Amendments to Driven Machinery Regulation 18(1)

The Chief Inspector has recently published a notice in which he withdrew some notices and incorporated a new safety standard. The safety standard is in the form of a National Code of Practice for the Training Providers of Lifting Machinery Operators. We asked the Chief Inspector, Thobile Lemati, what the reason was for the incorporation of this new Code of Practice to which he replied as follows:

“The notice has been drawn up to provide a guideline on how to comply with DMR 18(11) which deals with lifting machines and lifting tackles. These guidelines are meant to make life much easier for anyone who is a user of a lifting machine”.

What impact will it have on the Contractor?

There will be no direct impact on the contractor as the code of practice is intended for the Training Providers of Lifting Machinery Operators. It is a code that provide direction regarding the foundation for training of all lifting machinery/equipment operators with the objective of ensuring standardised training and safety standards. It is however recommended that Contractors obtain a copy of this code in order to ensure that the operators of lifting machinery and lifting equipment receive the correct training.

The Association will endeavour to get one of the senior officials from the Department of Labour’s Head Office to come do a presentation on this new Code of Practice at  the next OHS Open Forum meeting which is scheduled for 13 February 2012.

Herewith the actual notice that was published on 21 December 2011:
 
“DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

Government Gazette No. R. 1075 21 December 2011

WITHDRAWAL OF GOVERNMENT NOTICES AND INCORPORATION OF HEALTH AND
SAFETY STANDARD IN TERMS OF SECTION 44(1) OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY ACT, 1993 DRIVEN MACHINERY REGULATIONS 18(11)

I Thobile Lamati, appointed as Chief lnspector in terms of section 27(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993, acting in terms of the powers vested in me by regulation 18( 11) of the Driven
Machinery Regulation published under Government Notice R.295 of26 February 1988, after consultation with the Advisory Council for Occupational Health And Safety hereby withdraw Government Notice No.8158 as published on 18 February 2005 as well as Government Notice R683 as published on 15 July 2005 and give notice that as from the date of this notice, all applications for approval from a person or organization who provides training to operators of lifting machines listed in the National Code of Practice for the Training Providers of Lifting Machine Operators will henceforth only be entertained if it is accompanied by a valid certificate issued by Transport Seta established in terms of the Skills Development Act, No 3 7 of 2008 which has been authorized by Chief Inspector, to carry out such accreditations.

T Lamati
Chief Inspector”

Neels Nortje | Health & Safety Manager