Coal mine accidents as in all businesses, it is primarily necessary to take precautions against occupational accidents and occupational dis eases in the mining industry. Rsa main commodities fatality rates jan 2003 april 2004 0 0. Road traffic accident deaths in south africa, 20012006. Case study on extractive industries prepared for the. It is however the occurrence of repeat accidents that remains a nightmare to safety and health officials. The mine s owners, anglo american, said noone had survived the disaster and the countrys most powerful union has accused them of gross negligence. Simons associate professor of native law and administration, university of cape town detained during the south african state of emergency in i960 thirtysix thousand1 men have been killed in accidents on the gold mines since the beginning of the century. South african gold and platinum mines has been carried out by rock mechanics personnel on mines in terms of the code of practice to combat rockburst and rock fall accidents on mines cop. Occupational health and safety in t miningstatus, new. Unravelling safety compliance in the mining industry. A major difference between south africa and other major mining countries is the depth of gold mines, the labour intensiveness of gold and platinum. Machinery and transportation and mining accidents injury rates 1995 2004 0.
Trends and causes of fatalities in south african mines. This paper describes the analysis of fatal accidents of indian coal mines from april 1989 to march 1998. An introduction to south african accident statistics many workers have an intuitive feeling that work in south african factories and mines is dangerous. The mining wardens inquiry report into the moura no.
In 2007, the total fatality figure amounted to 221 legal mineworkers. The journal of the south african institute of mining and metallurgy august 2004 411 introduction mine hoist operation carries particular risk of crash type accidents at the upper and lower extremities of the hoisting range. Furthermore, a number of factors combine to increase the severity of the consequences that such an accident could have. More than 170 mineworkers are killed at kinross mine, south africa.
In 196, the last year for which we have detailed figures. Electrical accidents in which electric current is most directly responsible for the resulting accident. The mining indaba, currently the worlds largest mining investment conference and africas largest mining event, is taking place in cape town from february 6 to 9. An introduction to south african accident statistics. Mitigating the risk of rockbursts in the deep hard rock. This paper aims to redress these lacunae by analysing trends and the prin cipal causes of fatal occupational accidents and disasters in the south african mining industry. Mine fatalities in sa rise for first time in decade fin24.
On february 5 exactly a year ago, three employees at the lily mine near barberton in mpumalanga lost their lives. South africaas gold companies are already mining at the worldas deepest depths, with gold fields digging more than 4, 120m at its driefontein mine. A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals or metals. Employers depend a great deal on safety management.
It is a tragedy that history is often repeated and the lessons from previous accidents and disasters seem to be forgotten or ignored. Coal mining is considered much more hazardous than hard rock mining due to flatlying rock strata, generally incompetent rock, the presence of methane gas. In response to the tension between production and safety compliance, the national union of mine workers num declared a oneday strike on 02 november 2007 in protest against death. The tragic accident which occurred at lily mine outside barberton in mpumalanga on the 5th of february 2016 continues to occupy the hearts and minds of all south africans. While injuries from falling rocks are decreasing, accidents related to seismic activity and rockbursts where rock. Mining companies spend millions on safety equipment and safety training. Jan 19, 2017 the tragic accident which occurred at lily mine outside barberton in mpumalanga on the 5th of february 2016 continues to occupy the hearts and minds of all south africans.
South african fatality and injury statistics for mine accidents are investigated. We also follow case studies that, in our view, provide good examples that support. Ptsd symptoms might persist for more than 30 days after exposure to traumatic mine accident or occur after a delay of months to years. The coalbrook mining disaster is the worst mining disaster in the history of south africa.
The situation at vaal reefs is a reflection of the general state of affairs in south african mines. It is the worst accident in south african mining history. For a union wanting to take action over hazardous work, accident statistics can be very useful to help focus campaigns on the most dangerous industries and jobs. More than 170 mineworkers are killed at kinross mine, south. It is found that indian mines have considerably higher accident and fatality rates compared to those in usa and south africa, respectively. Under the mine health and safety act mhsa2, the primary responsibility for ensuring a healthy and safe environment rests on the employer.
