Modern Mining October 2019

to mining accidents had fallen by 87 % from 1993 to 2018, and the fatality rate (measured in relation to the number of hours worked) by 80 %. “In 2019, as at 23 September, there had been a further significant improvement, with 35 deaths having been reported in accidents compared with 63 in the same period the previous year,” he said. In the health sphere, he noted improvements in dust incidence trends which address the most seri- ous occupational health challenges. He also noted the recent silicosis and TB class action settlement and progress towards its implementation, as well as the successes of the multi-stakeholder Masoyise Health Programme, whose goal is to bring tuber- culosis incidence in the industry to or below the national average. In the coming months, Minerals Council member companies will be hosting their own Khumbul’ekhaya launches as they hold their own health and safety days, with CEOs intent on leading these programmes. 

respect of falls of ground as a priority. Profitability can be achieved through the imperative of health and safety. We know our role as organised labour, and we will play that role.” “We shouldn’t lose sight of where we have come from,” commented David Msiza, Chief Inspector of Mines and the Chair of the MHSC. “Decades ago, no one believed that Zero Harm was possible. If we maintain the reduction we have had, this will be the safest year ever.” He noted the significant challenge of safety issues related to women in mining and at home, and indicated that the MHSC would be focus- ing on this. Speaking at the Joburg Indaba a day after the Khumbul’ekhaya launch, Minerals Council President Mxolisi Mgojo updated delegates on the initia- tive. He acknowledged that thousands of workers had died at work over the past 100 years but also said that there had been an “almost uninterrupted improving trend since the advent of the democratic era”, during which time the number of deaths due

As these graphs indicate, the South African mining industry’s safety performance has shown considerable improvement in recent years and is starting to match that of its international peers. (The graphs are taken from a presentation given by Minerals Council President Mxolisi Mgojo at the Joburg Indaba.)

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October 2019  MODERN MINING  39