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Safety is pivotal for deep-level mining

28th June 2013

By: Zandile Mavuso

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

  

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Companies that are active in South Africa’s gold mining industry face operational difficulties with regard to the nature of deep-level mining. Safety is the top priority for Redpath Mining contractors on its shaft rehabilitation project at gold producer Gold Field’s South Deep gold mine, southwest of Johannesburg, in Gauteng.

“We are currently at 373 injury- free days and 843 lost-time injury-free days, after starting work at South Deep in May 2006, when we were responsible for fixing the Main shaft (Twin shaft) after a skid had fallen down the shaft,” says Redpath Mining site manager Jan van Antwerp.

“In September 2007, we moved to the South shaft where we are currently busy with shaft rehabilitation work. At the South shaft, we are responsible for rehabilitating four shafts – the Main shaft and the three subshafts comprising SV 1, SV 2 and SV 3,” he adds.

Redpath Mining is maintaining a high level of safety at all its operations. With its Fatality Prevention Programme (FPP) achieving a one-year fatality-free record on May 29 at its South Deep operation, Redpath Mining MD Ockert Douglas points out that “safety is a core value of our business, which contributes towards a sustainable future for the current and future employees of our business”.

Douglas states that the recently introduced FPP, which was rolled out at all their operations, is aimed at developing and maintaining a commitment from all the Redpath employees worldwide to work towards a fatality- and injury-free industry.

“The programme is fully endorsed by the Redpath management team, each of whom has adopted and promoted the safety culture that we are aiming to establish at our operations. My responsibility is to urge everybody to actively participate in fulfilling the objectives of this programme,” adds Douglas.

Van Antwerp mentions that, with deep-level mining becoming more dangerous, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain safety measures. However, the FPP has proved that Redpath is coping well under the circumstances.

Creamer Media’s Research Channel Africa’s ‘Gold 2013’ report states that South Africa’s gold mines are already the deepest in the world and deep-level mining has significant financial challenges, as it is particularly expensive. Mining in South Africa generally faces notable cost increases, including increased labour costs. However, efforts are under way to develop new technologies to unlock the potential of the country’s deep-level reserves in a safe and sustainable manner.

“Firstly, the deeper the mining, the higher the temperatures, which means that a company needs more refrigeration, which is costly. Secondly, risk increases with depth and companies have to mine the correct areas and be systematic to ensure mining does not affect its surrounding areas, as blasting can affect the neighbouring shafts,” explains Van Antwerp.

Meanwhile, in May, Redpath Mining reduced its personnel from 57 to 26 at its shaft rehabil- itation project at South Deep.

“The mining sector is experiencing tough times and a lot of mining companies are reducing their workforces. It is quite challenging, given the existing safety challenges that we face. However, the remaining 26 staff members are highly skilled, they understand the dangers of working in a shaft and how the job does not allow any room for error,” highlights Van Antwerp.

The ‘Gold 2013’ report further states that, ultimately, the impact of labour activity is far wider than its effect on output and operations. Gold Fields has noted that “mining companies suffered not only significant earnings losses but also a breakdown of trust and common purpose between employees and employers, which will require a significant effort to restore. “Specifically, a new engagement model needs to be estab- lished, whereby mining companies no longer rely solely on trade unions to communicate with employees. Instead, direct contact needs to be established and regularly maintained [to gain] first-hand understanding of the concerns and aspirations of employees”.

Redpath Mining is an international company that offers its services in different commodities. “We are in the process of expanding beyond South Africa and into other African countries. “We have recently seen positive results from the FPP at one of our operations, in Botswana, and we believe that we can serve a wider and greater market in Africa through this programme,” concludes Douglas.

Edited by Megan van Wyngaardt
Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

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