Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996)RegulationsMine Health and Safety RegulationsChapter 3 : ElectricityRegulations |
| 3.1 | The employer must take reasonable practicable measures to ensure that: |
| 3.1.1 | The design of all electrical apparatus and electrical reticulation systems are approved by a competent person; |
| 3.1.2 | all electrical apparatus are under the control of a competent person; and |
| 3.1.3 | all electrical apparatus are installed, repaired and maintained by a competent person. |
| 3.2 | The employer must take reasonable practicable measures to ensure that no person suffers any electrical shock, arc flash or electrocution as a result of: |
| (a) | exposure to electrical current flow; |
| (b) | a person coming into contact with live exposed parts of any electrical apparatus; |
| (c) | exposure to electricity, arc flash, all fault currents, overvoltage and surges; |
| (d) | any electrical apparatus failing due to electromagnetic interference from other equipment; |
| (e) | any electrical apparatus being incorrectly designed, installed, operated or maintained; and |
| (f) | any exposure to blasts, fires or arc flashes resulting from electrical faults. |
| 3.3 | The measures contemplated in regulation 3.2 must include measures to ensure: |
| 3.3.1 | proper fencing off or enclosures or clearances of such electrical apparatus. |
| 3.3.2 | that an extension of any electrical reticulation system is approved by a competent person before being energised, taking into account the reticulation network and the effect thereon; |
| 3.3.3 | that only competent persons are permitted to energise, de-energise or isolate electrical apparatus where the operation of such apparatus poses a significant risk and that such apparatus are protected against unauthorised access and operation; |
| 3.3.4 | that only competent persons authorised in writing by the employer to do so; carry out switching procedures on MV or HV equipment; and |
| 3.3.5 | that where the interruption of electrical supply to any equipment could result in a significant risk, such electrical supply can be provided from another source or network, which can include an emergency supply alternator or generator, for power supply in the event of an interruption to the normal power supply. |
| 3.4 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that at any place at a mine, where electrical apparatus is installed and which may constitute a danger to persons shall be: |
| (a) | of adequate size so as to provide safe and unobstructed clear working space for operating and maintenance staff; |
| (b) | constructed and ventilated in such a manner that the apparatus is kept at a safe temperature to safeguard persons; |
| (c) | constructed in such a manner as to provide protection where necessary against the ingress of vermin and water; |
| (d) | illuminated in such a manner as to prevent any danger to persons and to enable all equipment to be distinguished clearly and all instruments, labels and notices to be read clearly while it is live; |
| (e) | equipped with effective means to safely disconnect the energy source; and |
| (f) | equipped with an effective fire extinguishing system. |
| 3.5 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that at every substation there must be a legible, up to date single line drawing of the reticulation system, highlighting ring feeds, of which that substation is a part, displayed in a conspicuous place. Every substation must be clearly identified, and its position clearly marked on such drawing. |
| 3.6 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that the area in which a substation is located is clearly demarcated and that notices are displayed at every point of entry to such an area. These notices shall: |
| (a) | prohibit access of any unauthorised person from accessing that area; |
| (b) | set out the procedures to be followed in the event of a fire; |
| (c) | set out the first aid treatment measures to be given to persons suffering from the effects of electric shock and burns; |
| (d) | indicate the presence of electricity; |
| (e) | describe measures to safely remove any person incapacitated as a result of contact with electricity; and |
| (f) | have available an effective means of communication. |
| 3.7 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that all suspended electrical cables that could cause a fire due to faults or mechanical damage, in stopes, haulages or shafts either through damage by moving machinery or by fall of ground are properly protected by: |
| (a) | switchgear which is electrically supplied and commissioned with discrimination settings for overload and earth fault protection to prevent a fire; |
| (b) | switchgear installed which is correctly rated to prevent a fire or explosion; |
| (c) | all cables in areas where a fire can occur must be fire retardant cables or be coated with fire retardant material at areas in close proximity with timber; and |
| (d) | the employer must have a procedure to be followed in the event of such a fire. |
| 3.8 | The employer of every coal mine must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that all new main reticulation underground substations are designed and located such that they vent into the return air-way. |
| 3.9 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that where mineral oil is used as the medium for insulation or cooling of electrical apparatus, adequate precautions are in place to address any significant risk in the event of an explosion, spillage or burning of the oil. |
| 3.10 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that where electrical apparatus is accessible from the front and the back, each such apparatus are identifiable by clearly labelled and legible markings on the front and back fixed portions of such apparatus and on switchgear shutters. |
| 3.11 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that where ring feeds including bus-sections and bus-couplers are accessible from the front and the back, each such apparatus are identifiable by clearly labelled and legible markings on the front and back fixed portions of such apparatuses and on switchgear shutters. |
| 3.12 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that all electrical apparatus used for the distribution of electrical power, except electrical apparatus which contains domestic voltages, are clearly marked with the maximum voltage that may be present therein. |
| 3.13 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that no examination, adjustment, testing, repair or other work necessitating the dangerous approach to or the handling of electrical apparatus shall be carried out unless such apparatus is dead: Provided that where such equipment must be live for the purpose of examination, adjustment, repair or other work it may be done by or under the direct supervision of a competent person. |
| 3.14 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that no person other than a competent person authorised in writing by the employer to do so, enters a place where electric apparatus is installed unless all live conductors therein are insulated adequately or otherwise protected effectively against inadvertent contact: Provided that such authorised competent person may in case of an emergency be assisted by a person acting under the immediate personal supervision of such authorised competent person. |
| 3.15 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that when work is to be carried out on electrical apparatus which have been isolated from all sources of electrical supply, effective precautions shall be taken: |
| i) | by discharging all stored electrical energy, and |
