Press Statement dated 5 May 2018
The Chamber of Mines notes with great sadness the fall of ground incident at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Masakhane mine at the company’s Driefontein operations following a seismic event on Thursday, 3 May 2018.
The Chamber extends its heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of the seven employees who succumbed to their injuries. The Chamber wishes a speedy recovery to the six employees currently recovering from their injuries in hospital.
The Chamber offers its appreciation for the work done by Sibanye-Stillwater, Mine Rescue Services rescue teams, the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and all other stakeholders for their efforts in undertaking search and rescue activities.
Addressing fall of ground incidents, particularly at deep-level mines, is an area that joint industry efforts have focused on most intensively over the past several years. This focus is reflected in the more than R150 million that the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) has invested in falls of ground research. Furthermore, through the MHSC, more than R250 million has been spent on research into the seismicity associated with our deep-level mines. In addition, R40 million has been spent on fundamental and applied research and technology transfer. The research outcomes has led to new mine designs and methods. As a result, the number of fatalities associated with seismicity fell from 48 in 2003 to 14 in 2017.
Since 2017, the industry has noted with concern the increase in the number of rockbursts related to seismic activity while the number of rockfalls, which is typically the main cause of falls of ground, decreased. To better understand and address this concern, the Mining Industry Occupational Safety and Health Fall of Ground task team has been established. Leading practices on rockbursts in particular are being developed and the findings will be shared across the industry.
The industry remains committed to achieve the collective aim – between mining companies, unions and government – of Zero Harm, ensuring that that every single mining employee returns home, safe and unharmed, from work at the end of every day.
Issued by Chamber of Mines of SA