In the advancement of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and protecting employees in the Electrical and Mechanical sector, the Department of Employment and Labour has published the new Draft General Machinery Regulations (GMR) 2025 for public comment.

All users of the Machinery and Plants Stakeholders with an interest are invited to make comments/ inputs/ corrections in writing on the proposed Draft General Machinery Regulations. The released draft General Machinery Regulation 2025 is intended to replace General Machinery Regulations GNR.1521 of 5 August 1988.

A comprehensive copy of the General Machinery regulations (GMR) 2025 is available on the Departmental website: https://www.gov.za for public comments.

The last set of General Machinery Regulations was first published in GN R1521 of 5 August 1988, and since then, no amendments have been made to this regulation. The General Machinery Regulations concentrate more on the supervision of those classes of machinery which are not classified in any other regulations.

The purpose of GMR is to ensure safe operations, proper maintenance, and supervision, which will extend machinery lifespan and reduce risks of injury or fatality. The draft General Machinery Regulations 2025 were promulgated on 22 August 2025 for public comments.

The Department identified the need to revise the current General Machinery Regulations to ensure more stringent requirements are placed on the User of the Machinery and Plants to prevent incidents in the workplace and also to be align with the current technology. These regulations are applicable to all persons who use plant or machinery in their line of work.

Key changes to the current General Machinery Regulations include:

1. Revision of existing definitions

1. Addition of new definitions
2. Removal of the graduate engineer from the definition of a competent person in “c"
3. Removal of Schedule A and B (Notifiable Substances)
4. Repeal of certain General Machinery Regulations

In terms of OHS, interested persons who wish to comment on the draft regulations are invited to do so in writing within 90 days from the date of publication of this notice (22 August 2025). The closing date of submission will be on 22 November 2025

All representations and comments must be sent to the Director General of the Department of Employment of Labour:

• By hand: The Department of Employment and Labour, Laboria House, 215 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria CBD, 0001
• By Post: The Director General

The Department of Employment and Labour, Attention: Matlala Sathekge /Mphakanyana Moloto

Private bag x 117., Pretoria, 0001

• By email:  draftcomments.GMR@labour.gov.za 
  
   

For media enquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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