About 950 gold miners were stuck underground in south africa on thursday after a power cut, the mines owner said, though the workers were not reported to be in immediate danger. Collapses, explosions and strikes have caused the worst mining disasters over the years. Reducing accidents in the mining industryan integrated approach. A number of major mining accidents happened in south africa including the following accidents.
From coalbrook mine to marikana, mbali zwane lists the deadliest mine accidents in south african history. The deaths of many illegal mineworkers however also raised concerns about the dangers of illegal mining as well as wider concerns over the mining health and safety standards for south african mining. During 2002 the northwest region experienced the worst. The development of south africas mining industry, and how it laid the foundations for apartheid although some mining had taken place in what is now south africa centuries before europeans arrived, 1 the modern mining industry emerged as the major shaper of south africas economy and race relations in the latter half of the 19 th century.
Fatal and nonfatal data are presented in order to show that mine workers thoughts and experiences are consistent with the realities of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Entrapment in accidents involving no injuries or nonfatal injuries which are not serious, entrapment of mine workers takes precedence over roof falls, explosives accidents, inundations, etc. Mine fatalities in south africa rise first time in decade. Table 2 accident data published in dmea annual report 1990 for all south african mines surface and underground employees class of mine year deaths death injuries injury rate rate all mines 1989 735 1988 674 gold mines 1989 549 1988 510 coal mines 1989 54 1988 53 0. In 2009, the total fatality figure amounted to 169 workers. While open cast mines are generally known to be safer than. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in the south. Mines are further subdivided into surface and underground mining. The mines owners, anglo american, said noone had survived the disaster and the countrys most powerful union has accused them of gross negligence. We also follow case studies that, in our view, provide good examples that support our previous observations and suggest the potential for a. Saas deadliest mine disasters in numbers the daily vox. Pdf this paper aims to demonstrate how a systemic approach can be applied to the analysis of the causes of accidents in south african mines. The disaster occurred in the coalbrook coal mine of clydesdale colliery on 21 january 1960 at around 19. Worst mining disasters in south africa december 28, 2018 jarwato disaster foundation brazil s samarco to pay 512 5m disaster the world s worst coal mining disasters global business reports safety in turkish mines adani boss jeyaar janakaraj failed to disclose link the world s worst coal mining disasters.
Searchers have now retrieved 56 bodies from the wreckage of a gold mine accident in orkney, south africa. South africas gold companies are already mining at the worlds deepest depths, with gold. An individual who, being subject to the federal mine safety and health act of 1977 30 u. Trends and causes of fatalities in south african mines sciencedirect. Published papers deal with medical, legal, economic, educational, behavioral, theoretical or empirical aspects of. The most common accidents occurring in the mining industry are the result of poisonous or explosive gases or mishaps relating to the use of explosives for blasting operations. Explosion risk assessment model for underground mine. Conditions have improved in the decades since whitesonly rule ended in 1994 a year in which 484 workers died. Constitution of the republic of south africa, 1996 labour relations amendment act 66 of 1996 mine health and safety act 29 of 1995 minerals petroleum resources and development act 28 of 2002 mining charter 2010 occupational diseases in mines and works. In the guideline for the compilation of a mandatory cop to combat rock fall and rockburst accidents in tabular metalliferous mines dme, 2007, the. Underwind and overwind protection systems with enhanced.
Review of trends in the south african mining industry in 2005, coal and platinum group metals pgms overtook gold as the biggest revenuegenerating commodities. About 950 gold miners were stuck underground in south africa on thursday after a power cut, the mine s owner said, though the workers were not reported to be in immediate danger. Coal provides 70% of the primary energy in china and has expanded along with the increase in energy demand. Despite all the training some accidents are unavoidable. South africa has gone from being by far the deadliest place to work in a mine to ranking near rivals including the us and canada for fatality rates. According to the international energy agency, iea, coal use has never stopped increasing.
