ENSURING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MINE EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITIES AROND THE MINES

about the inspectorate 

The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate was established in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 as amended to execute the statutory mandate of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources to safeguard the health and safety of mine employees and communities affected by mining operations.

The Inspectorate administers and enforces the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 as amended as the principal law regulating health and safety in the South African mining industry. The Inspectorate is led by the Chief Inspector of Mines, who executes the functions entrusted by the Act and provides leadership to the tripartite structures established in terms of the Act.

legislative mandate of the inspectorate 

The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate administers and enforces the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 as amended as the principal law regulating health and safety in the South African mining industry.

The Inspectorate was established in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 as amended to:

• Execute the constitutional mandate of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
• Protect the health and safety of persons working at mines.
• Protect people residing in nearby communities directly affected by mining activities.

responsibilties of the inspectorate

The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate is primarily responsible for:

• Providing a centre of excellence to advise, monitor and harness expertise in support of regulatory work.
• Developing and implementing policies and strategies to reduce mining-related deaths, injuries and ill-health.
• Investigating and conducting inquiries into safety incidents, injuries and fatalities occurring at mines in South Africa.
• Conducting inspections and audits at mines.
• Promoting a culture of health and safety.
• Providing strategic leadership to the tripartite structures.

Contact us: mhsi@dmpr.gov.za

head office and regional structure

The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate has a Head Office component based in Pretoria with ten regional and one satellite office located across the nine provinces of South Africa. The regional structures are divided as:

• Central and Coastal Regions incuding the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal regional offices.
• Central Coastal and North-eastern Regions including the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga regional offices.
• Western and Coastal Regions including the Northern Cape, North West: Klerksdorp, North West: Rustenburg and Western Cape regional offices and the Springbok satellite office.

tripartite structures

The Chief Inspector of Mines has the responsibility of leading the tripartite structures in terms of Chapter 4 of the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 as amended.