Opencast workings
8.1 (1) In opencast workings the mine manager shall ensure that :-
(a) - the overall pit slope formed by mining operations does not exceed
an angle which could cause a failure of the wall or benches by sliding
or collapsing;
(b) - where benching is necessary, the height and width of benches shall
be suitable for the type of equipment used;
(c) - any object on the surface shall be cleared to a distance of at least
three meters from the edge of such opencast workings or such other distance
therefrom as may be determined by the Chief Inspector and specified generally
or in any particular case by notice;
(d) - the ground conditions of the workings which create a hazard to persons
be taken down, trimmed, scaled or supported before other work or travel
is permitted in the area in which such hazard is created;
(e) - until loose objects or the hazard referred to in paragraph (c) or
(d) is cleared, the area be barricaded and sign posted at appropriate
places at or near the place where such debris, loose material, stones
or other objects or hazard are being cleared.
(2) No person shall -
(a) without the permission in writing of the Chief Inspector and on such
conditions,
if any, as may be determined by him or her, undercut any face so as to
create
any overhanging;
(b) work or travel between machinery or equipment and the face where machinery
or equipment may hinder escape from falls or slides of ground;
(c) enter or be deployed in the determined hazard zone of any machinery
or
equipment unless either the machinery or equipment is effectively immobilized
or the person is permitted to do so by the operator of the machinery or
equipment.
(3) No blasting shall be performed in opencast workings which have approached
within 100 meters, measured in any direction, of any underground workings
other than abandoned or discontinued workings without the permission in
writing of the Chief Inspector and subject to such conditions as may be
determined by him or her.
Underground workings
8.2 In underground workings the mine manager shall ensure that : -
(a) - the dimensions of pillars created or left in any ore body shall
be such as to ensure stability of workings during mining operations;
(b) - the dimensions of headings provide adequate clearance for any equipment
used;
(c) - no extraction or reduction of pillars or blocks of minerals shall
be commenced or carried on except with the permission in writing of the
Chief Inspector and subject to such conditions as may be determined by
him or her;
(d) - adequate steps be taken to isolate, control or remedy any premature
or unplanned collapse of workings;
(e) - any workings which are in use shall be kept safe and that no person,
except for the purpose of examining, repairing or making safe, travels
or works in any part of such workings until it is made safe.
Scheme for support of roofs, hanging walls, footwalls and sides of roadways,
travelling ways and workplaces
8.3 (1) The mine manager shall formulate a scheme providing for -
(a) the systematic support of the roof, hanging wall, footwall and sides
of any roadway, travellingway or workplace where circumstances so require;
(b) the type of supports to be used and the system according to which
the supports shall be placed.
(2) No person shall remove or alter any support unless duly authorized
in writing by the mine manager to do so.
(3) When voids are to be filled with non-combustible material during stoping
operations, such fillings shall be completed without undue delay.
(4) No blasting shall be performed in underground workings which have
approached within 100 meters, measured in any direction, of any opencast
workings other than abandoned or discontinued workings without the permission
in writing of the Chief Inspector and subject to such conditions as may
be determined by him or her.
Scheme to regulate excavation and loading operations
8.4 The mine manager shall formulate a scheme to regulate excavation and
loading operations in or at the mine detailing the procedures to be followed
and precautions to be taken during such operations.
Workings beneath and in vicinity of railways, roads or buildings or other
structures not belonging to any mine
8.5 (1) No workings shall be made or extended to any point beneath or
within 100 meters, measured in any direction, of any railway, public road,
building or other permanent structure not belonging to a mine, except
with the permission in writing of the Chief Inspector and subject to such
conditions as may be determined by him or her.
(2) When the stability of any railway, public road, building or other
permanent structure not belonging to the mine has been endangered due
to any mining operation, the Chief Inspector may require the mine manager
by notice in writing to construct such protective works within such period
as may be determined by him or her and specified in such notice.
The mine manager shall ensure that : -
Stability of excavations
8.6 (a) - the sides of any excavation shall be made and kept secure so
as to prevent danger from falls of sides;
(b) - any excavation which is excavated manually, shall not exceed 1,5
meter in depth or, if the depth of such excavation exceeds 1,5 meter,
that its width shall not be less than its depth without the sides being
adequately braced.
Workings near mine boundaries
8.7 No workings shall be made within a horizontal distance of 10 meters
from the boundary of a mineral licence area, except with the permission
in writing of the Chief Inspector and on such conditions as may be determined
by him or her.
