PRESENTATION TO PPC OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

1. State of Occupational Health and Safety in South African Mines: April 2003-March 2004 Presented by: Ms M A Hermanus Chief Inspector of Mines Republic of South Africa PRESENTATION TO PPC OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

2. DISCUSSIONS • The Minerals Industry • The State’s Role • Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate • Health and Safety Performance • OHS challenges • Policy and Legislation • Human Resources • Matters of interest • Concluding Remarks

3. MINERALS INDUSTRY • Largest employer in the national economy followed by manufacturing • Contributed to establishment of country’s secondary industries • Major commodities: gold, diamond, coal and platinum • Minerals and mineral products exported to over 80 countries worldwide

4. STRUCTURE OF THE INDUSTRY • Mining Industry mainly organised into large corporate bodies • Mining activities ranges from deep level gold mining (± 3 km under ground) to Marine diamond operations • Junior, small and artisinal mining now emerging with changes in mineral policy and law

5. LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK Legislative framework has undergone radical change since 1994. • Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No.29 of 1996). • Objective: protect the health and safety of people from hazards/risks related to mining • MHSI: administers and regulates health and safety at mines.

6. STRUCTURE OF THE DME Department of Minerals and Energy Mineral Development Branch MHSI CIOM Energy Branch REGIONS PIOM’S x 9

7. THE MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTORATE (MHSI) OBJECTIVES: • Effective policy and enforcement framework; • Reduce occupational injuries and ill-health; • Improve information management and accessibility • Support new entrants to industry • Support public health initiatives e.g. HIV/AIDS • Promote research in OHS • Support and develop tripartism

8. SAFETY PERFORMANCE • Industry employs ±450 000 people • 264 deaths in 2003 from 293 in 2002 (rates, 0.63 and 0.74 per 1000 employees respectively) • Gold and Platinum- deep level mining accidents remains a challenge (gold rate 0.80; platinum 0.52) • Coal safety performance is at 0.45 per 1000 employees • Occupational health remains a challenge, outcomes and data.

9. FATAL INJURIES-ACTUALS

10. FATAL INJURIES-RATES

11. DISABLING INJURIES-ACTUALS

12. DISABLING INJURIES-RATES

13. 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2001 Total 148 176 138 140 197 144 172 [1]Rate of silicosis diagnosed per 1000 autopsies [1] Data are not yet available for 2002 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PERFORMANCE

14. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PERFORMANCE

15. OHS CHALLENGES • Culture Change – values, systems, new methodologies e.g. behavioral safety • Improved management systems and new technologies: • Rockfalls and Rockbursts • Fires and explosions • Machinery and transport systems • Physical hazards: noise and vibration • Airborne pollutants and diseases

16. CHALLENGES (cont.) Illegal Mining Incidents of criminals entering U/G mining operations • Threat to the profitability of ops • Serious consequences to H&S

17. CURRENT OHS GOALS Mine Health and Safety summit: 2003, set the following milestones for the industry • Reduce fatalities and disabling injuries rates over 10 years • Gold : 50% • Industry wide: 20% • 95% of measured exposures < OEL by 2008 and no new cases by 2013. • <10% hearing loss after 2008, no person to be exposed to OEL >85dBL by 2013.

18. POLICY AND LEGISLATION • Success dependant on tripartite structures of the MHSC • Since 1996, 40 regulations and 14 guidelines developed. • Impact of new legislation still needs formal assessment

19. RESEARCH • MHSC support research into H&S at mines • Current programme has identified 9 key areas • Safety research cost increased from R102 per employee in 2002 to R107 per employee in 2003.

20. ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY • Staff compliment: 141 inspectors + 52 admin • Vacancies: 33 for inspectors, 6 mid mgt, 2 admin support Filling of posts remains a serious challenge due to unattractive remuneration packages

21. HUMAN REOURCES DEVELOPMENT • The recommendations of the review of the MHSI by IMC are being implemented • Consultants appointed in May • HR and organisational interventions for the MHSI are being implemented by the consultants

22. STAFF BREAK DOWN Africans Coloureds Indians White Males Female Total Senior Management 9 1 - 9 17 2 19 MiddleManagement 6 1 1 27 33 2 35 Inspectors 68 3 - 70 129 12 141 Admin Support 33 1 1 17 10 42 52 Total 116 6 2 123 189 58 247

23. CROSSCUTTING INTIATIVES • HIV/AIDS • Small Scale Mining • Skills development

24. Major Accidents • Mponeng Explosion 1999: Finalised and Admin fine paid • Beatrix Explosion 2000: Finalised and awaiting further action by prosecutors • Beatrix Explosion 2001: Evidence collation finalised, awaiting argument from legal reps.

25. Accident of Interest: Northam Platinum • Fire broke out in Conveyor decline • 9-employees overcome by fumes • Suspected cause: overheating of bearings that ignited conveyor belt • Action taken • Operations halted • Newsflash forwarded to mines • Arrangements for an inquiry being finalised

26. CONCLUSIONS • Significant progress in OHS in SA Mines • High levels of serious death, injury and disease remain a problem • Work on improving OHS must continue and intensify THANK YOU!!!!