Acts Online
GT Shield

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

Guideline for a Mandatory Code of Practice

Road and Rail Safety Management in the South African Mining Industry

Part A: The Guideline

1. Foreword

 

1.1. PTV services are integral in ensuring that mine employees commute to and from designated pick-up and drop-off points close to their places of residence and employment. These services support the South African mining industry which is the backbone of the economy of South Africa economy. A significant increase in road transportation in South Africa has correlated to a rising number of road incidents that have led to serious injuries and fatalities (RTMC, 2023).

 

1.2. Due to the rail infrastructure challenges in South Africa, there has been an increase in the transportation of minerals and materials by road. As a result of this increase, the number of incidents that are attributed to the transportation of minerals and materials by road has increased.

 

1.3. The lack of adequate maintenance programmes for railway infrastructure, combined with the increased use of level crossings by mine passenger and mineral transportation services, has contributed to rail-related incidents.

 

1.4. In an initiative to address this challenge, a tripartite task team was established under the auspices of the MOSAC. The task team prepared this guideline on the development of a COP on road and rail safety management in the South African mining industry.

 

1.5. The MHSA requires the employer to protect the health and safety of employees at mines. To this end, section 9 (2) of the MHSA requires employers to compile and implement a COP in terms of the Guideline for Road and Rail Safety Management in the South African mining industry.

 

1.6. The RSR is, in terms of section 7 of the National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002 (Act No 16 of 2002) as amended, required to provide for and promote safe railway operations as well as to encourage collaboration and participation of interested and affected parties on improving railway safety.