Regulations > Mine Health and Safety Regulations > Chapter 9 : Mine Environmental Engineering and Occupational Hygiene

9.1	Environmental Engineering

(1)	Use of Compressed Air

No person may use, or permit any person to use, compressed air:

(a)	in such a manner that it might endanger the health or safety of any person; or

(b)	to clean the body of any person or clothes being worn by any person.

(2)	Early Warning Systems

Where the risk assessment at the mine indicates a significant risk of a fire and/or explosion and/or toxic release, that could lead to an irrespirable atmosphere or an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life or health, the employer must provide an early warning system or systems at all working places.

(3)	Ventilation Control Devices

The employer must ensure that polymer underground ventilation control devices or appliances, which have the potential for electrical static discharge—

(a)	comply with the SABS standard specifications 1287: Part I and Part II; and

(b)	are of anti-static characteristics when used in working places where there is a risk of igniting gas, dust or vapour.

[Regulation 9.1(3) commences on 1 September 2002 - See Notice No. R. 904, GG 23583, dated 2 July 2002]

(4)	Working places where work has ceased

The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that no employee is exposed to any health hazard at, or emanating from, any working place where work has ceased, either temporarily or permanently.

9.2	Occupational Hygiene

(1)	Occupational exposure to health hazards

The employer must ensure that the occupational exposure to health hazards of employees, is maintained below the limits set out in Schedule 22.9(2)(a) and (b).

(2)	System of Occupational Hygiene Measurements

The employer must establish and maintain a system of occupational hygiene measurements, as contemplated in section 12, of all working places where the following hazard limits prevail:

(a)	airborne pollutants

–	particulates > 1/10 of the occupational exposure limit;

–	gases and vapours > 1/2 of the occupational exposure limit;

(b)	thermal stress

–	heat >25,0°C wet bulb and/or >32,0°C dry bulb and/or >32,0°C mean radiant temperature

–	cold <10 °C equivalent chill temperature; and

> 82dBL AEq.8h

[Reference is made to the following Guidelines issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines in terms of section 9(2) of this Act

(i)	Occupational Health Programme on Personal Exposure to Airborne Pollutants: Ref. No. DME 16/3/2/4-A1

(ii)	Guideline for the Compilation of a Mandatory Code of Practice for an Occupational Health Programme on Personal Exposure to Thermal Stress Ref. No. DME 16/3/2/4-A2]

(3) Report to Employer

The competent person engaged by the employer in terms of section 12(1) must, as part of the compliance with section 12(2)(b), report to the employer on—

(a)	the occupational hygiene risk assessment, with specific reference to planning, design, implementation and management of occupational hygiene at the mine;

(b)	the occupational hygiene hazards that may cause illness or adverse health effects to persons, assess the results in terms of the implementation of control systems and the management thereof, and recommend remedial actions to the employer.

(4)	Provision of potable and palatable water

The employer must ensure that sufficient potable and palatable water, which comply with the requirements set out in Schedule 22.9(2)(c), is readily available to all employees and clearly identified as drinkable.

(5)	Provision and maintenance of ablution and change house facilities

The employer must provide and maintain suitable and adequate:

(a)	change houses to enable employees who perform work involving hazardous substances to change into working clothes at the start of their shift and to wash themselves and change their clothes at the end of their shift;

(b)	facilities to enable employees who perform work involving hazardous substances to wash their hands and faces before eating any meals at work; and

(c)	readily available latrine facilities, within a reasonable distance from each working place.

(6)	Working Clothes

No employee may remove clothes referred to in regulation 9.2(5)(a) from the mine unless such clothes have been decontaminated.

(7)	Report to Regional Principal Inspector

The employer must submit to the regional principal inspector of mines, on forms 21.9(2)(a); 21.9(2)(b); 21.9(2)(c) and 21.9(2)(d), 21.9.2(e) and 21.9.2(f), prescribed in chapter 21, and within 60 days from the end of the relevant reporting period as indicated on each form, reports which contain information on the airborne pollutant, thermal stress and noise aspects of the system of occupational hygiene measurements, established and maintained in terms of regulation 9.2(2).

[Regulation 9.2(7) amended by Notice No. R. 1226 dated 15 December 2005]

(8)	Respiratory Protective Equipment

The employer must ensure that all respiratory protective equipment used at a mine, other than body-worn self-contained self rescuers, comply with the South African bureau of Standards Code of Practice, Homologation of Respiratory equipment SABS 0338.

(9)	Illumination of Working Places

The employer must ensure that the illumination at all working places is sufficient to enable employees, who have conformed with the requirements of the vision tests conducted in terms of the Guideline for the Minimum Standards of Fitness to Perform work at a Mine, to perform their work safely.

Repeal

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.

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[Chapter 9 inserted by Notice No. R904 dated 2 July 2002]

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

Regulations

Mine Health and Safety Regulations

Chapter 9 : Mine Environmental Engineering and Occupational Hygiene