Health and safety policy
A practical safety baseline for assessment visits and mines seeking verification.
Draft for ASMRAF review · Version 0.2 · 14 October 2026
Prepared for the South African launch. This document sets out proposed rules; it does not confirm that staff, services or legal arrangements have been put in place.
1. Responsibilities
This proposed policy covers ASMRAF staff and visitors, assessors and participating mines. The mine operator remains responsible for lawful, safe operations. ASMRAF verification does not replace a statutory inspection, engineering design or a competent person’s approval. Assessors must not present themselves as qualified for tasks outside their competence.
2. Plan before a visit
Agree the visit scope, host, access route, emergency contacts and site induction. Review known hazards and stop conditions. Use a suitable check-in arrangement and reliable means of communication. Do not enter unstable excavations, unsupported underground workings, confined spaces or hazardous plant areas without competent authorisation and the required controls. A verification target never justifies unsafe entry.
3. Assess the actual risks
Review ground stability, excavation and shaft access, machinery guarding, lifting, electricity, vehicles, explosives, dust and silica, noise, heat, chemicals, water, sanitation, waste and tailings. Consider workers, neighbours and vulnerable people. Record the hazard, exposed people, controls and remaining risk. Eliminate hazards where possible; use engineering and work controls before relying on protective equipment alone.
4. Worker protection
Require understandable training, appropriate protective equipment, maintained tools and a way to raise concerns without retaliation. Workers must be able to move away from imminent danger and report it. Confirm safe water, first aid, emergency arrangements and communication suited to the site’s location. Specialist hazards such as explosives, hazardous chemicals or cyanide need competent, legally compliant controls; this document is not an operating instruction.
5. Incidents and corrective action
For immediate danger, stop the assessment or affected activity and seek appropriate emergency help. Record facts, preserve evidence safely and make legally required reports. Classify findings by severity, assign actions and verify closure through evidence. Do not mark a mine safe because safety equipment was bought or a form completed. Serious unresolved risks prevent a favourable verification decision.
6. Records and review
Maintain induction, training, inspection, incident and corrective-action records with restricted access to health information. Review recurring causes with workers and management. The safety lead checks that actions have been completed and independently reviewed where needed. Reassess after major changes or incidents; review the policy annually.
Before this document is adopted
Appoint the safety lead, establish competent-assessor criteria, country-specific legal checks, emergency arrangements and site-visit procedures.
Proposed accountable role: ASMRAF safety lead and each mine operator. Named appointments and an adoption date must be recorded before operation.
References
These references inform the draft. They do not imply endorsement or certification of ASMRAF.