Harmony's Kusasalethu mine
Harmony Gold Mining has reported the death of an employee owing to a seismic-induced fall-of-ground (FoG) event at its Kusasalethu mine, near Carletonville, on April 30.
CEO Peter Steenkamp has expressed the company’s condolences to the family of the deceased, who was integral to the Kusasalethu team as a night shift team leader.
Steenkamp says he is deeply disappointed by this loss of life, especially considering the significant efforts Harmony has made to foster a safety culture within the organisation.
Work in the affected section of the mine has been temporarily ceased, while a comprehensive internal investigation is underway.
Safety continues to be at the core of the company’s values, Steenkamp concludes.
FoG-related deaths have been a particular concern for the South African mining industry in recent years, resulting in Minerals Council South Africa’s CEO Zero Harm Leadership Forum, in July 2021, approving a six-pillar FoG Action Plan to tackle this challenge.
Initiatives implemented by the mining industry made some inroads early this year, with no FoG-related deaths having been reported for January and February this year.