Due to a significant increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the South African mining sector, the Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum (DMPR) has issued a comprehensive new guidance note, effective 1 November 2025. The note addresses the prevention and management of NCDs and
mental health disorders in the mining industry. Employers must review and update their mine health and safety policies to include comprehensive NCD and mental health disorder prevention and management programmes. This guidance marks a notable shift towards proactive health management in mining operations and requires immediate attention from all mining employers.
Key aspects addressed in the guidance note
Risk assessment and review
Employers must conduct a thorough risk assessment, which should, at a minimum, include:
- Quantifying disease burden by accessing employee medical records, in line with medical ethics.
- Identifying vulnerable employees, including those with genetic predispositions, immunocompromised status, chronic occupational respiratory diseases, a history of mine accidents, and alcohol or drug dependency.
- Identifying risk factors through health screening questionnaires, medical surveillance and environmental control measures in mines.
Risk management
- Employers are expected to empower employees to identify and manage personal risk factors that may predispose them to developing NCDs or mental health disorders.
- Employers must implement systems that promote a workplace culture of safe declaration, enabling employees to disclose diagnosed risk factors and access support mechanisms.
Develop and implement a programme for the prevention and management of NCDs and mental health disorders
Based on the risk assessment outcomes, employers must:
- Establish a committee to develop, implement and monitor the programme.
- Include the following stakeholders in the committee: healthcare providers at the mine, occupational medical practitioners, occupational health nurses, health and wellness coaches, nutritionists and health and safety committee members or representatives. The prevention framework must include:
- Primordial prevention: awareness campaigns and tailored education programmes addressing mental health, environmental and occupational hazards, and modifiable risk factors such as substance abuse, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and psychosocial issues.
- Primary prevention: risk reduction strategies including nutrition, physical activity, psychosocial support, addressing violence and harassment, managing substance abuse, and promoting sleep hygiene and wellness.
- Secondary prevention: early detection and intervention through medical surveillance, diagnosis and treatment.
- Tertiary prevention: rehabilitation and palliative care to minimise the impact of diagnosed conditions.
Wellness programmes
Wellness programmes must form part of the broader NCDs and mental health strategy. A wellness committee must:
- Develop and implement a wellness policy (as a standalone or integrated policy).
- Manage the wellness budget and promote external health and wellness materials.
- Oversee employee assistance programmes.
- Collaborate with local communities to implement health initiatives that empower those communities.
Monitoring and evaluation
- Employers must ensure internal monitoring and evaluation of the programme is conducted and recorded.
- Annual monitoring is recommended.
Implementation plan and compliance
- Employers must develop an implementation plan that outlines organisational structures, assigns responsibility to functionaries, and includes clear programmes and schedules for rollout.
- They must also implement systems for auditing, monitoring and ensuring compliance with the guidance note.
Access to guidance note and related documents
- Employers must ensure that the full guidance note and all related documents are readily available at the mine for inspection by any affected person.
- Copies must be provided to registered trade unions, health and safety representatives, or employee representatives.
- Employers must ensure that employees are fully conversant with the sections of the guidance relevant to their roles.
Next steps
We recommend that mining companies urgently assess their current policies against the new requirements and begin developing a comprehensive implementation strategy. The guidance includes detailed assessment tools and monitoring frameworks that must be carefully integrated into existing health and safety management systems.
