Mines Safety

The department (MSD) is also responsible for the formulation and enforcement of occupational health and safety standards as well as the promotion of effective environmental management programmes and the prevention of wasteful practices in the mining industry as required by the Mines and Minerals Development Act and the Explosives Act together with their subsidiary legislation.

                                     FUNCTIONS OF MINES SAFETY DEPARTMENT

1.1       Ensure compliance with appropriate legislation in exploration, mining and mineral processing activities.

1.2       Ensuring compliance with the Explosives Act and its regulations in terms of manufacturing, transportation, storage, use, exportation, importation and destruction of civil explosives.

1.3       Authorization of mine safety equipment, plant, winding plant, mine waste disposal, safety clothing, explosives etc.

• Provide technical advice and guidance on matters of safety related to the mining operations and handling of explosives.
• Formulation and review of relevant regulations made under the Mines and Minerals Development Act as well as the Explosives Act.
• Monitoring the waste disposal system of all mining operations in accordance with the Mines and Minerals Development Act and its subsidiary legislations to ensure protection of the environment.
• The work programme of MSD includes the provision of the following services to the mining industry:

• Routine mine and explosives factory inspections;
• Environmental monitoring;
• Issuance of various authorisations as required by the above stated laws;
• Review of environmental management programmes;
• Conducting inquiries into mine accidents, dangerous occurrences and any relevant contraventions of the above laws and imposing summary fines or other appropriate lawful deterrent measures;
• Attendance at inquests to call and examine and cross-examine witnesses and to conduct or to assist in conducting prosecutions for offences committed under the Mines and Minerals Development Act;
• Promotion of emergency preparedness of the mines; and
  • Support to Regional Mining Bureaux. The department continued to host the Kitwe Regional Mining Bureau and provide administrative and technical support to the Kitwe, Mansa, Mkushi, Choma, Chipata and Solwezi

1.Machinery Unit
The Machinery Section ensures that mining activities that involve the use of both mechanical and electrical equipment are done in line with the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act and its subsidiary legislation.

2.Mining Unit
The Mining Section is responsible for carrying out inspections, mining safety audits and risk assessments targeted towards large and small mines in order to enforce Mining and Explosive Regulations.

3.Explosives Unit
The Explosives Unit is mandated to undertake the inspection of explosives production, handling and utilization.  They are further responsible for sensitization of small-scale miners on small handheld explosives and also the management of explosive audit.

4.Environmental Unit
The mandate of the Environmental Unit is to achieve sustainable exploration and exploration of mineral resources and achieve an increase in investment and job creation for the maximum benefit of the people of Zambia.1.

The Mines Safety Department provides the following services:

• Review of Environmental Impact Statements
• Commissioning Inspection of Plants/Equipment
• Routine Inspections of Mines/Plants
• Safety and Environmental Audits
• Risk Assessment
• Authorizations
• Licensing
• Approvals
• Certification
• Enviromental Sampling and Analysis
• Safety Lectures
• Accident Investigations and Statistics
• Inquests and Court Attendances
• Research