Four Metro police in hot water for N1 ambush. SABC of 9 October 2008. 'Four Metro police may be in hot water for passing rocks placed on the N1 highway, where a Johannesburg man was ambushed and killed, police said. "An internal investigation has revealed that two metro police patrol vehicles passed the rocks that were placed on the N1 highway, between the Malibongwe and William Nicol off-ramps," said Superintendent Wayne Minnaar. Director David Tembe, Johannesburg metro police Head of Operations, has dismounted the four metro police officers concerned. "They have been instructed to do foot patrolling pending the outcome of the investigation due to the seriousness of the matter," said Minnaar. He said the patrol vehicles passed between 1.13am and 1.42am on October 2, when Arren Mahabir, 32, was shot and killed. Mahabir's car hit the rocks placed by robbers hiding in the nearby bushes around 2.40am. He was shot and killed as he and his fiancé, Valesh Naidoo, got out to change the burst tyre on their vehicle, after hitting the rocks. Mahabir was on his way to Durban at the time of the incident.

They should be prosecuted! I assume that they had standing orders to remove rocks from the N1? Perhaps section 9 of the OHS Act could be used since their (in)activities caused a person harm. RHL

Construction worker plunges to death. IOL of 8 October 2008. ' A 33-year-old construction worker plunged to his death at a site next to Hemmingways casino in East London, police said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Captain Stephen Marais said the man was working on the second floor of the building when he fell. "It is alleged that the section that he was standing on gave way and that he fell down to the ground floor, which is 17 to 20 metres far," Marais said. He died on the scene. His name would released once family had been informed.

SA mine death toll rises, 3 miners died in separate accidents. Mining News of 2 October 2008. 'The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Thursday added its voice to calls urging the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) to release the presidential audit on mining safety. This was after another three mineworkers had died in three separate accidents, pushing the 2008 death toll in mines to 135. "The NUM urges the DME to release the safety audit report as a matter of urgency and to take serious steps against these companies that seem to be competing to kill mineworkers," commented NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka. A miner died at AngloGold Ashanti's TauTona mine, near Carletonville, in a fall-of-ground incident in the early hours of Thursday morning, while he was securing a working place in a haulage on the 94 level. AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Joanne Jones said that the body of the miner was still being recovered and that a section of the mine would remain closed until the DME had concluded an investigation. The investigation was expected to take place before the weekend. Further, another section of the TauTona mine remained closed after a fatality on September 27. Jones said that while this section of the mine was expected to be opened on Friday, this was dependent on the DME. Seshoka added that more than 3 000 mineworkers would observe a day of mourning at AngloGold Ashanti's Savuka mine on Thursday, following the death a colleague the week before. Meanwhile, the NUM reported that a miner had died at Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine in a fall-of-ground incident on Thursday morning. Harmony Gold confirmed that a waterjet operator had died in a fall-of-ground accident about 2 900 m below surface. “The workplace has been stopped and management together with the DME have commenced investigations,” read a media statement. Further, a miner who was injured at the townlands section of platinum producer Anglo Platinum's Rustenburg Platinum Mines a month ago, died on Wednesday. On Tuesday, trade union Solidarity appealed to South Africa's newly elected President, Kgalema Motlanthe, to urgently release the presidential audit on mining safety, which was commissioned by his predecessor. “In the past 40 weeks, 135 employees have already died on South African mines. This means that more than three mineworkers currently die in accidents each week. In other words, a mineworker has died almost every second day thus far,” said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans. The presidential mining safety audit was commissioned by former President Thabo Mbeki in 2007, after 3 200 workers were trapped underground at a Harmony Gold mine. In August, the DME's chief inspector of mines, Thabo Gazi, reported that the audit had been finalised.

