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

Regulations

Guideline for a Mandatory Code of Practice

Cyanide Management

Part A: The Guideline

5. Scope

 

5.1 This guideline focuses exclusively on the management of cyanide and cyanidation, in various plant process and tailing streams and does not address other safety or environmental issues potentially associated with mining.

 

5.2 This guideline addresses procurement, supply and distribution of cyanide, its transport at the mine, its on-site storage and use, inspection and maintenance of equipment used, timeous detection of leakages and spills, emergency preparedness and response and the management of cyanide to ensure that it does not adversely affect the health or safety of persons at the mine or off the mine. (See employers' responsibility in terms of sections 5(1) and 5(2)(b) of the MHSA to provide employees with a safe working environment and to ensure that persons who are not employees are not exposed to any hazards to health or safety).

 

5.3 Regulation 9(2)(1) in the MHSA requires the employer to ensure that the occupational limits are maintained below the limits set out in the schedule 22.9(2)(a) and (b). For cyanide there is no OEL's but only short-term exposure limits. Because of the dangers of cyanide this has been dealt with in this guideline, which sets out the topics to be addressed to prevent exposure.