Answers to Exercise

Answer to Question #1:

These are the items you should have listed:

Manager must produce a health and safety policy and codes of practice addressing the major risks.
Employer must negotiate with representative (majority) union on appointment and number of full-time health and safety representatives.
Entrenches the right of workers to refuse to do dangerous work.
Obligation on employers to institute risk assessment and regular industrial hygiene and medical surveillance of employees in hazardous jobs.
Occupational medical practitioner must produce annual medical reports
Employer must follow appropriate procedures to notify workers of their health status through the exit certificate.
Recourse to an independent medical inspector in disputes over ability of worker to perform particular work and the content of exit certificates.
Mine owner to compile Annual Health and Safety Report and circulate to all relevant stakeholders.
Employer must pay a research levy to SIMRAC to fund mine health and safety research.

Answer to Question #2:

These are the steps you should have outlined:

Step 1	What is the result of the risk assessment process? If risk exists, proceed to prioritisation of hazards (e.g. silica dust, noise) based on information of level of risk.
Step 2	What are the target organ health effects (e.g. lungs, ears - hearing) associated with exposure to the particular hazard/s?
Step 3	Identify the appropriate tests which have high degree of validity (sensitivity and specificity) to make the assessment e.g. questionnaire (medical/symptoms and occupational history), chest x-ray, lung function spirometry, audiometry).
Step 4	Ensure that the requirements for conducting and analysing tests in a reliable manner are fulfilled: · machine specifications · calibration of equipment · qualifications of persons conducting the tests.
Step 5	Standardise methodology for conducting tests at appropriate time intervals, for example: · questionnaires (medical/symptoms and occupational history) · chest x-ray (ILO system) and spirometry protocol (American Thoracic Society criteria).
Step 6	Decide beforehand what action criteria will be used to define an abnormal test
Step 7	Outline the process of referral to confirm diagnosis, remove the person from exposure, initiate treatment where appropriate and submit a worker's compensation claim (ODMWA/COIDA) should there be abnormal results or disease
Step 8	Outline the procedures for notification of employer, worker (ongoing worker notification procedures) and enforcement agency (notify incident to DME; annual report to Medical Inspector of Mines)
Step 9	Arrange for post-employment examinations and exit certificate on termination of employment at a particular mine. Store historical medical surveillance records at facility for at least 40 years.
Step 10	Ensure evaluation and audit of the programme on a regular basis. Use information obtained through medical surveillance to assess the effectiveness of existing control measures.

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