https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Africa|Coal|Construction|Energy|Generator|Gold|Health|Mining|Platinum|Power|Resources|Safety|Equipment
Africa|Coal|Construction|Energy|Generator|Gold|Health|Mining|Platinum|Power|Resources|Safety|Equipment
africa|coal|construction|energy|generator|gold|health|mining|platinum|power|resources|safety|equipment

SA’s mining fatalities fall to historic low, but . . .

SA’s mining fatalities fall to historic low, but  . . .

Mineral Resources & Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, alongside Chief Inspector of Mines David Msiza, on Friday announced the 2019 mine health and safety statistics. Video: Creamer Media's Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

7th February 2020

By: Simone Liedtke

Creamer Media Social Media Editor & Senior Writer

     

Font size: - +

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) last month announced the lowest number of mining fatalities on record – 51 for 2019. This was a 37% year-on-year improvement, compared with the 81 reported fatalities in 2018.

Fatalities in the gold sector decreased by 53% to 19, while fatalities in the coal sector decreased by 22% year-on-year to 7.

Other commodities saw a year-on-year improvement of 70%, with only six fatalities recorded in 2019, compared with 20 in 2018.

Platinum, however, was the only commodity to see a regression in fatalities during 2019, with 19 fatalities, compared with in 2018. This the DMRE said, marked a year-on-year regression of 58%.

“The regression in the safety performance of the platinum sector is a concern and specific attention will be paid to this area in the current year,” chief inspector of mines David Msiza told the media.

A 2% decrease in the number of injuries, from 2 447 in 2018 to 2 406 in 2019, was also reported.

Occupational diseases, meanwhile, decreased by 22.8% from 4 483 cases in 2017 to 3 458 in 2018.

No disasters were recorded for 2019.

The industry’s collective efforts have so far “proven that stakeholder collaboration is critical”, Msiza said, adding that the DMRE, in collaboration with the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC), would host a Mine Health and Safety Summit later this year.



To address seismic and gravity-induced fall-of-ground (FOG) accidents, the department confirmed that it had worked closely with the established FOG task team, which comprised members of the MHSC, the Council for Geoscience, Minerals Council South Africa, the National Union of Mineworkers, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), Solidarity, UASA and the South African Institute of Rock Engineers.

The DMRE also commented on the power supply interruptions that South Africa had been experiencing and urged mines “to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautionary measures in the case of power interruptions”.

In instances where the interruption of electricity supply to any equipment could result in a significant risk, the DMRE urged mines to ensure supply could be provided from another source or network, which could include an emergency supply alternator or generator.

AMCU leader Joseph Mathunjwa commended the progress in reducing the number of fatalities, but insisted that the industry “can do [even] better”.

He also called on companies to contribute to a collective trust for the families of deceased mineworkers.

In a statement, Minerals Council CEO Roger Baxter commented: “The path to zero harm was never going to be an easy or simple one. And we have experienced setbacks. While the industry’s safety and health performance during 2019 [represents] significant progress, [compared with] what we have been able to achieve in the past, we recognise that our journey is far from over.”

He reiterated the Minerals Council’s commitment to continuing to work with its social partners on all matters of health and safety.

“We – and I speak for every mining company CEO – remain resolute in our determination to work collaboratively to achieve our goal of zero harm.”

Solidarity, meanwhile, urged the mining industry “not to become complacent” as a result of the improvements in 2019.

The briefing was also attended by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

SBS Tanks
SBS Tanks

SBS® Tanks is a leading provider of innovative water security solutions with offices in Southern Africa, East and West Africa, the USA and an...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Willard
Willard

Rooted in the hearts of South Africans, combining technology and a quest for perfection to bring you a battery of peerless standing. Willard...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.181 0.238s - 139pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now