Mining companies’ pregnancy polices need to guide mine management teams and protect the health and safety of pregnant female employees, says diamond mining group Petra Diamonds operational foreman Kagiso Mothoa.

These policies must include protection measures for pregnant employees, the risks and responsibilities of the employer and the employee, maternity leave and the occupational risks associated with employees working while pregnant.

Mothoa points out that companies need to review their current working environments and implement protective measures and make adjustments to protect pregnant women.

“Mines need to identify alternative positions for the women up to a period of six months and until when they stop breastfeeding. This is according to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997, which also says that the alternative employment terms and condition should not be less favourable than her ordinary terms and conditions of employment,” she states.

Conversely, Mothoa stresses that pregnant employees have several responsibilities to fulfil. She says that the employee must report to their supervisors when they become aware of the pregnancy.

“The employee must go on maternity leave four weeks before her due date and she must not return to work sooner than six weeks after the birth of the child,” Mothoa comments.

She adds that employees must notify their employer in writing the start and end date of maternity.

Further, Mothoa points out that pregnant women need to be more aware of hazardous areas on mines, such as when climbing up and down stairs, as they can slip and fall, which can cause back pain and injury to the foetus and mother.

“Noisy areas can elevate blood pressure, while high vibration areas can cause miscarriages, stillbirths or premature labour. It is also important for pregnant workers to avoid working in areas with radiation as this may cause abnormalities to the unborn baby,” she warns.

Mothoa adds that areas on a mine that may be extremely hot or cold can be a hazard for lactating women as they may become dizzy or faint.

She says that recommended alternative positions for women to work in while pregnant at a mine include working in the lamp room, being a shaft clerk, working on the mine’s stores, doing planner clerk work, administration clerk work or working in the laboratory (depending on the type of mine).

Other temporary positions include change house helpers, cleaners, human resources clerks, gardeners, admin cleaner, grease room assistance, admin assistant or a secretary.

Mothoa notes that Petra has undertaken analysis of pregnancies at its Cullinan diamond mine, in Gauteng, over the past three years.

“This analysis determined that there was a probability that at least seven women a year are likely to fall pregnant at Cullinan. Therefore, if we have a total of 70 core women, we are expecting a ratio of 1:10 women falling pregnant,” she highlights.

Based on this data, Mothoa says she recommends that women working in top positions try to identify women working in lower positions who are qualified enough to act in their position in cases where they need to go on leave for pregnancy-related matters.

“Women that have to go on maternity leave should at least receive four months of fully paid maternity leave. It should not be the case that women are seemingly being punished for giving birth. Moreover, employers should support their women mine employees during the challenging pregnancy term and the early months when the mother has to nurse her child by assisting them financially, emotionally and at the workplace accordingly,” she asserts.

Mothoa believes that mining companies should establish daycare centres at or near to their operations to accommodate the working hours of women employees.

“A nurse should be employed to vaccinate the children and to examine them for any other medical concerns, which would ensure that they are treated quickly and avoid their mothers having to take off work to care for them,” she concludes.

Mothoa was speaking at training and conferencing company Intelligence Transfer Centre’s recent Women in Mining conference, which took place in Johannesburg.