The Occupational Health and Safety Act are supported by subordinate legislation, Regulations and Codes of Practice, which give practical guidelines on how to manage health and safety issues.
Under the Act we all have obligations that we must comply with. Twenty-one sets of regulations form an inseparable part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
These regulations provide specifications and requirements towards the area that they govern.
Have a look at the following table, it provides a summary of the current OHS Act regulations.
| Health related regulations | Scope of application | Regulations |
| Asbestos Regulations,2001 | These Regulations shall apply to every employer and self-employed person who carries out work at a workplace that may expose any person to asbestos dust at that workplace | 3. Notification of asbestos work4. Exposure to asbestos5. Information and training6. Duties of persons who may be exposed7. Assessment of potential exposure8. Air monitoring9. Medical surveillance10. Respirator zone11. Control of exposure to asbestos12. Cleanliness of premises and plant13. Control of exposure to asbestos of persons other than employees14. Asbestos that forms part of structure of workplace, building, plant or premises15. Asbestos cement sheeting and related products16. Records17. Personal protective equipment and facilities18. Maintenance of control measures19. Labeling, packaging, transportation and storage20. Disposal of asbestos21. Demolition22. Prohibition |
| Hazardous Biological Agent Regulations, 2001 | These regulations shall apply to every employer and self-employed person at a workplace where:a) HBA is deliberately produced, processed, used, handled, stored or transported; or b) an incident, for which an indicative list is given in Annexure A to this Regulation occurs that does not involve a deliberate intention to work with a HBA but may result in persons being exposed to HBA in the performance of his or her work. | 3. Classification of biological agents 4. Information and training 5. Duties of persons who might be exposed to HBA6. Risk assessment by employer or self-employed person 7. Monitoring exposure at workplace 8. Medical surveillance 9. Records 10. Control of exposure to HBA 11. Personal protective equipment and facilities12. Maintenance of control measures, equipment and facilities13. Prohibitions14. Labeling, packaging, transporting and storage15. Special measures for health and veterinary isolation facilities16. Special measures for laboratories, animal rooms and industrial processes17. Disposal of HBA |
| Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations, 1995 | These regulations shall apply to an employer or a self employed person who carries out work at a workplace which may expose any person to the intake of an HCS at the workplace. | 3. Information and training4. Duties of persons who may be exposed to hazardous chemical substances5. Assessment of potential exposure6. Air monitoring7. Medical surveillance8. Respirator zone9. Records9A. Handling of hazardous chemical substances10. Control of exposure to HCS11. Personal protective equipment and facilities12. Maintenance of control measures13. Prohibitions14. Labeling, packaging, transportation and storage15. Disposal of hazardous chemical substances |
| Lead Regulations,2001 | These regulations shall apply to every employer and self- employed person at a workplace where lead is produced, processed, used, handled or stored in a form in which it can be inhaled, ingested or absorbed by any person in that workplace. | 3. Exposure to airborne lead4. Information and training5. Duties of persons who may be exposed6. Assessment of potential exposure7. Air monitoring8. Medical surveillance9. Respirator zone10. Records11. Control of exposure to lead12. Personal protective equipment and facilities13. Cleanliness of premises and plant14. Maintenance of control measures15. Prohibitions16. Labeling, packaging, transportation and storage17. Disposal of lead waste |
| Noise Induced Hearing Loss Regulations,2003 | These regulations shall apply to an employer or self-employed person who, at any workplace under his or her control, carries out work that may expose any person at that workplace to noise at or above the noise-rating limit. | 3. Exposure to noise4. Information and training5. Duties of persons who may be exposed to noise6. Assessment of potential noise exposure7. Noise monitoring8. Medical surveillance9. Noise zone10. Control of noise exposure11. Record12. Hearing protective equipment13. Maintenance of control measures |
| General regulations | Scope of application | Regulations |
| Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, 1987 | These regulations in general refers to the physical conditions of the work environment | 2. Thermal requirements3. Lighting4. Windows5. Ventilation6. Housekeeping8. Precautions against flooding9. Fire precautions and means of egress |
| Facilities Regulations, 1990 | These regulations in general refers to sanitary facilities, toilets, bathrooms, showers, dining facilities, drinking water, certain prohibitions as well as the conditions of these facilities that forms part of the work environment | 2. Sanitation3. Facilities for safekeeping4. Change-rooms5. Dining-rooms6. Prohibition7. Drinking water8. Seats9. Condition of room and facilities |