Three miners killed weekly - Solidarity. IOL of 2 October 2008. 'Three miners are killed in accidents every week, trade union Solidarity said on Thursday. It was responding to news that three mine workers had died in separate accidents in the past two days. "In the past 40 weeks, 135 employees have already died on South African mines. This means that more than three mineworkers currently die in accidents each week," said union spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans. "In other words, a mineworker has died almost every second day thus far," he added. He said Solidarity was "extremely concerned" about an "imbalance between production targets and safety". "Mine management likes to blame human behaviour for most of the mine accidents, but research in this regard is still elusive. Mining companies should invest more funds in research regarding this aspect of mine safety, as well as safety technology," said Kleynhans. Three miners were killed at AngloGold Ashanti, Anglo Platinum and Harmony Gold mines this week, the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) said earlier. A mine worker died at the Tau Tona mine near Carletonville around 1am on Thursday after being buried alive, AngloGold Ashanti confirmed in a statement. "A miner was killed in a fall of ground while securing a working place in a haulage. The accident occurred just after 1am on 94 level. His body is being recovered," said the company. The Num said a second miner died at Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine after a fall of ground, also on Thursday morning. A third miner died in hospital on Wednesday following an accident at an Anglo Platinum mine in Townlands late last month. Also, more than 3 000 mineworkers will observe a day of mourning on Thursday following the death of a worker at AngloGold's Savuka mine a week ago. "The Num is shocked that while those whose hands stink of workers' blood smile all the way to the bank, hundred of thousands of breadwinners' dependants are left with no food on their table. "It is with this in mind that the Num urges the DME [department of minerals and energy] to release the safety audit report as a matter of urgency and to take serious steps against these companies that seem to be competing to kill mineworkers".

Union calls on SA’s Motlanthe to release safety audit as another miner dies. Mining Weekly of 1 October 2008. 'Trade union Solidarity on Tuesday appealed to South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to urgently release the presidential audit on mining safety, which was commissioned by his predecessor. This follows the death of a miner at gold producer Gold Fields' Driefontein mine, near Carletonville, on Monday. The trade union said in a statement that it was very concerned about the rapid increase in fatalities in mines over the past few weeks, with the death toll in South Africa's mines now standing at over 130. "The coming months will place even further pressure on employees in the mining industry as targets will be pursued before year-end, which will put safety on the mines under enormous pressure," said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans. He was also concerned about the effect that the decreased power supply would place on mine's meeting their targets. "Since January all mines have been working on between 5% and 10% lower power supply, but production targets are still increased annually and will put even more pressure on the safety situation. Mining management should actively implement a safety plan in the coming three months to see to it that this pressure does not lead to unsafe conditions and practices," added Kleynhans. Gold Fields on Tuesday confirmed that a mine worker had died during a clean-up operation at the Yarona shaft at the Driefontein mine at 12:15 on Monday. It was not clear whether the shaft had been closed. The presidential mining safety audit was commissioned by former President Thabo Mbeki in 2007, after 3 200 workers had been trapped underground at a Harmony Gold mine. In August, the Department of Minerals and Energy's chief inspector of mines, Thabo Gazi, had reported that the audit had been finalised.

Mining chamber champions mining safety best practice. Click here for more.

'Safety-first culture' lacking in mines: report. SABC of 6 October 2008. 'A recent report on mine safety has identified the lack of a 'safety-first culture' as a contributing factor in mineworkers' deaths. In the study, the Bench Marks Foundation says a culture of transformation also needs to permeate throughout mining companies. This revelation comes after three mineworkers died in separate incidents in the past few weeks, bringing the total this year to 135. Chief researcher at the foundation, David van Wyk, says annual reports of most of the major corporations indicate that safety records for South Africa, in terms of all their global operations, are the worst. Van Wyk says there is a lot of talk about improving the culture of safety but very little is being done. He says the reluctance to rectify the situation might be because there is no punishment for mines or mine managers in terms of safety.

