THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MINES & MINERAL SCIENCES

GUIDE TO THE MINING REGULATIONS

PRESENTERS
MPUNDU CHILESHE
&
ADRIAN CHIBAMBA
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
• To give a clearer understanding of the rules
that surround/guide overall mining
operations.
• To give insight of the regulations at each
section of operation relating to the mining
operations.
 TABLE OF CONTENT
• INTRODUCTION
• PRELIMINARY
• RESPONSIBILITY IN MINES
• POWERS OF INSPECTOR
• GENERAL DUTIES AND CONDUCT
• MINE PLANS
• SURFACE PROTECTION
• PROTECTION IN WORKING PLACES
• VENTILATION AND AIR POLLUTION
• TRANSPORT AND TRAMMING BY VEHICLES
• LIGHTING
• FIRST AID AND FIRE FIGHTING
• MACHINERY
• WINDING
• STEAM BOILERS, STEAM CONTAINERS, AIR RECEIVERS
• ACCIDENTS
• LIFTS
• BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTIONS
• ELECTRICITY
• DIESEL UNITS AND FUEL STORAGE
• MISCELLLANEOUS
 INTRODUCTION

In this presentation we are going to look at the regulations that have

been prepared for the general guidance of official and employees in the
mining industry of Zambia by Amalgamating (combine or unite to form
one Organization or structure) the mining regulations 1971.
  PART I : PRELIMINARY
ACTS OF 101 TO 102
 CHIEF INSPECTOR
 ASSISTANT CHIEF INSPECTOR: means the person appointed in pursuance of the provisions of
the provisions of sections six of the mines and mineral act of 1969,this also applies to the
chief inspector.
 Competent person: means any person in relation to any duty has adequate training or
experience.
 HOLDER: means any person having a mining right or permit to extract minerals and includes
the person if any to whom he has granted general managerial responsibility.
 RAISE: is an inclined tunnel driven upwards.
 STEEPLY INCLINED: any inclination of more than thirty five degrees.
 SHAFT: means any vertical or vertical tunnel equipped with a winding plant.
 PART II: RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MINES
 ACTS 201: notice to be given before commencement of any work to the chief inspector.
 ACTS 202-205:the manager or holder may appoint his subordinates to help him
effectively run the mine.
 ACT 206:any any person shall be guilty of an offence if he or she attempts to interrupt
the works of an inspector.
 ACT 207-209: a person of status superintendent would be appointed together with
subordinates to assist in performing of tasks.
 MINE CAPTAINS: would be appointed who when appointed either in open pit or
underground would be required to have qualification such as the Zambian blasting
license or certificate in first aid.
 ACTS 209-210: where electrical and mechanical ratings are above 750 kilowatts there
shall be an electrical and mechanical engineers appointed with competent assistants.
 ACTS 211-212: the chief surveyor and ventilation engineer shall be appointed were
close to 200 hundred people are employed underground and close to 100 persons in
the open pit.
 ACTS 213-215:
 shift bosses , shift foremen and their subordinates would be appointed and all workman
to be under the person in charge(PIC).
PART III: POWERS OF THE INSPECTOR
 Conducting ,examination or enquiries to determine whether the regulation are observed.
 to issue any direction deemed necessary in the interest of safety or health.
 To suspend works on certain works or practices that are not provided for in the provision.
 To prosecute any officer who admits liability, bribe or fine on the mine.