Waiting places
8.8 The mine manager shall provide sufficient and conveniently located
waiting places at the mine for the use of persons employed in or at such
mine prior to them entering their workplaces and shall cause such waiting
places to be kept in a clean and safe condition.
The mine manager shall ensure that :-
Fencing and gates
8.9 (1) (a) - the top of any opencast working and any entrance to any
excavation or any other place that constitutes a danger to any person
or livestock is provided with an efficient fence, barrier or gate so designed
and constructed as to effectively prevent any person or livestock from
inadvertently entering or falling therein;
(b) - where a subsidence of the surface has taken place or is likely to
take place as a result of mining operations, the entire relevant surface
area is provided with a secure and effective fence or barrier and with
notice boards sufficiently and adequately warning persons of the danger
of entering that area;
(c) - any entrance to a mine or part of a mine which is not worked or
used for any purpose is provided with a fence, barrier or gate so designed
and constructed as to prevent any person from inadvertently entering such
mine or part;
(d) - where any excavation leads directly to workplace or travellingway
from above, such workplace or travellingway is securely guarded or otherwise
protected so as to prevent danger to persons from falling objects;
(e) - before a mine is abandoned or the working thereof is discontinued
-
(i) the entrance to any shaft, incline or other opening into such mine
is fenced or blocked off by a structure of permanent character sufficient
to effectively prevent persons falling into or entering the mine;
(ii) any opencast working or other excavation, is securely fenced off
or, if the chief inspector is of the opinion that such opencast working
or excavation constitutes a danger to any person or livestock, is filled
in to the level of the adjacent ground, unless the Chief Inspector in
his or her discretion directs otherwise;
(f) - water containing poisonous or injurious matter in suspension or
solution is effectively fenced off or barricaded so as to prevent any
person or livestock from inadvertently having access to such water and
is provided with notice boards at suitable places to warn persons from
using such water.
(2) No person other than the mine manager or any person duly authorized
by him or her may cross or open any fence, barrier or gate provided for
protection of any workings.
Guards and handrails
8.10 (a) - handrails, guards or fences of substantial construction are
provided and maintained in good order and safe condition on any elevation
around the sheaves of headframes and platforms around vats, bins or similar
vessels containing liquids, poisonous or dangerous solutions and solution
vats containing propellers, revolving vanes or any other submerged moving
machinery;
(b) - any ladder on a chimney stack or a ladder in any other elevated
position where there exists a danger that a person may fall from any height,
is securely fenced with safety mesh or similar guard and provided within
the confines of mesh or guard with platforms for rest purposes at distances
not exceeding a vertical reach of 9 meters or otherwise adequately protected
to prevent accidents to persons.
Use of lifeline or life jacket
8.11 - the necessary steps are taken to prevent any person from entering
a significant accumulation of water or mud in the workings of a mine,
unless he or she is secured by a lifeline or wears a life jacket.
Steeply inclined workings
8.12 (a) - adequate precautions are taken at any steeply inclined workings
to prevent danger to persons from falling objects;
(b) - no person works or is permitted to work at any steeply inclined
workings or other place where he or she is likely to slip or fall, unless
he or she is secured by a safety belt or lifeline or is otherwise safeguarded;
(c) - no loose objects are placed or allowed to remain near the edge of
any vertical or steeply inclined excavation or opening where they can
fall or roll down and thereby endanger the safety of persons.
Surge stockpiles
8.13 (a) - no person works or climbs on top of any active surge stockpile
of broken rock or other unconsolidated material to which such rock or
material is fed from above and from which it is withdrawn from below,
unless -
(i) such person has been duly authorized by him or her to do so;
(ii) the feed to and from the stockpile has been stopped and locked out;
(iii) it has been established that the chute below is not hung up;
(iv) he or she is wearing a safety harness or safety belt with a rope
attached thereto and to a secure anchorage above; and
(v) he or she is assisted by another person stationed at a safe vantage
point above him or her;
(b) - any tunnel under any such surge stockpile is provided with sufficient
exits, unless there is only one feed chute from such stockpile which is
located at the end of the tunnel.
Chute loading installations and rock passes
8.14 (a) - chute loading installations are designed and installed in such
a manner that persons operating such loading points are not required to
be in an unsafe position while at work;
(b) - any action to free a blockage in a chute loading installation or
a rock pass in underground workings is performed by a competent person.
Restricted overhead clearance
8.15 - any overhead clearance which is restricted is conspicuously marked.
