ANA reports that the number of workers who have died in Sa mines to date this year is fifty-eight, higher than the 51 deaths during the same period in 2017.  

The figure was confirmed by the mining industry on Friday during the launch of the national day of health and safety 2018.  The launch was part of the industry’s recommitment to the shared goal of zero-harm campaign and ensuring all employees could go to work in the knowledge that they would return home, every day, unharmed.  Roger Baxter, chief executive of the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines), said the deterioration in safety performance was unacceptable, adding that the industry was still facing serious safety problems despite an 88% improvement in fatality rates between 1993 and 2016.  Baxter said that over the next month, 66 members of the Minerals Council would be hosting safety and health days at each of their operations to recommit and reaffirm the industry’s commitment.

• Read this report in full at The Citizen

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