 To obtain record of statements, held regarding mine accidents and cross-examine witness to
assist in conducting prosecution for any offence against regulation subject to specific
direction from the director of prosecution
 To present issues of misunderstandings between him and the manager to the appeal board
for final directives
  PART IV: GENERAL DUTIES AND CONDUCT
 ACT 401: A copy of general duties and conduct shall be issued to each employee to read and
sign on condition of individual acceptance
 Act 402-405: no person shall be allowed to remove, ignore, damage or omit any sign notice
or other measures provided for safety of all persons
 Complaints pertaining safety of some working places shall be immediately addressed or else
access to such places shall be suspended
PART V: MINE PLANS
 Acts 501-502: All plans of all workings shall be kept and be brought to date at 30 th
September every year
 Acts 502-510: a surface plan should show positions of any principle erections including
explosives, reservoirs, open pit working, boreholes, underground workings, Positions of
railways, tramway, river, roads, main power lines, telegraph lines ,crosscuts, shafts, data of
surveyed triangulation, main drives elevators, contour lines and boundaries of areas of
prospecting and exploration etc.
 PART VI - SURFACE PROTECTION
 ACT OF 601-606:
 When cracks or subsidence have taken or likely to take place as a result of mining
operations the place shall be fenced in and notices shall be put allowing no person to
enter except permitted by manager.
 No mining shall be done on any land 100 meters from buildings or any nearer distance
requiring protection except if permitted by the chief inspector.
 On the inside of the boundary lines safety pillars of no less than 6 meters shall be left
standing.
 The earth from any excavation dug for prospecting purposes shall be thrown in such a
manner that ridges around the boundary are formed to prevent accidents.
 Any dump containing carbonaceous material shall be situated at a safe distance from
shaft or building to ensure that any outbreak of fire shall not cause danger to people
and property.
PART VII-PROTECTION IN WORKING PLACES
 ACT OF 701-710
 DEFINITION OF TERMS :
1. ABANDONED PLACE: A place where work has ceased and it is no longer in use.
2. QUARRY: An open excavation from which stone or other material is extracted by
blasting, cutting, or drilling.
 Every entrance to any dangerous places underground such as the Abandoned places
shall be fenced or barricaded to prevent unintentional access to such places.
  In Quarries no undercutting shall be permitted, any face or sidewall shall not be less
than 1.5 meters.
 With written approval of the chief inspector this sub-regulation needs not apply-
• Where working is done by mechanical equipment which does expose operator to danger
or where physical and natural properties of the face/sidewall have been put into
consideration.
 Any waste or other loose material shall be kept cleared to a distance of at least 2 meters
from the Quarry.
 Whenever a working place underground is advancing to grounds which contain
dangerous accumulations of water, gas or mud, the manager shall ensure that
boreholes are driven in advance of the face so as to give ample warning.
 Every main Ore pass or waste pass past in which any person might walk shall be
provided with an adequate cover which shall be closed at all times or walk-way on the
opposite side to the pass and adequate barriers.
 No timber, rock, or tool shall be allowed to remain where they accidentally fall.
 In Quarries where areas which have been mined are backfilled, the backfill shall be
graded and drained as is practicable, so as to eliminate danger.
 Every bearer, decking, anchorage in a shaft, raise, or other opening in or over which the
platform is installed shall be of material sufficiently strong and adequately secured to
ensure the safety of any person passing over such a platform.
 Every person working where falling would entail injury shall wear a safety chain or rope
attached to a safety anchorage.
 PART VIII – OUTLETS, LADDERWAYS AND TRAVELLING WAYS
UNDERGROUND
 ACT 801-811
 DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1. LADDERWAY: Any shaft, raise, or winze in which ladders are installed for the use of any
person ascending and descending thereon.
 Every person employed underground shall have available to them not less than two separate
and independent shafts or outlets affording ingress to and egress from underground.
 Such shafts shall not be near to each other than 10 meters and shall be maintained in a safe
condition and connected to each other by a reasonably convenient route.
 No person shall enter or leave any underground working except by ingress or egress and
must be permitted by the manager.
 Sufficient number of ladders and travelling ways shall be provided and maintained.
 Any shaft or raise inclined at an angle more than 15 degrees above the horizontal shall have a
separate ladder compartment.
 Every ladderway shall be, securely fastened, well constructed, and well maintained and
should not be at an inclination of more than 80 degrees to the horizontal.
