The Tripartite Mine Health and Safety Council was established in June 1997 in terms of Section 41(1) of the Mine Health and Safety Act. The Council consists of five members representing the State, five members representing employees and five members representing employers in the mining industry.

The permanent committees of the Council as defined by the Act, are:

• The Mining Regulation Advisory Committee
  The MRAC was established as a voluntary tripartite committee before the promulgation of the Mine Heath and Safety Act to give effect to some recommendations by the Leon Commission. From recommendations made by the Leon Commission, the four areas of concern are:
  • Fall of ground accidents;
  • Accidents from haulage and transport underground;
  • Occupational health; and
  • Coal mine explosions and respirable dust.

• The Mine Health and Safety Council
  The Mine Health and Safety Council responsibilities are governed by section 43 and 44 of the Mine Health and Safety Act which establishes the core roles and committees.
  These are:
  • To advise the Minister on all occupational health and safety issues in the mining industry relating to legislation, research and promotion.
  • To review and develop legislation for recommendation to the Minister.
  • To promote health and safety in the mining industry.
  • To oversee research in relation to health and safety in the mining industry.
  • To liaise with other bodies concerned with health and safety issues

• The Mining Occupational Health Advisory Committee (MOHAC).
  These permanent committees of the Council were also established as statutory bodies on 30 June 1997, the date on which the minister appointed the members.
  It is the statutory duty of the Council to advise the minister on health and safety at mines. The Council is also charged with the duty to co-ordinate the activities of its committees, receive reports from these committees and liaise with the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA).
  In addition to this, the Council has to liaise with other statutory bodies concerned with health and safety matters, promote a culture of health and safety in the mining industry and arrange and co-ordinate tripartite summits to review the state of health and safety at mines.
  The Council is also responsible for the development and running of a set of prestigious awards to recognise the challenge of achieving high standards of health and safety on South African mines.
  Read more about the award scheme

Another tripartite body is the Mining Qualifications Authority. Consisting of the State, employer and employee organisations in the mining industries, it was established as an outcome of the South African Qualification Authority (Saqa) Act of 1995, and the Mine Health and Safety Act of 1996.

The MQA must advise the Minister of Minerals and Energy about the generation and monitoring of education and training standards and qualifications for the mining industry, as part of the National Qualification Framework (NQF).