The Mine Health and Safety (MHS) Act protects employees' health and safety at South African mines.
The Minerals Act Regulation 2.13.1 requires the mine manager to appoint an engineer in charge whenever:
the sum of the power generated and power supplied from outside sources exceeds the equivalent of 2500 kilowatts, or
there is an installation of a winding plant intended for the conveyance of persons.
The engineer will be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of machinery in terms of the Mine Health & Safety Act and its regulations.
The mining engineer is known as the 2.13.1 appointment and must have an appropriate mechanical or electrical engineer's certificate of competency (also known as the GCC Mines & Works).
This post aims to provide the steps to take to obtain the GCC Mines & Works.
Types of GCC Mines & Works certificates
The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) is the custodian of the GCC Mines & Works certificate.
The DMR issues the following GCC Mines & Works:
Certificate of Competency as Mechanical Engineer for Mines and Works.
Certificate of Competency as Electrical Engineer for Mines and Works
The above implies that the applicant needs to indicate which certificate they wish to obtain during the application process.
In general, a person with a mechanical background will pursue a mechanical engineer certificate. A person with an electrical background will pursue the electrical engineer certificate. The steps to obtaining either disciple of the GCC Mines & Works are identical.
Steps to obtaining the GCC Mines & Works
There are nine main steps to obtaining the GCC Mines & Works:
Step 1 - Qualification evaluation
The journey to obtaining the GCC Mines & Works starts with having an acceptable academic qualification. The Department of Mineral Resources Commission of Examiners recognizes the following academic qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering (heavy current)
Bachelor's Degree in mechanical engineering
BTech in electrical engineering (heavy current)
BTech in mechanical engineering
National Diploma in electrical engineering (heavy current)
National Diploma in mechanical engineering
Acceptable trade test, and you must be in the position of a National Technical Diploma (N6) in electrical or mechanical engineering
The DMR does the qualification evaluation when submitting for permission to commence training.
Step 2 - Apply for permission to commence training
You must complete the prescribed application form and attach the required supporting documents, including your qualifications and supporting documents.
You do not need the experience to submit permission to commence training. The DMR only evaluates your qualifications. The experience will be gained while completing your Annexure E.
The documents that you will need to submit with your application include the following:
Official DMR application for acceptance as an engineer-in-training form
Certified copy of your identity document
Certified copy of your academic qualification
Certified copy of your academic record
Certified copy of your SAQA evaluation (if foreign qualification)
Certified copy of your trade test certificate (if you are an artisan applicant)
Application fee (R550.00) proof of payment - the DMR application form provides the banking details to use, or you can pay at any of the DMR regional offices. Make sure you keep a copy of the proof of payment.
Note: A qualification evaluation letter from an approved body is no longer a requirement since the DMR conducts the qualification evaluation.
Step 3 - Obtain the 'Annexure E' book
Once the DMR accepts you to commence training, you must collect the 'Annexure E' book from the DMR. Each Annexure E booklet will have a unique serial number that only belongs to you.
Step 4 - Secure an engineering mentor
All the modules on the Annexure E booklet must be signed by the Mine Resident Engineer (2.13.1 appointee) where you are training. The Resident Engineer must be a DMR registered mentor.
You can either ask your mentor for a letter confirming that they are a DMR registered mentor or seek the information from DMR.
Pro-tip:
For graduate engineers, choose your employer wisely.
Make sure they have 2.13.1 appointees who are DMR registered mentors.
Most importantly, do your research on how supportive the mentor is.
Ensure you communicate with the mentor to confirm they are willing to assist with completing your Annexure E modules.
If possible, get more than one mentor. However, make sure you communicate correctly with your mentors to avoid any confusion.
Step 5 - Complete the Annexure E modules under the supervision of the engineering mentor
At this point, you should have:
your Annexure E booklet with your unique number imprinted on it, and
secured a DMR registered mentor.
Now it's time to put in the work by completing all the Annexure E Modules. Ensure you involve your mentor every step of the way.
It will be wise to get your Annexure E modules signed progressively. Do not wait until the end because a lot can go wrong, e.g., your mentor leaving the mine you are doing your training.
The DMR expects you to spend at least two years completing your training. If you finish sooner than two years, you will have to wait for the two years to lapse before submitting your application to write the examinations.
Step 6 - Apply to write the GCC Mines & Works examinations
After completing all the Annexure E modules, you must apply to write the GCC Mines & Works exams. The training is compulsory and should be at least two years.
Download and complete the application form below.
Step 7 - Prepare for the GCC Mines & Works plant engineering and legal knowledge exams
Congratulations on making it this far. You thought the above steps were a mountain to climb? Think again. The GCC Mines & Works plant engineering and legal knowledge exams are as hard.
It will be wise to progressively prepare for the exams while doing your 'Annexure E' modules. Make sure you document all your exam preparation journey to spend less time on revision in the future.
Focusing on one exam at a time might be a good idea. It is advisable to start with the legal knowledge exam since it provides the desired context for the plant engineering exam.
Step 8 - Register, write, & pass the GCC Mines & Works plant engineering and legal knowledge exams
The GCC Mines & Works plant engineering and legal knowledge exams are written annually during June and November.
The exam writing is usually during the first & second weeks of June and November of every year. You can write both exams in June/November, or you can write one exam in June and the other in November. The first week is usually for writing the plant engineering exam. The following week is for the legal knowledge exam.
Mechanical and electrical GCC Mines & Works candidates write the same exam papers. In other words, there is no paper for mechanical and electrical.
You must register to write the exams at an approved TVET college and produce your DMR GCC Mines & Works letter of acceptance and a certified copy of your identity document when registering.
Step 9 - Apply to be issued with the GCC Mines & Works
Hello Mr/Ms. Certificate Engineer. You are almost there. The hard work is behind you. Now it's just admin and paperwork.
After passing the two exams, you must apply for your GCC Mines & Works certificate. Your application needs to include the following documents:
Signed application letter requesting to be issued your GCC Mines & Works certificate
A certified copy of the statement of results on the official TVET letterhead, signed by the authorized person and date-stamped
Certified copy of your identity document
You can then collate and submit all your documents to the Department of Mineral Resources' postal address:
The Secretary
Commission of Examiners: MECC
Private Bag X59
Arcadia
0007
Once approved, you must collect your GCC Mines & Works certificate in person at the DMR offices. You must bring your identity document when collecting the certificate. Alternatively, you can send someone to collect for you, but must do the following:
Provide the person collecting your documents with a consent letter that you signed,
Provide a certified copy of the collecting person's identity document and
Provide a certified copy of your identity document.
Conclusion
Getting the GCC Mines & Works is a relatively lengthy process. However, the nine steps presented above are easy to follow.
The GCC Mines & Works is not for everyone. Before starting the journey, you must understand the context of the GCC Mines & Works. The basic questions you should answer before beginning the journey are as follows:
Do you have an acceptable mechanical or electrical qualification?
Are you ready to face the challenging journey of getting accepted to commence training and finding a registered mentor?
Are you able to complete the two years of compulsory training?
Are you ready to secure a training position with one of the mines?
Do you have ambitions to secure a 2.13.1 appointment in the future?
Do you have a strong desire to develop the temperament and leadership skills to fulfill the role of a 2.13.1?
If you answer yes to all the above questions, then the GCC Mines & Works might be for you.
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