 Every other ladders apart from the ladderways shall be of good construction and of adequate
strength.
 No person shall carry any tool or loose material on any ladderway, if they do they must make
sure it cannot drop down the ladder
 PART IX – VENTILATION AND AIR POLLUTION
 ACT 901-940
 DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1. AUXILLIARY FAN: Any fan temporarily installed in any part of the mine to provide adequate ventilation in that
part of the mine;
2. BOOSTER FAN: Any fan installed to assist a main fan to provide a primary ventilation current in any part of the
mine;
3. RE-ENTRY PERIOD: A period of time caused to be fixed by the manager during which no person may enter any
place after any Primary or Secondary blast has occurred.
4. TOXIC: If of a certain concentration, capable of causing injury to or harmful pathological change in a person by
absorption or inhalation.
 A ventilation shall be deemed to be adequate if it ensures that oxygen is not less than 19 per centum by
volume and dilute or removes other toxic gas and dust.
 Where any person is exposed to excess amounts of toxic gas, dust or harmful temperatures, the person shall be
evacuated from such exposure and the manager is informed.
 No person shall enter places of bad conditions unless if a person is trained in the use of breathing apparatus.
 Every diesel unit underground shall be operated only in Haulage ways where adequate ventilation is
maintained by mechanical means.
 No fire extinguisher liable to emit toxic gas shall be used unless if approved by the chief inspector.
 Every door, stopping, or seal installed to maintain ventilation shall be strong and not self locking.
 Where natural ventilation is insufficient mechanical fans with automatic alarms in case of stoppages shall be
used.
 Persons working in places of inadequate ventilation shall be withdrawn to a safe place.
 No unapproved rock machines shall be used unless if water pressure supplied to machine is not less than 2
bars.
 Determinations shall be made at intervals of 3 months to check the amount of dust in the air.
 PART X-TRANSPORT AND TRAMMING BY VEHICLES
 ACT OF 1001-1021
 The manager shall ensure that at any place underground in which any locomotive pulling or
pushing a train of vehicles operates, adequate clearance shall be provided for the safety of
any person riding in or on any such vehicles.
 The manager shall ensure that no self propelled trackless vehicle is permitted to move
underground in any place unless adequate clearance is provided and suitable refuge holes
provided to afford protection for any person who may have to pass along such place whilst
the vehicle is in motion therein, Every self propelled vehicle is provided with
i. An efficient braking system having two means of operation one of which can be applied by
mechanical action.
ii. Means for giving adequate warning.
iii. A safe driving position for the driver.
iv. Adequate lighting which shall be used when such vehicle is operating underground.
 Every self propelled vehicle shall be equipped with portable fire extinguisher.
 Where the speed of any self propelled vehicle may be limited for any reason an operative
speed indicator shall be provided
 On every inclined track where trucks or cars are attached to a rope or chain adequate safety
devices shall be provided to prevent from such trucks or cars in event of there run away.
 No person shall ride in any vehicle unless suitable and adequate accommodation has been
provided.
 PART XI-LIGHTING
 No person shall proceed under ground unless he has in his immediate possession an
operable lamp of a type approved by the manager.
 Every person in an illuminated place shall carry a lighted lamp.
 Suitable and sufficient permanent lighting shall be provided and maintained at all places on
the surface where work is regularly carried out during the hour of darkness.
 A person to whom a lamp has been issued shall take reasonable steps for its care and
maintenance so that it is not damaged , tempered with , destroyed or lost.
 PART XII-FIRST AID AND FIRE FIGHTING
 ACT OF 1201-1214
 Provision of first aid room and equipment for mines employing more than 50 person , here
the manager shall ensure that there are provided with
i. an adequate number of first aid station , to the satisfaction of the chief inspector
ii. Sanitary convenience near each first aid station which shall be kept clean.
