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

Notices, Guidance Notes, Compilation Guidelines

Guidance Note for the Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Disorders in the South African Mining Industry

Part A: The Guidance Note

2. Scope of the guidance note
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2.1 The practice standards set out in this guidance note should apply to:
2.1.1 The South African mining industry and mining communities.
2.1.2 All mine workers, irrespective of employment categories, as well as contract workers.

 

2.2 This guidance note has been developed to provide information for the employer to use in developing and implementing a programme to assist employees in the prevention and management of NCDs and mental health disorders. The employer is therefore expected to review the mine’s health and safety policy to include the prevention and management of NCD and mental health disorder programme.

 

2.3 Developing and implementing a programme for NCDs and mental health disorders requires a multi-stakeholder collaborative approach including employer, employee, employee representative and associated parties in the public sector (such as the NDoH). For this reason, this guidance note only sets out minimum requirements and good practices for the development and implementation of the programme for the prevention and management of NCDs and mental health disorders.

 

2.4 This guidance note does not replace any official public health guiding principles, practice and services offered for NCDs and mental health disorders such as those from the WHO, the NDoH, the ILO, the UN etc. and therefore shall be read in conjunction with other related official documents. These include but are not limited to:
2.4.1 The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
2.4.2 The WHO’s Global Action Plan to 2030 on advancing the global agenda on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
2.4.3 The NDoH’s National Strategic Plan for the prevention and management of NCDs (2022-2027).
2.4.4 The National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023-2030.
2.4.5 The Guideline for the Compilation of a Mandatory Code of Practice on Minimum Standards of Fitness to Perform Work at a Mine (DMR 16/3/2/3-A3).
2.4.6 The Guideline for the Compilation of a Mandatory Code of Practice for the Management of Medical Incapacity due to Ill-health and Injury (DMR 16/3/2/4 – B8).
2.4.7 ISO 45003: Occupational health and safety management - Psychological health and safety at work - guidelines for managing psychosocial risks.
2.4.8 ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems - requirements with guidance for use.
2.4.9 SANS 16001: Wellness, health and disease management systems.

 

2.5 The employer is expected to keep abreast of relevant developments on the prevention and management of NCDs and mental health disorders and update the programme accordingly.