Second fatality at ArcelorMittal SA’s Saldanha plant. Eng News of 26 September 2008. 'Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa on Thursday reported that a second person had died as a result of this week’s accident at its Saldanha operations. The Saldanha worker had been in critical condition as a result of carbon monixide inhalation, after a gas exposure during maintenance operations on Monday night. ArcelorMittal South Africa reported the first fatality on Tuesday. Five workers were submitted to hospital, and later discharged. “We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family,” said ArcelorMittal South Africa CEO Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita. She added that the accident had occurred despite the company’s considerable efforts to improve management of safety at its operations. “Safety remains our number one priority and we are absolutely committed to our quest of achieving zero fatalities at the company.” The internal investigation into the causes of the accident and ways to prevent a reoccurrence would be concluded over the next few days.

ArcelorMittal SA says contract worker died at Saldana Works. Eng News of 23 September 2008. 'Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa on Tuesday announced a fatality at its Saldanha operations, in the Western Cape. The accident happened on Monday night when a contactor working for Westracor was exposed to carbon monoxide gas during a maintenance operation. The contractor was transferred to the plant’s medical station, after which he was stabilised and taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. This was the first death reported at ArcelorMittal’s operations for this year. One Saldanha Works employee, and five other contractors were also exposed. The ArcelorMittal South Africa employee was in critical condition, while another contractor was in a stable condition. The four other contractors affected by the gas were taken to hospital for observation as part of the standard procedure. The company noted that the police had been notified to investigate the accident, and the accident would be reported to the Department of Labour. However, the plant had been declared safe to operate, and ArcelorMittal South Africa said that a full-scale internal investigation into the accident would start. ArcelorMittal South Africa CEO Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita stated that the company was deeply shocked and saddened by the accident, and its heartfelt condolences went out to the family of the victim. “His death only reinforces the need for us to be even more vigilant and remain committed to a safe working environment at all our operations. Safety remains our number one priority.”

Mynwerker sterf toe 7 000 t. grond val. Die Beeld van 25 September 2008. '’n Mynwerker is eergister by die Nkomati-myn naby Waterval-Boven, Mpumalanga, dood nadat sowat 7 000 ton grond hom verswelg het. Mnr. Wessel Borotho (43) van Lesotho het met ’n bakkie gery toe die grondstorting plaasgevind het. Die Nkomati-myn, waar nikkel ontgin word, behoort aan die Suid-Afrikaanse mynreus Anglo Vaal. Die ongeluk het eergistermiddag omstreeks 15:30 gebeur. Borotho het die afgelope twee maande as kontrakteur by die myn gewerk. Hy het diesel afgelewer by een van die slootgrawers wat in die oopgroefmyn werk. Toe hy by een van die hope grond verbyry, wat glo sowat 50 m hoog was, het tonne grond skielik begin skuif en bo-op die bakkie beland. Wat die skielike grondstorting veroorsaak het, is onduidelik. Volgens werkers met wie Beeld gister gepraat het, was reën wat vroeër die week in die gebied geval het, moontlik die oorsaak. Die myn het ná die ongeluk slootgrawers gebruik om die grond van sowat 7 m diep waaronder die bakkie begrawe was, weg te vat. Die verfrommelde wrak is eergisteraand net ná 23:00 herwin. Reddingspersoneel moes die wrak uitmekaarsny om Borotho se lyk daaruit te haal. Die polisie is aanvanklik nie van die ongeluk in kennis gestel nie. Hulle het eers om 20:00 daarvan gehoor toe personeel wat glo bekommerd was oor die hantering van die soektog na Borotho, hulle gebel het. Insp. John Baloyi, polisiewoordvoerder, het bevestig hulle is eers laataand na die toneel ontbied. Hy het gesê ’n geregtelike ondersoek sal gedoen word om te bepaal of iemand vir Borotho se dood aanspreeklik gehou kan word. Mnr. Mike Grahame, ’n projekbestuurder by die myn, het die voorval gister bevestig. Hy het verdere navrae na die mynbestuurder, mnr. Horst Jäger, verwys. Jäger het nie op boodskappe wat op sy selfoon gelaat is, gereageer nie.

