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Trade union Solidarity today said that the number of mining fatalities recorded in 2016 have shown no significant improvement compared with those of 2015.

According to statistics announced by the minister of Mineral Resources, 73 miners died in South African mines in 2016, compared with the 77 miners who had died in 2015. The three missing persons at the Lily Mine have not been included in these statistics.

Solidarity Deputy General Secretary for Occupational Health and Safety and Sustainable Development, Advocate Paul Mardon, said that 2016 was a disappointing year as far as health and safety in mines was concerned. “Although there has been a decrease of 15% in injuries in 2016 (from 3 138 cases in 2015 to 2 662 in 2016) the number of fatalities and injuries remains unacceptably high. This is not just about numbers; human lives, people with loved ones and dependents, are at stake,” Mardon pointed out.

Although statistics in respect of occupational diseases are currently not available, mining health statistics also give rise to concern according to Mardon. “Noise deafness cases increased from 1 424 in 2014 to 1 493 in 2015, and tuberculosis cases increased from 3 460 in 2014 to 3 773 in 2015,” Mardon said.

Mardon furthermore indicated that landslides, transport and machinery as well as general accidents including slip and fall cases, falls from heights and fires with the associated exposure to dust, gas and fumes, are the main contributors when it comes to fatalities and injuries. “Statistics as they pertain to fatalities that occur as part of illegal mining activities are not available but offer further cause for concern as far as the safety of miners is concerned,” Mardon said.

“The year 2016 has been a challenging one for mining due to the demands the economy posed to sustainability in the industry and to mineworkers. The increase in retrenchments at mines resulted in a decrease in focus and concentration levels of workers.

There were, however, also other aspects, such as tension between the mining companies and the DMR because of section 54 stoppages and rivalry among trade unions, which led to a decrease in focus and concentration on safety and health in the workplace.

Reciprocal trust and respect, and successful cooperation are indispensable for health and safety at work and the abovementioned aspects contribute to the disintegration thereof,” Mardon explained.
According to Mardon, approximately 41% of the 73 mine deaths in 2016, occurred at gold mines, while 73% occurred at platinum mines. The remaining number of accidents occurred at coal and other mines. Mardon stated that coal mines, recording only four deaths in 2016 had experienced a better year.

“It appears that the mining industry is losing its focus and commitment as far as health and safety is concerned. Solidarity urges all role players in the industry to return to the basic principles of health and safety; to make all other issues under consideration subservient to health and safety; and to enhance the focus and dedication to healthy and safe mines, “ Mardon said.

Mardon concluded by saying that it is possible for work at mines to be safe and healthy at mines, but then all interested parties must take full responsibility for themselves and for each other in a mature spirit of interdependency.

Issued by Solidarity