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

Regulations

Guideline for a Mandatory Code of Practice

Prevention of Fires at Mines

Part C: Format and Content of the Mandatory COP

7. Risk management

 

7.1 Section 11 of the MHSA requires the employer to identify hazards, assess the health and safety risks to which employees may be exposed while they are at work, record the significant hazards identified and risk assessed.

 

7.2 The employer must determine how the significant risks identified in the risk assessment process must be dealt with, having regard to the requirement of section 11(2) and (3) that, as far as reasonably practicable, attempts should first be made to eliminate the risk, thereafter to control the risk at source, thereafter to minimise the risk and thereafter, insofar as the risk remains, to provide personal protective equipment and to institute a programme to monitor the risk.

 

7.3 The risk assessment must follow the mine risk management procedure:
7.3.1 With due consideration given to the composition of the required competent team.
7.3.2 Consultation with and collaboration between the relevant mining technical disciplines and subject matter experts on the fire risk assessment aspects during the design, planning, implementation and operational phase(s).

 

7.4 To assist the employer with the risk assessment, all possible relevant information should be obtained and considered for the prevention of fires at mines such as:
7.4.1 Fire incidents, research reports, manufacturers’ specifications, approvals, design criteria and performance figures for all relevant equipment.
7.4.2 Investigation and enquiry outcomes, statutory instructions and previous MHSA regulation 5.1 reports.

 

7.5 In addition to the periodic review required by section 11(4) of the MHSA, the COP should be reviewed and updated if relevant after every serious incident relating to a topic covered in the COP or if significant changes are introduced, to procedures, processes, process layout, process methods, ventilation layouts, plant or equipment and material.

 

7.6 In terms of this COP, any interventions arising from the risk assessment must be implemented following a structured management of change procedure.