Taxonomies
- Subject areas > Environment, Climate and Wildlife
- Subject areas > Health and Food Safety
- Subject areas > Labour and Employment
Related documents
South Africa
Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993
General Safety Regulations, 1986
Government Notice R1031 of 1986
- Published in Government Gazette 10252 on 30 May 1986
- Commenced on 30 May 1986
- [This is the version of this document as it was from 9 September 1988 to 6 August 1992.]
- [Amended by General Safety Regulations: Amendment (Government Notice R433 of 1986) on 20 June 1986]
- [Amended by General Safety Regulations: Amendment (Government Notice R1791 of 1988) on 9 September 1988]
1. Definitions
In these regulations “the Act” means the Machinery and Occupational Safety Act, 1983 (Act 6 of 1983), and any expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall have the meaning so assigned and, unless the context indicates otherwise—"boatswain's chair" means a suspended platform seat intended for supporting one person in an elevated position;[definition of “boatswain's chair" inserted by section 2 of Government Notice R1791 of 1988]“building work” means building work as defined in the General Administrative Regulations published under Government Notice R. 2206 of 5 October 1984;“confined space” means an enclosed, restricted or limited space in which, because of its construction, location or contents, or any work activity carried on therein, a hazardous substance may accumulate or an oxygen-deficient atmosphere may occur, and includes any chamber, tunnel, pipe, pit, sewer, container, valve, pump, sump, or similar construction, equipment, machinery or object in which a dangerous liquid or a dangerous concentration of gas, vapour, dust or fumes may be present;“fire-resistance” means the minimum period for which a building element or component will comply with the requirements for stability, integrity and insulation when tested in accordance with SABS 0177: Part II;“flammable liquid” means any liquid which produces a vapour that forms an explosive mixture with air, and includes any liquid with a closed-cup flash-point of less than 55 °C;“high-risk substance” means a substance listed in the Schedule to the General Administrative Regulations published under Government Notice R. 2206 of 5 October 1984, as amended from time to time;“putlog scaffold” means a scaffold supported by a single row of standards and the structure in connection with which it is being used;[definition of “putlog scaffold” inserted by section 2 of Government Notice R1791 of 1988]“SABS 0177: Part II” means the South African Bureau of Standards' code of practice entitled Fire Resistance Test For Building Elements, SABS 0177: Part II—1981.“scaffold” means any temporary elevated platform and supporting structure used for supporting workmen or materials or both;[definition of “scaffold” inserted by section 2 of Government Notice R1791 of 1988]“Suspended scaffold” means a working platform suspended from supports by means of one or more separate suspensions from each support;[definition of “Suspended scaffold” inserted by section 2 of Government Notice R1791 of 1988]“trestle scaffold” means a working platform supported on trestles, stepladders, tripods and the like;[definition of “trestle scaffold” added by section 2 of Government Notice R1791 of 1988]2. Personal safety equipment and facilities
3. Emergency equipment, medicine and first aid
4. Use and storage of flammable liquids
5. Work in confined spaces
6. Work in elevated positions
No employer shall require or permit any person to work in an elevated position, and no person shall work in an elevated position, unless such work is performed safely from a ladder or scaffolding, or from a position where such person has been made as safe as if he were working from scaffolding.7. Working in danger of engulfment
No employer shall require or permit any person to, and no person shall, enter any place from or into which solid or particulate material is being discharged where a danger exists of a person being engulfed by such solid or particulate material, unless—8. Stacking of articles
9. Welding, flame cutting, soldering and similar operations
10. Operating trains
11. Supervision of building work
12. Roof work
Every employer shall provide, and cause to be used, suitable roof-ladders or duck-boards or crawling-boards for persons required to work on any roof that has an unsafe pitch or surface, or that is covered or is to be covered with material through which a person could fall: Provided that suitable safety belts attached to the structure or any similar effective equipment may be used in place of roof-ladders, duck-boards or crawling-boards on pitched roofs covered with non-fragile material.13. Demolition and excavation
Every employer who performs building work shall, with respect to any such work in connection with the demolition of a structure or the making of an excavation—13A. Ladders
13B. Ramps
13C. Boatswain's chairs
An employer shall ensure that every boatswain's chair or similar device is securely suspended and is so constructed as to prevent any occupant from falling therefrom.[regulation 13C inserted by section 4 of Government Notice R1791 of 1988]13D. Scaffold framework
13E. Scaffold platforms
13F. Suspended scaffolds
13G. Trestle scaffolds
14. Offences and penalties
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of regulation 2 (1), 2 (2) [read with 2 (3)], 2 (4), 2 (5), 2 (6), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (1), 8 (2), 8 (3), 8 (4), 9, 10 (1), 10 (2), 10 (3), 10 (4), 11 (1), 12, 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, 13F or 13G shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding R1 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and, in the case of a continuous offence, to an additional fine of R5 for each day on which the offence continues or to additional imprisonment of one day for each day on which the offence continues: Provided that the period of such additional imprisonment shall in no case exceed 90 days.[regulation 14 substituted by section 5 of Government Notice R1791 of 1988]15. Withdrawal of regulations
The following regulations are hereby repealed:16. Short title
These regulations shall be called the General Safety Regulations.History of this document
18 July 2003 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
General Safety Regulations: Amendment
25 June 2003 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
General Safety Regulations: Amendment
20 November 1992 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
General Safety Regulations: Amendment
07 August 1992 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
General Safety Regulations: Amendment
09 September 1988 this version
Amended by
General Safety Regulations: Amendment