Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996)RegulationsMine Health and Safety RegulationsChapter 14 : Fall of Ground Regulations |
| 14.1 | Entering of working places |
At every underground mine where a risk of rock bursts, rock falls or roof falls exists, and at every other mine where a significant risk of rock bursts, rock falls or roof falls exists, the employer—
| (1) | may not permit any person, other than those persons examining and making safe, to enter any of the following areas at the mine until such areas are declared safe by competent persons: |
| (a) | the area between the face and the nearest line of permanent support; and |
| (b) | access ways, traveling ways or places where persons need to travel or work; |
| (2) | must ensure that the examinations for purposes of regulation 14.1(1) are carried out as often as may be required, in terms of the mine's risk assessment, to maintain a safe working environment; |
| (3) | must ensure that a record of declarations contemplated in regulations 14.1(1) and 14.1(5) is kept for a period of at least three months; |
| (4) | must ensure that where areas contemplated in regulation 14.1(1) have not been examined, made and declared safe, persons are prevented from inadvertently entering such areas; |
| (5) | must ensure, if at any time a working place or part thereof becomes unsafe during a shift, that all persons, other than those examining and making safe, are removed from such unsafe area and are not permitted to return thereto until declared safe by a competent person. |
| (6) | must ensure that a quality, assurance system is in place, which ensures that the support units used at the mine provide the required performance characteristics for the loading conditions expected; |
| (7) | must ensure that only competent persons install, maintain and remove any support unit; |
| (8) | must ensure that the input of a competent person is properly and timeously considered and integrated into mine design, planning and operations. |
[Regulation 14.1 inserted by Notice No. R. 959 dated 12 July 2002]
| 14.2 | No person, other than those persons examining and making safe, may enter any of the areas contemplated in regulation 14.1(1) until such areas have been declared safe as contemplated in regulations 14.1(1) and 14.1(5). |
[Regulation 14.2 inserted by Notice No. R. 959 dated 12 July 2002]
| 14.3 | The following regulations made under the Minerals Act, 1991 (Act 50 of 1991) in force in terms of Schedule 4 of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29 of 1996) are hereby repealed |
7.1 7.2.2 7.4.5 8.1.1 8.1.2 8.1.3 8.1.5 8.1.6 8.2 8.3.1 8.3.2 |
8.4.2(a), (b) and (d) 8.4.3 8.4.4.1 8.4.4.2 8.4.4.3 8.4.5 8.8 8.9.1, 8.9.2 8.9.6 8.10.11 |
[Regulation 14.3 inserted by Notice No. R. 959 dated 12 July 2002]
| 14.4 | The employer must take reasonable measures to ensure where the condition at any working place pose or might pose a significant risk to the health and safety of persons resulting from an ingress of water or other fluid material likely to cause drowning, asphyxiation, inundation, physical impact, chemical exposure or being trapped, that all working places are adequately protected against such ingress of water or other fluid material. |
[Regulation 14.4 inserted by Notice No. R. 1323 dated 12 November 2004]
| 14.5 | The employer must take reasonable measures to ensure that no person is endangered by any significant risks such as falling, drowning, slipping, asphyxiation or being struck by rock or other material associated with subsidences or cavities brought about by mining operations. |
[Regulation 14.5 inserted by Notice No. R. 1323 dated 12 November 2004]
| 14.6 | The employer must take reasonable measures to ensure that no person is endangered by any significant risks such as the collapse of surface buildings and structures thereon associated with structural failure as a result of the removal of any type of support provided for the protection of the surface of a mine or structures or objects thereon. |
[Regulation 14.6 inserted by Notice No. R. 1323 dated 12 November 2004]
| 14.7 | The following regulations made under the Minerals Act, 1991 (Act 50 of 1991), in force in terms of Schedule 4 of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29 of 1996) are hereby repealed:— |
5.1.1
5.1.2
5.2
5.3.3
5.3.4
5.4.5
5.4.6
5.5
5.6.1
5.6.2
5.6.3
5.7
5.10
[Regulation 14.7 inserted by Notice No. R. 1323 dated 12 November 2004]