Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)

Regulations

Ergonomics Regulations, 2018

1. Definitions
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In these Regulations "the Act" means the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993), and any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act has the meaning so assigned and, unless the context otherwise indicates—

 

"adverse health effect"

means the causation, promotion, facilitation or exacerbation of a structural or functional abnormality, with the implication that the abnormality produced has the potential of lowering the quality of life, contributing to a disabling illness or leading to premature death;

 

"competent person"

in relation to ergonomics, means a person who—

(a) has in respect of the work or task to be performed the required knowledge, training and experience in ergonomics and, where applicable, qualifications specific to ergonomics: provided that where appropriate qualifications and training are registered in terms of the provisions of the National Qualifications Framework Act, 2008 (Act No. 67 of 2008), those qualifications and that training must be regarded as the required qualifications and training; and
(b) is familiar with the Act and the applicable regulations made under the Act;

 

"chief director: provincial operations"

means the provincial director as defined in regulation 1 of the General Administrative Regulations, 2003, as published in Government Notice No. R. 929 of 25 June 2003;

 

"design"

in relation to objects, systems or measurable human interaction includes drawings, calculations, design details and specification;

 

"designer"

means any person who—

(a) prepares a design;
(b) checks and approves a design;
(c) arranges for a person at work under his or her supervision to prepare a design, including an employee of that person where he or she is the employer;
(d) designs temporary work, including its components; or
(e) contributes to, or has overall responsibility for machinery, plant or work systems design;

 

"ergonomic risk"

means a characteristic or action in the workplace, workplace conditions, or a combination thereof that may impair overall system performance and human well-being;

 

"ergonomic risk assessment"

means a programme, process or investigation to identify, analyse, evaluate and prioritise any risk from exposure to ergonomic risks associated with the workplace;

 

"ergonomics"

means the scientific discipline concerned with the fundamental understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, andthe profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimise human well-being and overall system performance;

 

"supplier"

means a person who controls the supply, importation or resupply of machinery, plant or work systems;

 

"work system"

means a system in which human participants or machines or human participants and machines perform work using information, technology and other resources to produce products or services for internal or external customers.