Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)RegulationsPhysical Agents Regulations, 20246. Physical agent exposure risk assessment |
| (1) | An employer or self-employed person must conduct a documented physical agent exposure risk assessment— |
| (a) | as far as is reasonably practicable, before exposure to a physical agent; |
| (b) | thereafter at intervals not exceeding 24-months; and |
| (c) | by a competent person. |
| (2) | The physical agent exposure risk assessment contemplated in subregulation (1) must include at least— |
| (a) | a complete hazard identification; |
| (b) | the identification of all persons who may be affected by a physical agent; |
| (c) | how employees may be affected by a physical agent; |
| (d) | the analysis and evaluation of the physical agent risks; |
| (e) | the prioritisation of physical agent risks; |
| (f) | previous physical agent exposure risk assessments; and |
| (g) | previous physical agent exposure monitoring reports. |
| (3) | The physical agent exposure risk assessment conducted in terms of subregulation (1) must take into account the specific effects of exposure to a physical agent on men, women, young employees and vulnerable employees, where applicable. |
| (4) | An employer or self-employed person must, in terms of the physical agent exposure risk assessment— |
| (a) | consider the recommendations identified by a competent person in the physical agent exposure risk assessment; and |
| (b) | develop a documented action plan for the implementation of the recommendations. |
| (5) | An employer or self-employed person must review the relevant physical agent exposure risk assessment made in accordance with subregulation (1) if— |
| (a) | such assessment is no longer valid; |
| (b) | control measures are no longer effective; |
| (c) | technological or scientific advances allow for more effective control methods; |
| (d) | there has been a change in— |
| (i) | the workplace or work methods; |
| (ii) | the type of work carried out; or |
| (iii) | the type of plant, machinery or personal protective equipment used to control the exposure; |
| (e) | an incident occurred; or |
| (f) | the medical surveillance reveals an adverse health effect where a physical agent is identified as a contributing factor. |
| (6) | The review of the physical agent exposure risk assessment contemplated in subregulation (5) must be carried out in accordance with subregulations (1)(c), (2), (3) and (4). |