Mining industry stakeholders have expressed concern over the deaths of nearly 70 people in the sector so far in 2021, saying the continued loss of life cannot be understated and that they are committed to improving health and safety performances.
In a joint media statement on Monday, the department of mineral resources & energy and the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) said stakeholders who attended the Mine Safe 2021 conference last month recommitted themselves to working towards the elimination of fatalities, injuries and occupational diseases at SA’s mines in pursuit of “zero harm to ensure that each employee returns from work unharmed every day”.
In the statement, the stakeholders said the industry “is concerned and shocked by the deaths of 69 people so far this year compared to 48 in the same period last year”.
“This is the second consecutive year of regression in fatalities and the industry’s stakeholders have committed to urgently address the unacceptable situation. In 2020, the total number of fatalities was 60, up from the lowest number of 51 in 2019.”
The conference was a platform for stakeholders to share ideas on health and safety in the crucial mining sector that employs about 450,000 workers, contributes about R361.6bn, or about 7% of GDP, and delivered R27.2bn in tax revenue in 2020.
Gold miner Sibanye-Stillwater, reported the loss of four mineworkers in two separate incidents last week: a worker at Khuseleka shaft at the Rustenburg operations passed away due to a fall of ground incident, while another three mineworkers at 3 shaft at the Beatrix operations, passed away following “a tragic trackless mobile machinery incident”.
Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman said despite extraordinary efforts this year, the number of fatal incidents experienced “is of grave concern for management and the board of Sibanye-Stillwater”.
Froneman said the incident at Beatrix followed an incident earlier last week “where another colleague lost his life in a blast incident”.
“We are appalled by the loss of our employees’ lives at our mines over the past year. While we cannot rectify the harm that has occurred, we will continue to support the families as best we can in their grief. The safety of employees is our primary concern and we will continue to strive for zero harm in the workplace,” said Froneman.
“Despite improvements in all other safety metrics, Sibanye-Stillwater has experienced a notable regression in fatalities during 2021, with 18 employees losing their lives during the year ... Any loss of life is unacceptable and all efforts are being focused on addressing this perplexing increase in fatal safety incidents.”
“Work is already under way to address falls of ground and transport-related accidents which are the leading sources of fatalities,” he said.
Stakeholders who attended the Mine Safe 2021 conference also included organised labour and professional associations.
The outcomes of the conference included the adoption of safe-mining practices such as the use of safe equipment and adoption of production technologies like faster rock drills to shorten the mining cycle.
They also included the implementation of the five-year R46m investment on the implementation of the “fall of ground action plan” launched at the MCSA’s national day of health and safety in mining held in July.
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