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- The guidelines will assist employers in the mining sector to establish and maintain a COVID-19 prevention, mitigation and management programme
- The objective is to ensure that employees returning to work and any other persons at mines, are protected from the transmission of the Coronavirus
Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) of South Africa has issued guidelines for a mandatory Code of Practise to companies in the mining sector on managing the COVID19.
According to a statement by the DMRE, the guidelines will assist employers in the mining sector to establish and maintain a COVID-19 prevention, mitigation and management programme. The objective is to ensure that employees returning to work and any other persons at mines are protected from transmission of the Coronavirus at the workplace. It also provides direction to all stakeholders regarding their roles and responsibilities in the management of the virus. All mining operations are obliged to prepare and implement a Code of Practice on the COVID-19 pandemic including:
Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002
Directions issued by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy in terms of regulation 10(8) of the regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act No 57 of 2002
Guiding principles on the management of Covid-19 in the South African Mining Industry (SAMI)
Guidelines developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), National Department of Health (NDoH), and the National Department of Employment and Labour (NDEL)
Failure by the employers to follow the guidelines will be treated as a criminal offense. Details of the gazetted guidelines can be accessed on government gazette website, or www.energy.gov.za and www.dmr.gov.za