| General Administrative Regulations, 2003 | These regulations in general refers to sanitary facilities, toilets, bathrooms, showers, dining facilities, drinking water, certain prohibitions as well as the conditions of these facilities that forms part of the work environment | 2. Access to premises3. Exemption4. Copy of the Act5. Health and safety committee6. Negotiations and consultations before designation of health and safety representatives7. Designation of health and safety representatives9. Recording and investigation of incidents10. Witness at inquiry11. Returns |
| General Safety Regulations, 1986 | These regulations refers to general health and safety matters or requirements set for the work environment | 2. Personal protective equipment and facilities2A. Intoxication2B. Display of substituted notices and signs2C. Admittance of persons3. First aid, emergency equipment, and procedures4. Use and storage of flammable liquids5. Work in confined spaces6. Work in elevated positions7. Working in danger of engulfment8. Stacking of articles9. Welding, flame cutting, soldering and similar operations10. Operating trains13A. Ladders13B. Ramps |
| Electrical regulations | Scope of application | Regulations |
| Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009 | These Regulations shall apply to every user or lesser of an electrical installation as well as Approved inspection authorities. | 2. Responsibility for electrical installations3. Approved inspection authorities for electrical installations4. Functions of approved inspection authorities for electrical installations5. Design and construction6. Electrical contractor7. Certificate of compliance8. Commencement and permission to connect installation work9. Issuing of certificate of compliance10. Disputes11. Application for registration as a registered person12. Withdrawal of registration and approval13. Substitution of lost, damaged or destroyed certificate14. Fees payable |
| Electrical Machinery Regulations,1988 | These Regulations shall apply to every employer, employee and self-employed person who carries out work whilst using electrical machinery at a workplace. | 2. Safety equipment3. Work on disconnected electrical machinery4. Notices5. Switch and transformer premises6. Electrical control gear7. Switchboards8. Electrical machinery in hazardous locations9. Portable electric tools10. Portable electric lights11. Electric fences12. Inspection Authorities13. Earthing14. Supports15. Clearances of power lines16. Protective Supports17. Insulators and Fittings18. Conductors19. Overhead service connections and overhead service conductors20. Crossings21. Bare conductors on premises22. Schemes to be submitted to the Postmaster General |
| Machinery regulations | Scope of application | Regulations |
| Driven Machinery Regulations, 2015 | These Regulations shall apply to every employer, employee and self-employed person who carries out work whilst using driven machinery at a workplace | 2. Scope of Application3.Revolving Machinery4. Circular Saws5. Band Saws and Band Knives6. Wood Planing Machines7. Wood Moulding and Mortising Machines8. Sanding Machines9. Grinding Machines10. Shears, Guillotines, Presses11. Slitting Machines12. Mixing, Agitating and Similar Machines13. Rolls and Calenders14. Washing Machines, Centrifugal Extractors, Etc15. Air Compressors16. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Installations17. Transportation Plants18. Lifting machines, hand powered lifting devices and lifting tackle19. Approval and registration of lifting machinery entity20. Approval and registration of training providers |
| General Machinery Regulations, 1988 | These Regulations shall apply to every employer, employee and self-employed person who carries out work whilst using machinery at a workplace. | 2. Supervision of machinery 3. Safeguarding of machinery4. Operation of machinery 5. Working on moving or electrically alive machinery6. Devices to start and stop machinery7. Reporting of incidents in connection with machinery8. Notifiable substances9. Information regarding regulations |
| Lift, Escalator and Passenger Conveyor Regulations, 1994 | These Regulations shall apply to every employer and self-employed who installs, uses and have lifts, escalators and passenger conveyors in their workplace. | 2. Permission to install and use3. Design and Construction4. Particulars of lifts, escalators or passenger conveyors5. Inspections and Tests6. Maintenance7. Record keeping |
| Pressure Equipment Regulations, 2009 | These regulations shall apply to the design, manufacture, operation, repair, modification, maintenance, inspection and testing of pressure equipment with a design pressure equal to or greater than 50 kPa, in terms of the relevant health and safety standard incorporated into these Regulations. | 3. General Requirements4. Duties of manufactures5. Duties of importers and sellers6. Duties of users7. Approved and duties of approved inspections authorities.8. Registration of steam generator9. Pressure equipment marking10. Pressure safety accessories11. Inspection and test12. Risk based inspection13. Repairs and modifications14. Records15. Access16. Door interlocks17. Gas reticulation equipment and systems18. Transportable gas containers19. Fire extinguishers |
