On 10 May 2019, the Chief Inspector of Mines published, in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (the “MHSA”), a Guidance Note on Medico-Legal Investigations of Mine Deaths.Legal status of the Guidance Note:It is important to note that the Guidance Note has been compiled with a view to provide guidance to all relevant stakeholders regarding their roles and responsibilities with regard to medico-legal investigations of both natural and unnatural mine deaths. The Guidance Note must be read and interpreted together with the existing legal frameworkrelating to"medico-legal investigations".Important paragraphs in the Guidance Note:

• paragraphs 9.1 to 9.3 set out the roles and responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders, which includes the employer, medical practitioners, occupational medical practitioners, the Department of Mineral Resources, the South African Police Service and forensic pathology services.
• paragraph 9.4 sets out the procedure that needs to be followed when there has been a death at a mine.
• paragraph 10 sets out various medico-legal aspects that need to be considered when a post-mortem examination is performed.

Clickhereto view a copy of the notice.For more information, please contact:Willem le Rouxmine and occupational health and safety executive consultant[email protected]+27 82 772 5267Pieter Colynmine and occupational health and safety executive[email protected]+27 83 327 2474Celeste Colesmine and occupational health and safety executive[email protected]+27 82 875 8202Warren Hendricksmine and occupational health and safety executive[email protected]+27 82 788 0733Tyla Fostermine and occupational health and safety executive[email protected]+27 82 708 0548Gerhardt Ehlersmine and occupational health and safety executive[email protected]+27 82 708 0178Juanita Broommine and occupational health and safety executive[email protected]+27 82 560 2904