 The manager shall ensure that suitable transport is provided to convey any person who
becomes sick or injured whilst at work.
 The manager shall ensure that in every operating section where the work undertaken may
cause injury to any person there are sufficient officials holding valid first aid certificate.
 The manager shall ensure that all fire fighting equipment provided is inspected at intervals
not exceeding ninety days by a competent person.
 When a fire occurs which cannot be immediately be brought under control , all persons shall
be withdrawn from any place where ventilation may be so affected as to endanger any
persons.
 PART XIII-MACHINARY
 ACT OF 1301-1340
 All parts and working gears , including the anchoring and fixing appliances of all machinery
and apparatus used as the equipment of a mine to which any such appliance are fixed shall
be of good construction , suitable material and shall be maintained in good working order.
 Efficient guards shall be provided for such parts of machinery.
 No machinery shall be started if by so doing any person is likely to be exposed to danger
unless adequate warning has been given that such machine is about to be started.
 No person shall cross any moving conveyor except at an authorized crossing place.
 No person shall ride on any moving conveyor
 The manager shall ensure that every lifting appliance on which the operator travels shall be
lifted with an effective audible warning
 No load shall be left suspended from any lifting appliance which is unattended and which
may be a danger to any person.
 Every part of a load shall be adequately secured whilst being raised or lowered by any lifting
appliance.
 PART XIV-WINDING
 ACT 1401:In this part(and elsewhere in these should the term appear) unless the context otherwise
requires
 “Banksman” means a person authorized by the manager to be stationed at the shaft bank in accordance
with regulation 1433 to supervise the loading and unloading of persons or material at the bank and to give
the necessary signals.
 “Cage tender” means a person authorized by the manager in accordance with regulation 1433 to be in
charge of a cage and to supervise the loading and unloading of persons or material at the bank and all
stations in use in the shaft and to give the necessary signals.
 “Conveyance” means any receptacle or structure attached to or suspended from a winding rope and
intended to serve as a means of transport or counter balance.
 “Locked-bell” means a system of signalling to a winding engine driver which cannot be operated unless a
special key, known as the “key to the locked-bell”, remains inserted in the system switch in use at the term.
 “Man winding” means the conveyance of persons for any purpose by means of a winding plant.
 “Material” means whatever maybe conveyed by means of a plant except persons and minerals.
 “Onsetter” means a person authorized by the manager to be in charge of and supervise the loading and
unloading of persons or materials at any station below the bank where for the time being he/she is on duty .
 “Signalling apparatus” means any apparatus or equipment installed to ensure compliance with the
provisions of regulation 1435.
 “Winding plant” means any machinery or apparatus used for the raising or lowering of men, material in any
shaft, but excludes lifts.
 1402:Windlasses shall have a good working pawl and brake to prevent the load from descending
accidentally and these must have ropes securely fastened to the arm of a drum when the conveyance is at
the lowest point of travel.
 PART XV:STEAM BOILERS, STEAM CONTAINERS AND STEAM
AND AIR RECCEIVERS
 ACT 1502-1502: Every air receiver, boiler or steam container shall be of good construction,
material, adequate strength, free from patent defect and maintained in good condition.
 ACT 1503-1505: Every boiler shall be encased during erection and provided with a plate securely
fixed to it in a suitable position and the boiler must have one or more reliable safety valves e.g.
stop valve.
 ACT 1506-1509: Every boiler shall be connected and provided with two or more reliable pressure
gauges, feed water supply, water level indicators and blow down valves effectively placed.
 ACT 1510: No pipe or fitting shall be screwed directly into the shell of any boiler.
 ACT 1511: Any steam receiver shall be fitted with a steam reducing valve, a safety valve, an
accurate pressure gauge, a stop valve and a plate bearing an identification number.
 ACT 1512: Every boiler shall be blown down to ensure that no dangerous amount of sludge or
dissolved salts accumulate.
