One death or injury that is attributed to mining activities is one too many. The number of miners dying or being injured in South African mines is unacceptable. This year has seen a disturbing regression in the progress in reducing accidents on South African mines. Incidents in which miners are involved in fatal, disabling or injury-causing accidents appear to be on the rise based on the number of reported mine-related deaths and injuries in recent times.
Mines are a harsh environment where unexpected seismic activity can cause rock fall, and environmental factors can cause occupational illnesses such as silicosis and hearing loss. Studies by the Chamber of Mines reveal that in 2005 falls of ground accounted for 41% of mining fatalities, transportation and mining related accidents made up 25%, and other reasons accounted for 34% of total fatalities.
All human activity involves a measure of risk and the challenge is to identify, understand and manage this risk. This applies, without exception, to health and safety risks associated with mining. Factors that play a role in successful risk management and hence safety improvement is a combination of technology, leadership, human behaviour and systems put in place to build and maintain a health and safety culture in the industry.
Developments in science and technology can help to manage risk by identifying and understanding the fundamental nature of risks in mining by studying and understanding seismic behaviour, which is particularly relevant in deep-level mines. Engineering can then be used to remove or reduce the risks. Creating and nurturing values, cultures, habits, attitudes and behaviours that promote safety awareness in management and in particular every worker, is important in the effective management of this risk. However, it would be naïve to think that the undertaking to instill such a value system in the mining industry will take place overnight. This change will be a long process that will require a great deal of buy-in, effort and perseverance from all involved.
In November, the Chamber of Mines announced that a task team has been appointed to improve the state of mines in South Africa. It is the chamber's goal to reach international standards by 2013 but because South African mines are relatively old, a large amount of work needs to be done to achieve this goal.
At a recent conference organised by the International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM), the focus was on health and safety issues in the mining and metals industry. The ICMM is an organisation that represents the global mining and metals industry. Among its corporate members are AngloGold Ashanti, Newmont and Anglo American. Its association members include the Chamber of Mines, Euromines and the International Copper Association.
The conference was designed to improve performance and to share experiences within the industry. Various companies showcased their innovations in health and safety management. Events like these are steps forward in bringing awareness to these pertinent issues that will hopefully, in the not so distant future, result in safer working conditions for miners.
Responsibility for mine safety does not rest only on management or regulators - it rests jointly with the industry, management, regulators, unions as well as individual workers. The ultimate health and safety goal of the mining industry should be to completely eliminate fatalities and injuries as well as silicosis and hearing loss.
Jaime Chan
Editor: SA Instrumentation & Control
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