Statement on the 2018 Mine Health and Safety Statistics, delivered by Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr David Msiza
Thank you for the opportunity to address you on the release of the 2018 occupational health and safety statistics for the mining industry. Health and safety remain integral to the long term sustainability of the sector. It is our firm view that mining is more than just about the rocks, but equally important are the people responsible for turning the investment by mining companies into wealth – the workers.
Over the past ten years we have – working with mining companies and labour unions - made significant strides in improving health and safety for mine employees. This has led to the sustainable downward trend in occupational diseases, injuries and fatalities over the years. As the Regulator of the sector, the implementation of the enforcement measures as contained in the Mine Health and Safety Act No.29 of 1996 remains a key priority.
We cannot afford to become complacent because of the improvements we have been able to achieve over the years. Together with our social partners we must therefore continue working together to achieve the goal of a fatality-free mining industry.
Occupational fatalities
In 2016 the sector saw the lowest ever number of fatalities on record, at 73. Unfortunately, there was a notable regression in 2017, with 90 fatalities, largely in the gold sector. We are therefore encouraged that in 2018 we are beginning to see a turnaround, with 81 fatalities reported, translating to a 10% improvement in the number of fatalities year-on-year. We are hopeful that this is the beginning of a much-needed turnaround in fatalities, and that mines will continue to prioritise this issue moving forward.
The fatalities per commodity in 2018 were as follows: 40 in the gold sector, 12 in platinum, 9 in coal, with the remainder of commodities accounting for 20 fatalities. These include the diamonds, chrome, copper and iron ore operations. The platinum sector showed a commendable decrease of 59% in the number of fatalities, from 29 in 2017.
Three disasters - defined as an accident where 5 or more employees are killed – occurred in the gold and copper sectors last year. Seven (7) employees died in a seismic induced fall-of-ground accident at Sibanye Stillwater’s Driefontein Gold mine in May 2018. In the following month five (5) employees lost their lives in a heat-related accident at Sibanye Stillwater’s Kloof Gold mine, and six (6) employees lost their lives in a fire and explosion related accident at Palabora Mining Company’s Copper mine in July 2018. Inquiries into each of the disasters are underway to assess the root causes and identify the necessary remedial action.
So far in the current year 2019, the total number of fatalities reported by all mines is 5 versus 14 that were reported during same period in 2018, this translates to an improvement of 69% year on year.
Occupational injuries
In 2018 there was a 12% reduction in the number of injuries, from 2669 in 2017 to 2350 in 2018, which is welcomed. Most of these injuries are mainly as a result of repeat accidents categorised as falls of grounds, transportation and mining and general types of accidents.
Medical Deaths due to occupational diseases
The number of Annual Medical Reports submitted to the Department increase by 8% from
902 in 2016 to 975 in 2017.Medical deaths reported from the gold mines decreased from 26 in 2016 to 15 in 2017, and from platinum mines the number increased from five (5) in 2016 to seven (7) in 2017.
Coal mines decreased reported two (2) medical deaths in 2016 and one (1) in 2017. There were no medical deaths reported from diamond mines in 2017 compared to one (1) medical death reported in 2016. Iron ore and All Other Mines reported one (1) medical death per commodity in 2017, whereas there were no medical deaths reported in 2016. Medical deaths from chrome mines have remained unchanged with one (1) case reported in 2016 and 2017.
Occupational diseases
The number of occupational diseases reported nationally have shown a decrease of 3% from 4632 cases in 2016 to 4483 cases in 2017. The Noise Induced Hearing Loss cases increased from 966 in 2016 to 1141 in 2017. There is an increase in Silicosis cases reported from 635 in 2016 to 652 in 2017, however there was a slight decrease noted in TB cases reported, these were at 2580 in 2016 and 2247 in 2017.
Occupational hygiene overexposures
There has been a slight reduction in overexposures to occupational hygiene stressors, except for thermal heat which increased compared to the previous year. Airborne overexposures HEGS A and B have collectively reduced from 21.45% in 2016 to 20.93% in 2017. Noise overexposure HEGS A and B have collectively reduced from 68.4% in 2016 to 67.9% in 2017.
Health and safety improvement measures
We place a great deal of value on social partners each playing their role and collectively working together to improve health and safety in the sector.
Stakeholder collaboration is critical. The Department and the Mine Health and Safety Council hosted the Mine Health and Safety Summit in October 2018. At this Summit robust discussions on pertinent causes of injuries, diseases and fatalities took place. Amongst others, critical topics for discussion included, Falls of Ground, Seismicity, Noise, HIV/AIDS/TB, Right to Refuse Dangerous Work, Occupational Lung Diseases (OLD), Fires, Explosions and the implementation of the Culture Transformation Framework.
This Summit was initially scheduled to take place in November 2018, and it was moved to an earlier date, due to the regression experienced by the mining industry. Mining industry leaders committed themselves to drive the implementation of the milestones to improve occupational health and safety performance in the industry.
The department will continue engaging and collaborating with its social partners through the Mine Health and Safety Council and Regional Tripartite Forums.
As part of the initiatives to combat seismic and gravity-induced fall-of-ground accidents, the department has - through the Mine Health and Safety Council - established a task team comprising of the Department, the Council, the Council for Geoscience, Minerals Council
South Africa, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), Solidarity, UASA and the South African Institute of Rock Engineers.
Monitoring and enforcing compliance with the law
In November 2018 we issued two directives to the South African Mining Industry. The first directive was issued to eliminate fire, heat and oxygen deficiency related accidents, especially when persons gain access into abandoned or old mined out areas underground at a mine.
The second directive was issued to eliminate rock-burst and rock-fall related accidents, specifically when pillar extraction or removal are performed at a mine. The Department will monitor and enforce compliance through inspections and audits to ensure the implementation of these directives.
Through inspections, TB, HIV and AIDS programmes will be evaluated to ensure improvement. It has been determined through research that poor living conditions exacerbate Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and as a result of this, compliance with the Mining Charter commitments for improving living conditions of employees will be monitored through inspections and audits.
Training of Rock Engineers and Seismologists
As part of initiatives to combat seismic and gravity induced fall-of-ground accidents, the Department - in collaboration with the Mining Qualification Authority (MQA), Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC), Council for Geoscience (CGS) and South African Institute of Rock Engineers (SANIRE) - has identified 40 learners to be trained in the fields of Rock Engineering and Seismology.
These learners comprise of employed graduates from the mining industry, unemployed graduates and Inspectors from the Department. This training is intended to improve the enforcement capacity for the department.
During 2019 and beyond, we will continue to engage with the Executive Management of mining companies to discuss their strategies to prevent fatalities, injuries and diseases. Furthermore, workshops with the Health and Safety Representatives to train and coach them in exercising their rights and powers as stipulated in the Mine Health and Safety Act will continue.
The department strongly believes that these training and coaching workshops will have an impact in improving health and safety in the mining industry. Through visible, felt leadership, we can make some serious inroads in further reducing fatalities and
The sector has set itself the goal of zero-harm by 2020. This implies that by 2020 there should be no fatalities in the sector. This requires a significant step up of our efforts. It is in all our interests to ensure a significant and sustained improvement in the health and safety of mineworkers.
As the Regulator we will do our part in monitoring and enforcing compliance with the law and urge our social partners to play their part to realise the overarching objective of ensuring that every mineworker returns home unharmed, every single day.
I thank you.
