Occupational Health
A definition
At its 12th session in 1995 the joint International Labour Organisation / World Health
Organisation Committee defined the purpose of occupational health as follows:
- The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations;
- The prevention among workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions;
- The protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; and
- The placing and maintenance of the workers in an occupational environment adapted to his/her physiological and psychological capabilities.
In other words, the adaptation of work to man and of each man to his job.
Mission
The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate is committed to the protection and promotion of health and safety of workers in the mining industry. It is the inspectorate's challenge to apply and enforce the Mine Health and Safety Act, Act No. 29 of 1996. The goal is to uplift all health and safety standards in the mining industry.
Vision
The Occupational Medicine Directorate commits itself to render an excellent, dedicated and comprehensive service concerning the protection and promotion of employees' health and safety, maintaining the highest professional, ethical and moral standards, functioning with cost effectiveness and productivity.
Medical inspectors
Each of South Africa's nine provinces has one regional medical mine inspector. Technical and administrative staff are located at head office.
An inspector can:
- Enter any mine at any time without warrant or notice, for the purposes of monitoring or enforcing compliance with the MHSA;
- Question any person on any matter to which this Act relates;
- Require any person who has control over, or custody of, any document, including but not limited to, a plan, book or record to produce that document to the inspector immediately or at any other time and place that the inspector require;
- Inspect any article, substance or machinery; any work performed; or any condition;
- Inspect arrangements made by the manager for medical surveillance of employees; and
- Seize any document, article, substance or machinery or any part or sample of it; and perform any other prescribed function.
It is an offence to interfere with or hinder an inspector. If an inspector believes that any occurrence, practice or condition at a mine endangers or may endanger the health or safety of any person at the mine, the inspector may give any instruction necessary to protect the health or safety of persons at the mine. Conduct an inquiry in case of a mine accident or any other occupational diseases.
Contact a regional medical inspector
Completed legislation and directives
Guideline for the compilation of a mandatory code of practice on minimum standards of fitness to perform work on time at a mine [PDF, 379KB]
Mine Health and Safety Act - section 11.5
Exit medical certificate in terms of section 17 of the
Mine Health and Safety Act
Annual medical report in terms of section 2(1) and 1(b) of Mine Health and Safety Act [PDF, 2.25MB]
Guidance notes for medical practitioners:
Guidance note for occupational medical practitioners: tuberculosis control programme [PDF, 908KB]
Guidance note for occupational medical practitioners: lung function testing [PDF, 1.15MB]
Guideline for the compilation of a mandatory code of practice on minimum standards of fitness to perform work on time at a mine [PDF, 379KB]
Download more documents related to occupational medicine and occupational hygiene.
Occupational hygiene focuses on the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of mine conditions that may cause illness or adverse health. Occupational hazards include those that are chemical, physical, mechanical, biological and psychological.
Proposed regulations for occupational hygiene [PDF, 4.15MB]
Click here to read more about the heat stress occupational hygiene programme
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Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs | Private Bag X59, 0001 Pretoria |
Tel (012) 317-8000 | Fax (012) 320-4327 | www.dme.gov.za