SA mine death toll rises as two separate accidents claim more lives. Mining News of 22 September 2008. 'A number of mineworkers from three different mining operations had died during the past two days, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka confirmed on Friday. Seshoka said during a telephonic interview that three miners had died at gold producer DRDGold's East Rand Proprietary Mines operation, near Boksburg, on Friday, after a cage had fallen. DRDGold spokesperson James Duncan, however, said that two workers had died and that the cause of the fatalities was still being investigated. He noted that while the NUM had stated that a cage had fallen down a shaft, leading to the fatalities, "that has not been confirmed". The men were found dead in a man conveyance just below the 24 level, about 1 100 m below the surface, of the mine's South West vertical shaft on Friday. The workers had been conducting routine water-level measurements at the shaft, which was being used only for water pumping purposes. Meanwhile, AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Joanne Jones confirmed that a worker at its Savuka mine, in North West province, had died in the early hours of Friday morning. She said that it seemed that the worker had died in a winching accident, but that an inspection was still ongoing and that details would only be made available later. Further, Seshoka added that a worker, who was injured in an accident at Anglo Platinum's (Angloplat's) Amandelbult mine in August, had died of his injuries on Thursday. Angloplat on Monday reported another death at its Amandelbult operation, while a worker had also been killed at Impala Platinum's Rustenburg mine on Wednesday. The 2008 death toll in South Africa's mining industry had now reached well over 120.

Transnet loses appeal on liability ruling in Cape train accident. 17 September 2008. 'THE Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Transnet and the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) against a high court finding of negligence after a passenger lost a foot when he tried to board a moving train with open doors. The court also upheld the decision of the Cape High Court to order that the commuter’s damages be reduced by half because he had been negligent in boarding a moving train. The incident occurred in February 2002 when David Witter tried to board a commuter train in Western Cape. The train had started to move slowly when Witter emerged onto the platform. The doors of the carriage where Witter tried to board were open. He took three quick steps across the platform and grasped the pillar in the middle of the open doors, lost his footing and fell between the platform and the train. The wheels of the train severed his right foot above the ankle. Transnet operated the train, the railway station and the platform on behalf of the SARCC while SARCC owned, controlled and regulated the train. Witter sued the groups for R2,5m. Cape High Court Judge Anton Veldhuizen found that the guard of the train had been negligent in failing to ensure the doors of the carriage where Witter attempted to board were closed before signalling to the driver that the train could depart . Veldhuizen also found that Witter had been negligent and reduced his damages by 50%. Transnet and the SARCC contended before the appeal court that neither they nor the guard were negligent as they had taken all reasonable steps to prevent the occurrence of injuries . They also argued that the apportionment of damages was not just and equitable. In his judgment, Judge Thomas Cloete said an expert who testified on behalf of Witter said it was a basic requirement for the safe operation of a passenger train that it should not depart with an open door. Cloete said the general operating instructions of Transnet were the subject matter of much debate. Witter contended that the instructions imposed a duty on the guard to observe whether the sliding doors were closing properly after he had pressed the door-closing button and before he gave the bell signal to the driver.

Angloplat worker killed at Amandelbult mine. 'A mineworker has died at world number-one platinum-miner Anglo Platinum’s (Angloplat’s) Amandelbult mine, northwest of Johannesburg, on Monday. Spokesperson Simon Tebele said that the hopper-related accident occurred at about 3:00 at the mine's No 1 shaft. Monday’s accident came less than a week after a winch-related accident claimed the live of a worker at the Lebowa platinum mine, in Limpopo. It was not immediately clear if Amandelbult would be closed and Tebele said that inspectors were currently on site. The South African government temporarily shuts mines after deaths so that companies can probe safety. Late in August, the government halted drilling and blasting at the Amandelbult mine for nearly ten days, after a fall of ground killed one employee. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said in an emailed statement that six people have died at the Amandelbult mine this year. "The NUM calls on Angloplatinum to pull up its safety sock," spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said. Around 120 workers have lost their lives in South Africa’s mines this year. Last week, a miner also died at the Exxaro Grootegeluk coal mine, outside Ellisras, when a conveyor belt structure collapsed.

