Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996)

Regulations

Guideline for a Mandatory Code of Practice

Risk Based Emergency Care on a Mine

Part C: Format and Content of the Mandatory Code of Practice

8. Aspects to be addressed in the Code of Practice
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The COP must set out how significant risks identified and assessed in terms of the risk assessment process referred to in paragraph 7.1, will be addressed. The COP must cover at least the aspects set out below:

 

8.1Determining emergency care requirements for each working site:

 

The COP should set out a process for determining the emergency care requirements for each work site. In order to provide appropriate emergency medical care this process should entail at least the following steps:

 

8.1.1        Risk rating of the work site

 

The employer should use a risk assessment process to classify each work site into low, medium or high risk for employees requiring emergency care. As the risk rating increases so do the requirements for emergency care services in terms of the number and qualifications of first aid providers and the type and quantities of first aid equipment and other supplies.

 

8.1.2Calculating the response time and classifying the work sites

 

In order to calculate the response time to the emergency and classify work sites in terms of response time, the COP should require that the following steps be taken:

 

Step 1: Determine the EMS response time to the operation site.

EMS response time is the time from calling EMS to the time that the EMS arrives on the operation site;

 

Step 2: Determine the time to the side of the patient.

The time it would take for the EMS staff to get from the point of arrival on site to the side of the patient to start administering treatment. This will depend on several local factors such as opencast vs. underground mining work site, depth/level of work site underground, size of surface operation, etc.

 

Step 3: Response time to the emergency = EMS response time to the operation site plus the time to the side of the patient.

 

Step 4: Classify work sites in terms of response time.

•Close Work Site = Time to site < 30 minutes
•Distant Work Site =Time to site 30 -60 minutes
•Isolated Work Site = Time to site > 60 minutes

 

8.1.3Establishing First Aid requirements

 

Once each working site has been appropriately rated in terms of risks; and response time established, the first aid requirements must be determined in accordance with the following:

 

8.1.3.1Number of employees at the work site per shift;

 

8.1.3.2Level of first aid training that could be required by persons having to administer first aid;

 

8.1.3.3First aid equipment (pack) as illustrated in table in Annexure C; and

 

8.1.3.4Special risks, e.g. cyanide poisoning, pregnancy, etc.

 

8.1.4Determining appropriate First Aid Competencies

 

8.1.4.1Determine number of first aiders that need to be trained to ensure appropriate emergency care can be provided at all times.

 

8.1.4.2Determine the appropriate levels of first aid competencies that could be required at each work site having regard to the different levels of competencies in Table 1 below.

 

LEVEL RANKING

NQF

STANDARDS

COMPETENCIES

 

Most competent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R840 8.14 Arrow

Competencies to be customised to the mining industry and aligned to the first aid standards of the Sectoral Education and Training Authority (SETA), as established under the Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998.

NQF Level 3

 

First Aid Training
1.Principles of advanced first aid in emergencies.
2.Demonstrate an advanced level of preparedness to deal with sudden illness or emergency.
3.Assess and manage an emergency scene/disaster.
4.Anatomy and macro physiology of the human body.
5.Disorders and diseases.
6.Primary first aid support for adults, children and infants
7.Causes of shock and emergency treatment.

 

First Aid for cyanide poisoning

(Additional training where the risk exists/applies)

 

1.Preparation required to administer first aid for cyanide poisoning.
2.First Aid for cyanide poisoning.
3.Recording and reporting duties.
4.Final duties.

NQF Level 2

 

First Aid Training
1. List relevant information from South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) standards Principles of First Aid.
2.Contents of first aid kit plus maintenance and storage.
3.Emergency scene management
4.Choking.
5.One-man Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation.
6.Recovery position.
7.Control of bleeding.
8.Management of general shock and anaphylaxis.
9.Immobilisation and transport techniques, especially neck & spinal injuries.
10.Head injuries and levels of unconsciousness.
11.Fractures, dislocations and sprains.
12.Wound management.
13.Burns
14.Thermal stress especially febrile patient & hyper/hypothermia.
15.Poisons e.g. common and working site accidental poisoning; overdose; animal/marine/insect/reptile bites and stings.
16.Common illnesses e.g. Diabetes, Epilepsy, Asthma, Stroke, Heart attach.
17.Keep records of incident/accident.
18.Communicated on transferral of injured or ill person.
19.Reported in accordance with current & accepted work site procedures and policies.

NQF Level 1

 

First Aid Training
1.Principles of First Aid.
2.Emergency Scene Safety.
3.Elementary Anatomy & physiology.
4.Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (one man).
5.Choking.
6.Severe haemorrhage.
7.Common injuries (Wounds; fractures; Dislocations; Soft tissue injuries; Burns; Unconsciousness; Head injuries; Spinal injuries).
8.Common conditions (Shock; Hyperthermia; Poisonous gases).
9. Transport of casualty.
10.Report and transfer of patient.

Lease competent

First Aid Awareness
1.Understanding First Aid.
2.Protection against infections.
3.First Aid and the law.
4.First Aid principles.
5.Assessing the scene.
6.Make area safe.
7.Give emergency aid.
8.Calling for assistance.
9.Head to Toe examination.

 

8.1.5Control of First Aid Equipment

 

The COP must set out a procedure to ensure effective control and management of all first aid equipment.

 

8.2Ensuring sufficient and appropriated trained first aiders

 

The COP must set out a procedure to ensure that:

 

8.2.1The first aid training is aligned with levels of first aid competencies that could be required at each work site;

 

8.2.2Sufficient numbers of first aiders are trained and available to ensure appropriate emergency care can be provided at all times;

 

8.2.3The first aid training provided to employees complies with First Aid unit standards determined by the South African Qualifications Authority and recognised by the Mining Qualifications Authority;

 

8.2.4The First Aid training is conducted by an accredited service provider and refreshers are conducted at appropriate intervals;

 

8.2.5The accredited service provider must have a programme to ensure quality control of systems and competencies of trainers, as well as updated training material; and

 

8.2.6The minimum competencies of first aiders are as set out in table 1.

 

8.3Transfer and transportation arrangements from the mine

 

If the required level of emergency care is beyond the capabilities of the first alders and facilities available at the mine, appropriate alternative pre-hospital transfer and transportation arrangements must be in place. In order to ensure that the patient is transferred and transported in accordance with the requirements for the type of emergency care required, the COP must set out a procedure to ensure that:

 

8.3.1Where required, transfer agreements with service providers are entered into for transportation and recipients of transfers, such as ambulance services and neighbouring hospitals;

 

8.3.2The patient is stabilised before transfer, in order to avoid further complications;

 

8.3.3Any receiving health facility /institution is given adequate prior notice about the transfer and the condition of the patient;

 

8.3.4Where possible, the patient is informed of the need to be transferred to a health care facility;

 

8.3.5The patient's information is appropriately recorded in an accident/ incident register; and

 

8.3.6Follow -up is done to confirm the patient's arrival and acceptance by the receiving health facility/institution.

 

8.4Information related to emergency care signage

 

The COP must set out a procedure to ensure that emergency care signage is brought to the attention of all persons at a mine, which measures could include the display of appropriate, prominently displayed and clearly visible notices at working sites. In respect of notices and signs, note should be taken of SANS standards 0400 SABS 1186.