Mining Weekly reports that SA Coal Managers’ Association (Sacma) president Kevern Mattison has called for a “revolutionary step change” to achieve the mining industry’s goal of achieving ‘zero harm’.  

The plea came as Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) acting chief inspector of mines Mthokozisi Zondi on Thursday confirmed a 31% year-on-year increase in the number of fatalities recorded between 1 January and 6 March.  Zond told delegates at the Sacma 2017 CoalSafe conference that there had been 17 fatalities over that period, compared with 13 fatalities in the comparable period of 2016.  The coal sector, which had recorded no fatalities during the same period in 2016, has recorded two fatalities in 2017.  “The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Mining with a conscience’ and Mattison asserted that “it is these values that must motivate us as industry leaders to reduce the negative impact that our operations have on the health of our workers, the communities in which we operate and the environment.”  Zondi also called on miners to reduce the number of employees exposed to noise and airborne pollutants.

• Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
• Read too, Rising mining fatalities disconcerting, says Solidarity, at Mining Weekly

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page