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

Regulations

Guideline for a Mandatory Code of Practice

Provision of Personal Protective Equipment for Women in the South African Mining Industry

Annexures

Annexure 2: Common hazards at mines and possible PPE

Purchase

(This Annexure is intended for information purposes only)

Body part protection

Common hazards in mines

Type of PPE protection required

Head protection

•	Impact from rock falls and flying objects

•	Impact from falling spillage, debris from conveyor system or crane

•	Impact from falling tools

•	Bumping head against walls, haulage, etc

•	Hair entanglement in rotating machinery

Safety helmets

Bump caps

Hair nets

Face and eye protection

•	Chemical and metal splash

•	Airborne particles and dusts

•	Projectiles (flying fragments and chips)

•	Gases and vapours

•

Radiation

Safety spectacles

Goggles

Face shields

Visors

Hands/arm protection

•	Abrasions, cuts and punctures, impact

•	Temperature extremes (cold/heat)

•	Chemical substances

•	Electric shock

•	Skin infection, disease contamination

•	Hand/arm vibration

Gloves

Gauntlets

Mitts

Wrist cuffs

Armlets

Barrier creams

Body Protection (Torso)

•	Temperature extremes and adverse weather

•	Chemical and metal splash

•	Spray from pressure leaks or spray guns

•	Impact or penetration

•	Contaminated dust

•	Excessive wear

•	Entanglement of own clothing

Conventional and disposable overalls

Boiler suits

Clothing for cold, heat and bad weather

Clothing to protect against machinery

High visibility jackets, vest

Harnesses, life jackets

Foot and Leg protection

•	Wet and slipping

•	Electrostatic build-up

•	Cuts and punctures

•	Falling objects

•	Chemical and metal splash

•

Abrasion

Safety boots and shoes with protective toe caps, penetration-resistant mid-sole

Gaiters

Leggings, spats

Hearing Protection

•

Noise

Ear muffs

Earplugs

Respiratory Protection

•	Dust (e.g. crystalline silica and coal dusts)

•	Gas, vapour

•	Oxygen deficient atmospheres

•	Welding fumes

Disposable filtering face piece or respirator

Half or full-face respirator

Air-fed helmets

Breathing apparatus