South africa s gold companies are already mining at the worlds deepest depths, with gold. The frequency and severity of underground coal mine disasters continued to decline in the 1950s and 1960s. Lost time due to accidents is recorded in three categories. Mine fatalities in south africa rise first time in decade by. Many mine safety practitioners believed the day of major disasters had come to an end, until a major explosion tore through the farmington no. The two subsequent major falls of ground that occurred a week after the initial accident caused further deterioration of ground conditions and contributed to the complexity. In this years edition of state of mining in africa in the spotlight, we take a further look at, and reflect back on, our observations to see how the broad industry is progressing. Fiftyeight that is the number of workers who have died in south african mines to date this year compared with 51 during the same period in 2017. Death toll in masakhane mine accident rises to seven. The journal of the south african institute of mining and metallurgy volume 105 refereed paper november 2005 introduction fatal accidents in the northwest mining region of south africa have increased significantly since 1999 see figure 11. Reducing accidents in the mining industryan integrated. Evaluation of risk of rock fall accidents t in gold mine. However, pgms retained the top spot on the back of a stronger price recovery. While expansion is critical for employment and economic growth in south africa, it cannot be done at the expense of health and safety.
Few countries in the world are as renowned as south africa for the sharp contrast between extravagant wealth and luxury on the one hand, and extreme poverty and destitution on the other. In 2009 it looked as though coal would be able to dislodge pgms as the biggest revenue generator. Safety and health toolbox talks centers for disease. Dec 07, 2017 mine fatalities in south africa rise first time in decade by. The death toll as a result of seismic events at sibanyestillwaters masakhane mine in driefontein near carletonville on the west rand has risen to seven the company confirmed on saturday. Mitigating the risk of rockbursts in the deep hard rock mines. We would like to share a few ideas and suggestions on how to prevent repeat accidents. Discussions of trends in south african mine accident statistics tend to focus on reportable accidents rather than fatal accidents, despite the fact that re portable. More than 170 mineworkers are killed at kinross mine.
Australian and south african rates suggest that miners are 45 times more likely to lose their lives in mine accidents in south africa than in australia. Since 1936 more than 23,000 africans have died on the golctnines. Coalbrook north colliery was one of the underground collieries of clydesdale transvaal collieries limited and was situated near sasolburg in the. The coalbrook colliery disaster, in which 435 men died, occurred in january 1960. India, australia, russia, indonesia, south africa, germany and poland1. Proceedings of the 5th international mine ventilation congress ed r, hemp, johannesburg, republic of south africa, october 1992, pp. Accident, illness and injury and employment selfextracting files part 50. Despite the decrease in number of injuries and fatalities, the national union of metalworkers numsa have called on the dmr to amend the mine health and safety act 29 of 1996 mhsa to guarantee the arrest and criminal prosecution of mine bosses following fatalities and injuries in south africa. Eight accidents have been included from south africa. The trends and principal causes of occupational fatalities and disasters defined as six or more fatalities in one incident in the south african mining industry are. The death toll from mining accidents was 270 deaths in 2003. Iclg mining laws and regulations south africa covers common issues in mining laws and regulations including the mechanics of acquisition of rights, foreign ownership and indigenous ownership requirements and restrictions, processing, beneficiation in 28 jurisdictions.
Wording of sections 2 the employer of a mine that is not being worked, but in respect of which a closure certificate in terms of the mineral and petroleum resources and development act has not been issued, must take reasonable steps to continuously prevent injuries, illhealth, loss of life or damage of any kind from occurring at or because of the mine. The event is the latest in a series of mishaps in recent months at sibanyestillwaters mines that have left workers killed, injured or trapped, angering unions who accuse the company of negligence. The accident analysis framework used was developed previously by the. South african mine accident statistics the largest proportion of miners in south africa are employed in deep level gold mines. For a union wanting to take action over hazardous work, accident statistics can be very useful to help focus campaigns on. Exmine workers, still seeking compensation for injuries and ill. Mining 2020 laws and regulations south africa iclg. The deeper miners go, the richer the ore being uncovered.
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