JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Department of Labour (DoL), in partnership with the University of South Africa (Unisa), will, on August 29, host a day-long workshop to sensitise explosives industry stakeholders to explosives regulations amendments.
DoL deputy director of explosives Rudzani Ramabulana says the regulations are being amended in response to a call by the industry that the 2003 regulations are outdated.
He points out that technological developments have occurred in the explosives environment and that this has necessitated the proposed change.
“The decision to amend the regulations was taken in 2009 and has now reached momentum. The workshop at the end of the month will be used to canvass inputs to amending the explosives regulations,” he said.
Ramabulana notes that, in the current regulations, radio frequency is not allowed in dangerous areas; however, changes in technology, such as the introduction of automation through robotics and other equipment, require that the regulations be updated.
He says a draft explosives regulation document has been approved by the Advisory Council on Occupational Health and Safety.
“The document has since been sent to the State law advisers and the National Language Service and is now awaiting gazetting to facilitate the public comment stage.”
The DoL is also awaiting the signature of Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant to invite comments.
The gazetting of the draft regulations will enable stakeholders 90 days to make written inputs to the technical committee comprised of organised labour, organised business and government representatives.
The workshop will be held at the Unisa Florida Campus from 09:00 to 14:00.