The Department of Labour will on Friday (October 21) host a Major Hazard Installation (MHI) Regulations workshop to create awareness on the requirements of new regulations in order to improve compliance with MHI workplaces.

The main purpose of the MHI Regulations is to protect the employees and the public, and at the same time plan for major incidents/disaster that may result from major incidents. The department will also use the workshop to improve relations with co-regulators and stakeholders in the MHI environments. 

Major Hazard Installations refers to -  installations where any substance is produced, processed, used, handled or stored in such a form and quantity that it has the potential to cause a major incident or an occurrence of catastrophic proportions, resulting from the use of plant and machinery, or from activities at a workplace.

The major hazard installations are found mostly in most sectors, but commonly in petrochemical works/facilities and refineries, chemical works and production plants, compressed air manufacturers/users such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), nitrogen gas, medical oxygen, hydrogen gas, and chemical stores and distribution centres

Some of the hazardous substances will include explosives, flammable liquids, flammable solids, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive substances and corrosive substances.   

More than 200 delegates are expected to attend the workshop which will include departmental officials, interested and industry stakeholders.

Preceding the workshop has been an inspectors training hosted by the department’s MHI sub-directorate which started on October 17 and will run until October 20.

A total of 25 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) inspectors from all provinces will be trained on MHI regulations requirements. Some of the topics to be covered during training include: the requirements of Globally Harmonised System (GHS) classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals and the full implementation of the GHS by 2020; MHI inspection (administrative) and supporting documents that should be checked by inspectors. The training also include (d) visits to MHI installations.

The MHI workshop will be held at the Protea Hotel, OR Tambo in Boksburg. It will start at 8h30am.

Tibor Szana, Department of Labour Chief Inspector: Occupational Health and Safety will deliver a keynote address. The seminar will also be addressed by departmental experts on MHI, explosives, and OHS matters. There will also be presentations from labour federations; experts from Health & Environment Consultants; - Approved Inspection Authority (AIA), Local Government; Environment and Risk Consultants (ERM- AIA) and the South Africa National Accreditation System (SANAS).

For more information please contact:
Mokgadi Pela
Acting Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 808 2168