a personal hygiene programme in mitigation of transmission of COVID-19, and to the following but not limited to: |
| i. | Maintaining physical distancing. |
| ii. | Regular washing of hands with soap. |
| iii. | Regular sanitising of hands with alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) or other appropriate sanitisers. |
| iv. | Avoid touching of face areas (mouth, eyes and nose). |
| v. | Avoid physical hand contact such as handshakes. |
| vi. | Avoid using other people's personal belongings such as stationery, cell phones and sharing food etc. |
| vii. | When coughing or sneezing do not use hands, rather use a tissue/toilet paper or the inside of the elbow. |
| viii. | Use disposable tissues rather than a handkerchief; immediately dispose of these tissues in a closed bin and wash or sanitise hands thereafter. |
| ix. | Avoid big crowds and travelling. |
| x. | Avoid touching objects before sanitising, like trollies, toilet seats, turnstiles, tables and chairs. |
| xi. | Coach and teach family members. |
| xii. | Wearing and handling of appropriate PPE. |
| 8.3.10.3. | The employer must develop and implement measures that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection to employees and any person entering the mine operations reasonably practicable. |
| 8.3.11. | Use of breathalyser testing |
| 8.3.11.1. | For alcohol testing, the employer must use his/her discretion on which tests to implement depending on feasibility and availability e.g. single use (lowest risk) or multiple use (medium risk and used with protective measures in place). The employer must also assess the health and safety risks in order to prevent cross infection in implementing breathalyser testing (see annexure 8). |
| 8.3.12.1. | The use of biometric systems can be applied by the employer provided the following are complied with: |
| i. | Use of sanitizers at all times |
| ii. | Employees are informed of the necessary health and safety measures they need to apply when using biometric systems. |
| iii. | All necessary health and safety measures as informed by risk assessment are adhered to. |
| iv. | The biometric system is regularly disinfected before and after each use. |
| 8.3.13. | Use of mining and occupational hygiene equipment |
| 8.3.13.1. | The employer must specify the action required and care to be taken when preparing, handling, issuing, retrieving and disinfect occupational hygiene equipment (see annexure 9). |
| 8.3.13.2. | The employer must further specify the action required (including health and safety measures) and care to be taken when handling surfaces and mining equipment to avoid cross infections. |