 ACT 1513-1517:No person shall enter any part of a boiler opened for cleaning, repair or
examination and these boilers must be examined internally and externally by hydraulic pressure
and a record shall be kept for every boiler.
 ACT 1518: Every evaporator shall be fitted with at least one suitable safety valve.
 ACT 1520-1521: Every air receiver and its fittings shall be marked, be of sound construction and
can be used after being examined and tested by an inspector.
 ACT 1522-1525:Every air receiver shall be mounted and shall have at least one reliable safety
valve, pressure gauge and a drain valve.
 ACT 1526: No pipe, plug or fitting shall be screwed directly into the shell of any air receiver.
 ACT 1527-1528: Every air receiver shall be internally examined by a competent person,
provided with a suitable manhole, hand hole or others means that can be used to clean and
results for such examination must be recorded.
 ACT 1529:Thermometers or pyrometers, the indications which can be clearly read shall be
fitted close to the outlet valve or to the discharge pipes of all other compressors.

 PART XVI:ACCIDENTS

 ACT 1601-1604:The manager shall ensure that any accident e.g. death of any person,
unconsciousness either from heatstroke, heat exhaustion, electric shock, the inhalation of
any toxic substance must be reported to an inspector, the police and the nearest magistrate
 PART XVII: LIFTS
 ACT 1701 : A certificate shall be mounted behind glass in the lift car only if it has
been authorized by the chief inspector.
 ACT 1702-1703: A lift shall be of good construction, material, strength and
examined by a competent person appointed by the manager.
 ACT 1704: Every lift shall be protected by gates which cannot be opened except
when the conveyance is at landing place to prevent any person from falling.
 ACT 1705: No person shall ride any lift authorized for carriage of goods or
materials.
 ACT 1706-1707: In every lift installation devices shall be provided and maintained
which support the conveyance.
 ACT 1708: Every lift installation used for carrying persons shall be provided with a
conveyance constructed to prevent any person carried from falling out.
 ACT 1709-1710: A lift car shall be suspended by at least two ropes made of good
quality material(wire) and these ropes must be fixed to a drum.
 ACT 1711: Every lift drum, engine or motor shall be provided with an adequate
brake.
 ACT 1712: A clear space of not less than one meter shall be provided between the
bottom or top of a lift car from the lift shaft or the floor respectively.
 ACT 1713: No lift shall be used whilst repairs are being effected in a lift shaft.
 PART XVIII-BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
 ACT OF 1801 TO 1804:
 All material and equipment used for construction, such as scaffold, trestle scaffold, and
ladder scaffold shall be of good quality and be inspected by a competent person.
 ACT OF 1805 TO 1808:
 No scaffold shall be overloaded or being erected on a suspended scaffold or on another
scaffold.
 ACT OF 1809 TO 1810:
 Planking, guard-rails and toe-board on platforms shall be provided to reduce minimum risk.
 ACT OF 1811 TO 1813:
 Opening left in roofs, floor of any structure or working platform shall only be removed
when a permanent structure is completed and sufficient equipment such as ladders shall be
provided for any person working on roofs.
 ACT OF 1817 AND 1818:
 A competent person shall be in change of all demolition work and before any demolition
work progresses, precaution shall be taken to prevent any accidental collapse of such
demolition work.
 ACT OF 1819 TO 1921:
 No overloading of floors, roof or any part of the building .
 Precaution shall be taken before any steel or iron work is cut.
 When any working place becomes permanent, there shall be provision of safety.
 PART XIX-ELECTRICITY
 ACT OF 1901: interpretation of electrical terms.
 Blasting cable: cable used to supply current from a blasting box or other device.
 Circuit: electric circuit forming a system and a circuit breaker fitted with some suitable
means for automatically breaking the current.
 ACT 1902 TO 1904:
 installation of any electrical apparatus shall conform to the Central African standard safety
code for electrical wiring premises and no electrical apparatus shall be installed underground
without authority from the chief inspector.