Protection on surface from flooding
8.16 (a) - where necessary, storm water drains and / or embankments are
established and maintained in good order on surface for the protection
from flooding of mine workings where persons are employed;
(b) - the collar of any shaft or other access from surface, situated in
low lying ground, which connects with underground workings where persons
are employed, is raised so as to afford effective protection from flooding.
Scheme for working under or in vicinity of a body of water
8.17 (1) Where mine workings are proposed to be carried out under or in
the vicinity of the sea or any lake, river or other body of water, the
mine manager shall formulate a scheme of work setting forth the procedures
to be followed and precautions to be taken to prevent an inrush of water
or other liquid matter into the workings.
(2) At any working approaching a place containing or likely to contain
an accumulation of water or other liquid matter, the mine manager shall
ensure that : -
(a) - an adequate number of bore holes, drilled sufficiently close to
each other, are kept in advance of the working and at such angle from
the working as may be necessary to give adequate warning of any danger
to and ensure the safety of persons;
(b) - suitable precautions are taken whilst holes are drilled for probing
or releasing a body of water or other liquid matter.
Abnormal seepage of water
8.18 (1) The mine manager shall, as soon as any seepage of water which
is not normal to the mine occurs at any place in any workings, cause such
workings to be stopped immediately and shall forthwith inform the Chief
Inspector of such occurrence and, if he or she has so informed the Chief
Inspector orally, as soon as practicable thereafter confirm in writing
that he or she has so informed the Chief Inspector.
(2) The mine manager shall not cause any workings referred to in sub-regulation
(1) to be continued, except with the written permission of the Chief Inspector
and subject to such conditions as he or she may specify.
Construction of reservoirs, dams or other structures
8.19 (1) Where in any mine it is proposed to construct a reservoir, dam
or other structure, except where such structure forms an integral part
of an approved mining method, to withstand a pressure of water or other
liquid matter, or to control an inrush of water, the mine manager shall
give the Chief Inspector notice in writing of such proposed construction
not less than 30 days before the commencement of such construction.
(2) The Chief Inspector may require such modification or alteration to
be made in the design of a reservoir, dam or structure referred to in
sub-regulation (1) as he or she may specify.
Drains
8.20 The mine manager shall ensure that drains are constructed, positioned
and maintained so as to prevent water inadvertently entering a rock pass
or forming dangerous accumulations in the workings.
Intentional flooding
8.21 (1) When the mine manager proposes to flood any part of the workings
of a mine, except where such flooding forms an integral part of the mining
method, he or she shall give the Chief Inspector notice of such proposed
flooding not less than 30 days before the commencement of such flooding.
(2) The Chief Inspector may by notice in writing to the mine manager prohibit
any flooding referred to in sub-regulation (1) or require such flooding
not to commence until such precautions as he or she may specify in such
notice have been taken.
Dumps and tailings dams
The Mine Manager shall :-
8.22 (1) - before any mine tailings of any kind are dumped at any proposed
site, ensure that such site is suitable and safe in all respects.
(2) - submit details of such proposed sites to the Chief Inspector for
his approval.
Scheme for regulation of dumping operations
8.23 (1) The mine manager shall formulate a scheme to regulate dumping
operations.
(2) Any such scheme shall include provisions regarding the :-
(a) manner in which dumping operations are to be carried out;
(b) maintenance and inspection schedules of each dump and dam;
(c) nature of inspections, including the examination of movement monitoring
systems, where necessary, and the reporting thereon;
(d) provision of a suitable system for drainage; and
(e) maintenance in proper order of the drainage system.
(3) The mine manager shall ensure that any dump or tailings dam is designed
and operated in such a manner so as to ensure the necessary on-site safety.
Shaft sinking
8.24 The mine manager shall, at least 30 days before sinking any shaft
or extending any existing shaft, notify the Chief Inspector in writing
of his or her proposal to so sink or extend such shaft.
Scheme for shaft sinking operations
8.25 (1) The mine manager shall formulate a scheme detailing the procedures
to be followed and precautions to be taken during shaft sinking operations.
(2) The scheme shall include provisions regarding the :-
(a) conveyance of persons, material or rock;
(b) systematic examination and testing of winding and sinking equipment;
(c) nature of examination and testing to be carried out;
(d) drilling and blasting operations;
(e) systematic inspection and securing of shaft sides;
(f) ventilation of workings;
(g) protection provided to persons working in the shaft against falling
objects;
(h) withdrawal of persons from the shaft bottom or any other place in
the shaft, in the event of an emergency; and
(i) recording of the results of examinations and tests.
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