Angloplat’s Amandelbult remains closed after accident. Mining News of 17 September 2008. 'Anglo Platinum’s (Angloplat’s) Amandelbult mine, near Rustenburg, remained shut on Tuesday, following a transport derailment fatality on Monday in which one worker died. Spokesperson Simon Tebele said that a full investigation was under way, and the mine would hold a meeting and presentation with the Department of Minerals and Energy on Thursday. The mine would remain closed until then. Angloplat has also arranged an entire day workshop on Thursday, where management and union representatives would address employees on the issue of safety in mines. Monday’s accident came less than a week after a winch-related accident claimed the life of a worker at the company’s Lebowa platinum mine, in Limpopo. Around 120 workers have lost their lives in South Africa’s mines this year, and safety remained under the spotlight, with unions calling for workers to stop work each time a fatality occurred, and companies insisting that safety was their number one concern.

Executives risk capital, miners risk their lives. By Terry Bell. Busrep of 12 September 2008. 'Five years ago, Velelo Mshiywa left rural Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape to take up a job as a miner at DRD Gold's Blyvoor mine in Carltonville. He moved, as generations of miners before him had done, into a utilitarian, single-sex hostel that was to be his home for most of every year. Labouring in Stygian conditions deep underground, he was one of the army of workers who extract the mineral wealth that remains part of the backbone of the South African economy. As such, he was just another anonymous statistic among the ranks of the permanently employed, earning R3 000 a month for his dangerous, back-breaking work. This week he added to another statistical table: he became the 118th miner killed in a mining accident this year. His family had barely been notified, allowing his name and the scant details of his 36-year life to be released, before another two deaths brought the ghastly tally of mining deaths to 10. According to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Mshiywa's family will receive a death benefit payment of "perhaps R10 000 or R15 000", which may just cover funeral expenses. In addition, there will be whatever he had accumulated in his provident fund, if he had not already drawn against it. With the sharp rise in the cost of living putting increased pressure on mine workers to provide for often extended families, a number have been found to have "raided" these funds. But at least such funds, relatively meagre as they may be, are available to employees of the mining houses. However, a growing number of workers on the various mines are employed by contractors to whom work has been outsourced. They often have few, if any, of the benefits, such as medical aid, sick pay and provident funds. Many of the deaths recorded in recent years have been among these workers, who have been shown, in a number of instances, not to have received adequate training. Last year 221 workers on mines were killed and many, perhaps most, were working for contractors to whom work had been outsourced. "As we see it, this is one way of the mining companies avoiding their responsibilities," said NUM media officer Lesiba Seshoka. "In days gone by there was no outsourcing, but otherwise so little has really changed." With the commodities boom, profits have generally soared and so has the remuneration for most chief executives. Even in a case such as Lonmin, where chief executive Brad Mills received a 2 percent pay cut including bonuses, he remains the top paid mining boss, with a package of R19.32 million, or R1.6 million a month. As NUM general secretary Frans Baleni noted, it would take the average miner, risking his life underground on a daily basis, nearly 45 years to earn what the Lonmin chief executive was paid in one month. Such remuneration did not take into account the share options that were given to executives. Last year, for example, Anglo Platinum chief executive Ralph Haverstein received a pay packet and bonuses worth R9.5 million. But he also exercised share options worth R14.8 million. "They say these shareholders risk their capital so they must be well paid, but the most valuable capital is human life and it is our members who risk this every [working] day," said a long-time NUM member in the North West. He wished to remain anonymous, as he added: "Perhaps we in NUM should spend more effort to correct these problems instead of fighting in politics about making JZ [Jacob Zuma] president."

