ANA reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Friday called on its structures in the mines to confront management and employers whenever there were health and safety deviations or substandard working conditions.  

In a statement, the NUM said that workers must exercise their right to refuse to work in a dangerous workplace and must not be victimised for doing so as they were empowered by the Mine Health and Safety Act.  Peter Bailey, NUM chairperson for health and safety, said that the union was very disappointed by the recent incidents and accidents at Sibanye-Stillwater mines after two workers died in a fall-of-ground accident at Kloof gold mine on Wednesday and about 1,000 were trapped underground as a result of power failure at Beatrix gold mine.  Bailey said that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) inspectorate must pull up its socks and pay consistent visits to the mines to ensure compliance in a bid to save lives.  He applauded those mining houses that were able to mine for 12 months or more without a fatality.

• Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
• Read too, Revival of interest in robotics to increase safety in South African mines, at Mining Weekly

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