 ACT 1905 TO 1907:
 Distribution of diagrams showing the general arrangement of electrical apparatus shall be
provided and an effective means of communication shall be provided between the place at
which the switchgear is situated.
 ACT 1908 TO 1917:
 No inflammable or explosives material shall be placed In dangerous proximity to any
electrical apparatus and any risk of ignition by electrical or explosive substances, the method
of installation shall be approved by the chief inspector.
 All electrical apparatus shall be inspected, examined, insulated, earthed, and all cables shall
be protected from mechanical damage.
 No cable by which electricity is supplied at a voltage exceeding 32volts shall be connected to
any electrical apparatus and blasting cables shall only be used for the purpose of blasting.
 ACT OF 1918: Switchgear and electrical connections shall be of sufficient mechanical strength
and current carrying capacity.
 ACT OF 1919 TO 1927
 Persons working underground shall be provided with an effective means of communication.
 A notice shall be provided containing directions and unauthorized areas.
 Locomotives shall be maintained regularly
 No person shall charge/change any battery of any locomotives or carry any duty on electrical
apparatus without being instructed by a competent person.

PART XX-DIESEL UNIT AND FUEL STORAGE

 ACT OF 2001: definition interpretation.
 Mobile container: any container mounted on wheels or trucks used for the conveyance of fuel oil
 Portable container: any fuel oil container that can be easily carried.
 ACT OF 2002 TO 2016
 No person shall replenish any self-propelled vehicle with fuel oil except at the filling station and
all filling station shall contain non-flammable material.
 Fuel oil shall not be stored in bulk quantities or stored underground unless suitable tanks are
provided and approved by the chief inspector.
 Every pipe used for the purpose of refueling shall be earthed
 No fuel oil shall be taken from the filling station while the engine is running.
 No Fuel shall be delivered underground in any pipe except when transportation does not
constitute a hazard and fuel used underground to power vehicles shall have a flash point.
 Spilt of any fuel oil should be wiped off in any place.
 No person shall smoke or use naked light in any of the filling station and a competent person shall
be in charge of any place where fuel is stored.
PART XXI-MISCELLANEOUS
 ACT OF 2101 TO 2107:
 No unauthorized persons shall enter any part of mining area or be found in areas declared by the
manage to be a hard hat area.
 Adequate supply of drinking water, change house, facilities for bathing, and suitable latrine
accommodation.
 ACT OF 2108 TO 2126:
 All inflammable material shall be in a suitable manner and calcium carbide shall be stored on
surface only.
 The manager shall ensure that any place where ionizing radiation are used or radio active
substance, the concentration shall not exceed the standard prescribed by chief inspector.
 Waste timber or decaying timber shall be removed to the surface.
 Welding operations which might create a fire hazard shall not be carried out unless adequate
precautions have been taken.
 Stagnant water to be drained off and suitable precaution to be taken to prevent flooding.
 No one shall be employed underground below the age of eighteen.
 Safety and health conditions shall be taken into account for those working underground coal
mines.
 These regulations shall apply to all operations conducted under a prospecting licence or
exploration licence granted under the provision of mines and mineral act.
 CONCLUSION
 As explained earlier, this presentation was prepared to give a brief
insight of the general guidance of officials and employees in the
Copper Mining Industry of Zambia.
 All of these regulations have been put in place for one major reason
which is the number one primary concern for the mining industries
of Zambia, SAFETY of the miners both working on the surface and
underground.
 It is for this reason that these regulations must be read, understood
and strictly followed by each and every person in the mining
industry.
 REFERENCE
• https://www.Zambianlaws.com.
• https://www.parliament.gov.zm.
• https://www.azmec.co.zm.
• https://www.scholarship.law.cornell.edu.
• Zorrila, carlos(2009) “protecting your
community against mining companies
THANK YOU ALL AND MAY GOD
BLESS YOU!!!