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The Minerals Council South Africa and its members will do all they can to achieve zero harm and will continue working on real, tangible plans and actions to reach its goal by working closely with labour and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE).

In 2022, the mining industry reported 49 deaths, down from 74 in the year before. This was its lowest-ever number of fatalities.

The mining industry had its first ever fatality-free January, which was also the first calendar month without a fatality.

“This is not an achievement. It is a milestone – an encouraging one – on our journey to zero harm. We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of those who died in 2022,” says Japie Fullard, chair of the Minerals Council’s CEO Zero Harm Forum.

The biggest step change came in the reduction of fatalities linked to falls of ground, which has historically been a major source of deaths on South Africa’s underground mines. This aspect of mining has come under intense scrutiny, analysis, and programmes developed in the Minerals Council and its members, with open sharing of learnings.

In 2022, six people died in falls of ground compared to 20 the year before. In 2007, the industry reported 76 fatalities related to falls of ground.

Another key focus is using the mining industry’s 475,500 employees to identify hazards in and to withdraw from unsafe working areas until they are rectified, says Mr Fullard.

“For us to just hold hands and say we are working towards zero harm means nothing. It’s what we actually do as partners – the Minerals Council, the DMRE, organised labour and original equipment manufacturers – with everyone on the same side, to make a difference on this journey,” he says.

Issued by The Minerals Council South Africa