Mining Weekly reports that according to Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) chief inspector of mines, David Msiza, the continued loss of life, injuries and diseases in the SA mining sector remains of great concern, even though there has been an historic improvement.
Speaking during the Coalsafe virtual conference on 22 September, Msiza said that a “step change” was required to prevent harm to mineworkers and to progress towards the goal of zero-harm. Msiza pointed out that incidents have increasingly been involving materials handling, transport and elevator accidents. Often referred to as miscellaneous accidents, Msiza urged the industry to investigate such accidents so that operators could “understand what caused the loss of life”. Increased vigilance should be undertaken together with medical practitioners and be done in collaboration with the Department of Health. “Health matters should be a priority, because the impact is lasting,” Msiza said, referring to exposure to airborne pollutants and dust, for example, within the mining sector. “What is of great concern is that more than 10% or 12% of mineworkers are overexposed to high levels of gas that might lead to tuberculosis,” Msiza noted, adding that that might put mineworkers at greater risk of becoming infected with Covid-19, among other diseases.
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