The Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act (Act 78 of 1973) makes provision for the autopsy examination of the cardio-respiratory organs of deceased persons who are or were employed at controlled mines or works, regardless of the clinical cause of death. The Pathology Division undertakes these examinations on behalf of the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases and the findings are considered by the Certification Committee for Occupational Diseases.
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About 2,500 autopsies are performed annually, resulting in benefit payments totaling millions of Rands.
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The computerized autopsy database (PATHAUT) is recognized as a globally important asset, as well as a way of monitoring disease trends in South Africa. It has also functioned to guide the assessment of occupational hygiene standards and set levels of impairment. The data are the only comprehensive surveillance data on occupational lung disease in South African mining industry. In recent years the PATHAUT data have been summarized to produce an annual surveillance report.

The Pathology Division conducts its own research projects and assists in projects with other Sections in the NIOH. Collaborative research is undertaken with the mining industry and academic centers such as Medical Schools. The Division is also actively involved in research internationally, in the United Kingdom, Japan and America. Over the last three years the research has resulted in more than thirty peer-reviewed publications.

The specialized equipment and scientific expertise available in this Section is unique in Southern Africa, and electron microscopy functions span occupational health as a whole. Tissue, dust and fume samples are analyzed to determine possible adverse health affects. The Sections' expertise is widely utilized by other Sections within NIOH, by private companies and laboratories, and by Government Departments. Scanning Electron Microscopy provides morphological data and this is combined with energy dispersive spectrometry analyse the chemical composition of specimens.
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Service functions are utilized to teach and train a variety of health professionals from academic centers like the Department of Minerals and Energy, Provincial Departments of Health, Occupational Health nurses and doctors.