BusinessLive reports that as the mining industry debates the consequences of the 21-day lockdown and its possible extension, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has suggested heightened safety regulations to apply across the sector to clear the way for restarting mines.  

It has proposed a joint task team with representatives from the Department of Minerals & Energy, the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) and unions to agree on set safety standards.  Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa indicated:  “As Amcu, we will not support any ramp-up of operations at mines before these regulations are agreed upon and gazetted accordingly.  We can simply not afford to let mineworkers die due to a lacking and uncoordinated approach to this pandemic by the individual mines.”  Amcu wants a “specific and enhanced standard of personal protective equipment (PPE) [to] be made compulsory for all mining operations, in combination with strategies to mitigate risk and manage identified infections.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Allan Seccombe at BusinessLive
• Read too, Mines begin the long, hard slog of getting production going again, at BusinessLive

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