| ii) | testing for dead including any ring feeds by earthing such apparatus and, in the case of ring-feeds or dual supplies of power, by earthing on both sides of the associated electrical apparatus worked on, so as to prevent any conductor or apparatus from being made live while any person is working thereon. |
| 3.16 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that any accessible metallic portion of electric apparatus which, though not normally forming part of an electric circuit, may inadvertently become live, is insulated or earthed by a conductor of adequate cross-sectional area capable of withstanding the maximum possible earth fault current condition, so as to prevent any significant risk to persons for the duration that the fault current may be flowing in the circuit. |
| 3.17 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that whenever work is to be carried out on electrical apparatus which has been isolated from all sources of supply, effective precautions shall be taken by earthing or other means to discharge electrically such electrical apparatus or any adjacent electrical apparatus to prevent any conductor or apparatus from being made live accidentally or inadvertently while any person is working thereon. |
| 3.18 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that no metal ladder or ladder with metal reinforced stiles is used for examination, repair, or other work necessitating the dangerous approach to or work on electrical apparatus. |
| 3.19 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that any accessible metallic portion of electrical plant or apparatus which, though not forming part of an electrical circuit, may accidentally become live shall either be protected by an insulating material or shall be connected to earth by a conductor of adequate cross-section so as to prevent danger to persons. |
| 3.20 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that the cross-sectional area of any earthing conductor is calculated to be capable of withstanding the maximum possible earth fault current condition. |
| 3.21 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to draw up and implement a procedure for all energising, de-energising and isolation of medium or high voltage electrical apparatus. |
| 3.22 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that where any electrical cable is buried in the ground or installed in such a position that mechanical damage to it may occur, it is protected by armouring. |
| 3.23 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that all flexible cables or trailing cables may only be used in connection with the operation of— |
| (a) | any self-propelled mobile machine which requires electric power to operate such machine; |
| (b) | movable electric apparatus; or |
| (c) | portable electric apparatus. |
| 3.24 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that any flexible cable or trailing cable used in or on a mine or works shall be screened either individually or collectively and such screens shall be earthed: Provided that a cable used in a hazardous area shall be screened individually. |
| 3.25 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that no flexible cable or trailing cable shall have more than fifteen joint repairs, including sheath patches over a length of 200 metres and no joint repair or patch shall be closer than 5 metres to an adjacent joint, repair or patch and no joint, repair or patch shall be closer than 3 metres to the cable plug or its terminal connection at the machine or apparatus. |
| 3.26 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that any cable reel used in connection with self-propelled mobile machine shall be provided with a device which shall interrupt the power supply to the cable before the complete cable is unreeled so that at least one complete turn of the cable shall remain on the reel when the interruption of the power supply has been effected, unless the machine's maximum range of travel is limited to less than that permitted by the cable on the reel for reasons other than the length of the cable. |
| 3.27 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that no electrical cable trench or duct is left open, uncovered or unprotected, except when persons are working in such trench or duct or where precautions have been taken to prevent persons from inadvertently falling into such trench or duct. |
| 3.28 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that persons are prevented from significant risks arising from inadvertent contact with overhead power lines by trackless mobile machines/ rail bound equipment or while erecting or moving structures or other objects. |
| 3.29 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that persons carrying out examinations, repairs or other work at elevated positions in close proximity to exposed electrical apparatus are protected from live electrical contact. |
| 3.30 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that surface residential and commercial buildings are to be wired and protected in accordance with South African Bureau of Standards Code of Practice SANS 10142-1, 2006, "Wiring of premises and installations not exceeding 1 kV". The normative references in SANS 10142-1, 2006 are not applicable to the employer. |
| 3.31 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that the design and construction of overhead power lines are in accordance with South African Bureau of Standards Code of Practice SANS 10280, 1995."Overhead power lines for conditions prevailing in South Africa". The normative references in SANS 10280, 1995 are not applicable to the employer. |
| 3.32 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that electrical security fencing is erected and maintained in accordance with the South African Bureau of Standards Code of Practice SANS 10222 : 2002, Part 3, "Electrical Security Fences (non lethal)". The normative references of SANS 10222, 2002 are not applicable to the employer. |
| 3.33 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that any helmet light assemblies used underground at a mine complies with SANS 1438, 2013 "Helmet light assemblies for miners". The normative references of SANS 1438, 2013 are not applicable to the employer. |
| 3.34 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that any helmet light assemblies used underground are tested in accordance with the requirements of ARP 0108:2013. |
| 3.35 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that the operating voltage of any portable lamp used at a mine does not exceed 32 volts. |
| 3.36 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that all electric apparatus are selected, installed, worked and maintained in such a manner as not to constitute a hazard and shall be placed and protected in such a manner that no person can be injured by inadvertent contact with any live portion. |
| 3.37 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that all electric apparatus used in a hazardous area shall be explosion protected and certified as such by an inspection authority (la) certificate issued by an accredited test laboratory. |
| 3.38 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that any type and design of explosion protected apparatus shall at all times be identified in an inspection authority (la) certificate and an identification number shall be allocated to such apparatus by the accredited test laboratory. |
| 3.39 | The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that explosion protected apparatus is not used at a mine unless the manager is in possession of a copy of the inspection authority certificate. The identification number referred to in regulation 3.36 must be clearly and indelibly marked on the apparatus or on a metal plate (other than a light metal) permanently fixed to the apparatus. |