Mining bosses targeted on safety. Busrep of 8 September 2008. ' Mining industry chief executives could be held legally accountable for health and safety at their operations as soon as next year if the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) convinces MPs to back an amendment to the Mine Health and Safety Act. Frans Baleni, the NUM general secretary, said at the mine health and safety summit on Friday that the union was proposing the amendment before the end of this year's parliamentary session. Baleni said chief executives should be held accountable for safety in the same way they are held accountable by their shareholders for financial performance. If there is an accident, and a miner or official is found to have been negligent, the chief executive of the company should be held accountable together with that miner or official, he said. In terms of the union's proposal, when a company or person was found negligent for mine safety, the matter the should be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority, which could result in the person being jailed or fined. Baleni said Canada, which had one of the best records of mine safety in the world, had laws that held mining company accounting officers or chief executives directly accountable for health and safety. Sipho Nkosi, the chief executive of Exxaro and president of the Chamber of Mines, said various Mine Health and Safety Act amendments were being negotiated and debated. The proposed amendments would result in the mining industry taking safety "even more seriously". Nkosi did not think it was a bad idea for mining bosses to be held accountable for health and safety. "We have said it [safety] starts at the top - it starts with the chief executive."  Nkosi said the mining industry supported zero harm and the 2013 health and safety targets set in 2003. In terms of these targets, the industry aims to reduce the number of fatalities to one for every 33 million hours worked by 2013. Last year there was one fatality for every 4.5 million hours worked. The mining industry has to improve its safety rates by 28 percent a year to achieve these benchmarks. Nkosi said incentive schemes in mining needed to shift from being based on production to giving health and safety precedence. "All health and safety incidents are preventable," he said, adding that the industry was facing a "dramatic shortage of skills, especially safety representatives and inspectors". Sputnik Ratau, the spokesperson for the minerals and energy minister, said the proposals for amendments were going through the normal parliamentary process, which had included submissions by the NUM. Baleni said the NUM was seeking an amendment to increase fines for safety negligence from R200 000 an accident up to 10 percent of the company's revenue. Meanwhile, the department of minerals and energy is seeking to raise the fine to R1 million an accident.

Safety strategy slashes ore resources. 'Gold Fields' ore resources fell 12 percent, partly because it had cut dangerous areas out of its mining plan, the company said yesterday. As a result of a safety review, "600 000 ounces of reserves in pillar and remnant areas at Driefontein have been removed", said Africa's second-largest gold producer, adding that 500 000 ounces were removed at Kloof mine. Total reserves were slashed to 83 million ounces of gold from 94 million ounces at the end of 2006. Nick Holland, the chief executive, reviewed safety at all of the company's mines after nine workers died in an accident at South Deep mine on May 1, the day he assumed his position following the departure of Ian Cockerill. The government, concerned about a rise in mine deaths last year, has undertaken a national audit of high-risk mines this year.South Africa has some of the world's deepest and most dangerous gold mines. More than 54 000 gold mine workers have been killed in in the country over the past century.

Miner killed in Kroondal accident. Busrep of 8 September 2008. 'A mineworker died after an accident at Kroondal Platinum Mine in the North West, Aquarius Platinum South Africa said on Saturday. The accident happened on Friday night when an employee of mining contractor Redpath Mining was fatally injured by a load-haul dump vehicle.
An inspection was conducted on Friday night by Aquarius's management, the inspectorate for safety and health from the department of minerals and energy, Redpath Mining management, and union representatives. Operations using trackless equipment have been suspended at the shaft where the accident occurred, and the drivers of load-haul dump vehicles are being retrained. Solidarity spokesperson Reint Dykema said it seemed there was "an accident a day". The miner's death came a day after mining bosses, state officials and trade unionists held a health and safety summit to discuss ways of reducing accidents and fatalities in the sector. Minister of minerals and energy Buyelwa Sonjica said 116 people had died in the industry in the eight months to August, compared with 142 people in the same period last year. Thirty-four people have died in the US mines during the same period, according to the US Mine Safety and Health Administration. Australian and Canadian national mine annual fatalities figures are not available. Last year deaths at South African mines rose 10 percent when compared with 2006. The department of minerals and energy has started to shut down mines and shafts more regularly to address this issue.

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