| Specific regulations | Scope of application | Regulations |
| Regulations concerning the Certificate of Competency, 1990 | Certificate of Competency: A certificate of competency as a mechanical or electrical engineer. Certificate will be issued by Chief Inspector with the recommendations of the Commission of Examiners | 2. Issue of Certificates3. Suspension or cancellation of Certificates4. Substitution of lost, damaged or destroyed Certificates5. Commission of Examiners6. Qualifying examination7. Acceptance as candidate |
| Construction Regulations, 2014 | These regulations apply to all persons involved in construction work. Regulations 3 and 5 are not applicable where the construction work carried out is in relation to a single storey dwelling for a client who intends to reside in such dwelling upon completion thereof. | 3. Application for Construction Work Permit4. Application for a permit to perform construction work.5. Duties of client6. Duties of Designer7. Duties of Principal Contractor and Contractor8. Management and Supervision of Construction Work9. Risk Assessment for Construction Work10. Fall Protection11. Structures12. Temporary works13. Excavation14. Demolition work15. Tunneling16. Scaffolding17. Suspended platforms18. Rope Access Work19. Material hoists20. Bulk mixing plant21. Explosive Actuated Fastening Device22. Cranes23. Construction vehicles and mobile plant24. Electrical installations and machinery on construction sites25. Use and temporary storage of flammable liquids on construction sites26. Water environments27. Housekeeping and general safeguarding on construction sites28. Stacking and storage on construction sites29. Fire precautions on construction sites30. Construction employees’ facilities31. Construction health and safety technical committees32. Approved Inspection Authorities |
| Diving Regulations, 2001 | These regulations basically shall apply to all diving operations and all persons engaged in diving operations in the Republic of South Africa or the territorial waters thereof. | 3. Training of divers4. Designated medical practitioners, medical examinations and medical certificates of fitness5. Diving supervisor6. Operations manual7. Control of diving operations8. Decompression9. Compression chambers and bells10. Plant and equipment11. Council for Diving12. Rules, syllabi and examinations13. Registration as learner diver14. Registration as a diver15. Registration as a diving supervisor16. Applications17. Withdrawal of certificate of registration18. Fees payable |
| Explosives Regulations, 2003 | These regulations shall apply to any employer, self-employed person or user who operates an explosives workplace for the purpose of manufacturing, testing, storing or using explosives. | 3. Classification of explosives for manufacturing4. Licensing of explosives workplaces5. Non-detonatable and non-sensitised explosives6. Danger area7. Danger buildings8. Safeguarding of explosives workplace9. Design, construction and manufacture10. Importation of explosives11. Safety distances12. Supervision of explosives workplace13. Safe handling of explosives14. Emergencies15. Incidents16. Closure of explosives workplaces17. National Explosives Council18. Approved inspection authorities19. Standards of training |
| Major Hazard Installation Regulations, 1993 | These regulations shall apply to employers, self employed persons and users, who have on their premises, either permanently or temporarily, a major hazard installation or a quantity of a substance which may pose a risk that could affect the health and safety of employees and the public. | 3. Notification of Installation4. Temporary Installations5. Risk assessment6. On-site Emergency Plan7. Reporting of risk and emergency occurrences8. General Duties of Suppliers9. General duties of local government10. Closure |
| Regulations on Hazardous Work by Children in SA, 2010 | These regulations is there to prohibit or place conditions upon the work that may be required, expected or permitted to be performed by child workers, and which is not prohibited in terms of any law. | 3. Risk assessment4. Respiratory hazards5. Work in elevated position6. Lifting of heavy weights7. Work in cold environment8. Work in hot environment9. Work in noisy environment10. Power tools and cutting or grinding equipment11. Report to department of social development |
| Draft Ergonomics Regulations, 2017 | These Regulations will focus on a programme approach to manage physical and cognitive ergonomics in the workplace. These regulations shall apply to: (a) an employer or a self-employed person who carries out work at a workplace which may expose any person to physical or cognitive ergonomic risk factors in that workplace; and (b) a person, who designs, manufactures, erects, installs or supplies machinery, equipment or articles for use at work | 3. Information and Training4. Duties of those who may be at Risk of Exposure to Ergonomic Risk Factors5. Duties of Designers, Manufacturers and Suppliers6. Ergonomic Risk Assessment7. Risk Control8. Medical Surveillance9. Maintenance of Controls10. Record11. Ergonomics’ Health and Safety Technical Committee12. Offensives and Penalties |
Source; The South African Labour Guide
