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

2. Scope

 

2.1. This guideline addresses significant health and safety hazards and risks associated with the design, application, organisational work methods, driver competency criteria and the provision of PPE in the context of road and rail safety management within the control of the mine.

 

2.2. It also considers potential impacts on areas beyond the mining right that may affect the health and safety of mine employees without necessarily imposing legal obligations on employers other than the obligations already imposed on the employers by the MHSA.

 

2.3. The employer must take reasonable measures to liaise with the appropriate department or authority to improve road and/or rail safety where employees and commodities are being transported. In this regard the following should be borne in mind when complying with the provisions of this guideline:
2.3.1. The National Department of Transport is responsible for the overall regulation of public roads in South Africa. This includes setting standards, policies, and regulations related to road safety, traffic management, and road infrastructure development. The National Department of Transport also oversees the RTMC, which is responsible for traffic enforcement and road safety.
2.3.2. The South African National Roads Agency Limited is a government-owned entity responsible for managing the national road network, including planning, constructing, and maintaining national roads. It is also involved in implementing road safety measures and ensuring compliance with traffic regulations on national roads.
2.3.3. The Railway Safety Regulator, an agency under the National Department of Transport, is responsible for the regulation of railway safety in South Africa. It ensures that rail operators comply with safety standards and regulations aimed at preventing accidents and ensuring the safe operation of rail services.
2.3.4. Local municipalities and provincial transport departments also have jurisdiction over public roads within their respective areas, including the regulation of road infrastructure, traffic management, and local road safety. They work with national agencies to enforce safety standards and manage public roads.