Our vision is to achieve Zero Harm, so that each and every employee can return home fit and well at the end of each shift.
Dave Morris, Group Head of Safety and Sustainable Development says, “We believe that all occupational illnesses are preventable and that even one injury is one too many. We simply do not accept that it is necessary for people to be injured whilst working for us. To this end we partner with our employees, contractors, suppliers, business partners and communities, to create and maintain a working environment that is without significant risk to their health and safety”.
In support of World day of safety and health at work, below are examples of some key initiatives that our businesses have implemented, which have helped us towards our ultimate goal of Zero Harm
New Denmark Colliery
At our New Denmark Colliery employees and contractors kicked off the fourth quarter last year with their eyes wide open following the launch of the mine’s innovative Bona Nonke campaign.
‘Bona Nonke’ is the Setswana and isiZulu expression for ‘look everybody’ and sends out the message that in order for us remain safe during this hazardous time of year, one needs to stop, proceed with caution and look closer and harder than ever to recognise the hazards that could possibly cause harm.
At each session, safety superintendent R.T. Koekemoer reminded the workforce of the importance of the fourth quarter awareness campaign, remembering colleague Gilbert Ntoanyane who regrettably and tragically lost his life at the operation in October 2013.
“We never, ever want to see an employee die or be seriously injured at our mine again,” he said. “We spend so much time in our working environment that things sometimes appear to be safe and correct but are clearly not.”
Fighting fatigue with family at Kumba Iron Ore
Fatigue is a major concern for us when it comes to the safety of our employees and their families. Watch how we work with our employees and their families to make sure they always get enough rest and stay safe.
Mechanising safety at our Bathopele mine
At our Platinum business, our safety philosophy is simple and powerful, and acts as the primary value that drives our uncompromising improvement towards higher safety levels. Bathopele platinum mine is a prime example. It is a relatively shallow ‘bord-and-pillar’ operation, and is a great example of how a modern South African mine is undergoing constant safety improvements.
When mining underground, we typically secured the area with what we call a cable anchor system. But this is cumbersome, time consuming, and requires our employees to work in fairly hazardous conditions.
After the fatal rock fall at Bathopele mine in 2013, steps were taken to upgrade the technology and to increase safety all round. The latest Flexi Bolt system is at the core of this higher standard of safety.
Flexi Bolt is a mechanised roof bolting system which has gone through several development stages. In accordance with safety standards and using a mechanised bolter, one three meter hole is drilled into the hanging-wall-beam to prepare for the insertion of the Flexi Bolt system.
The Flexi Bolt system is faster and easier to install than a cable anchor system and not only are productivity and cost savings increased, but safety is raised to a new level.
Isibonelo proves that safety and productivity go hand-in-hand
Our Isibonelo colliery has proven that a safe mine is a productive one with its achievement of 365 lost time injury-free days and recent win as our most productive opencast mine.
The operation was awarded the Chairman’s Productivity Shield for open pit mines at Coal South Africa’s best in class awards in January, before reaching this impressive safety milestone seven days later.
Visible and approachable leadership, hands-on frontline supervision and significant emphasis on the identification and remedying of hazards have all been key success factors.
The clear, consistent application of standards and our people’s can-do attitude have also played a role in these successes. The mine management constantly remind our workforce that when it comes to safety they are not alone.
Isibonelo celebrated 7,000 fatality-free production shifts (FFPS) in January, and received a letter of congratulations from David Msiza, chief inspector of mines from the Department of Mineral Resources.
“An achievement of this nature is the result of dedicated leadership and a sustained effort of everyone on the mine to uphold high standards of health and safety,” said chief inspector Msiza.