Mine Health and Safety Council
Presentation to Gold Industry Safety
Working Group
Potchefstroom
Navin Singh
1
Contents
– The Road to Zero Harm
– MHSC Mandate
– MHSC Overview
– MHSC Objectives
– MHSC Initiatives
– Attaining ZERO HARM
– Conclusions
2
Health and Safety Yardstick
Occupational Safety – Fatalities and Injuries – Milestones
Industry Target: Zero
rate of fatalities and
injuries
In the Gold Sector: By 2013, achieve safety performance levels equivalent
to at least current international benchmarks for underground
metalliferous mines
In the Platinum, Coal and Other Sectors: By 2013, achieve constant and
continuous improvement equivalent to at least current international
benchmarks
Occupational Health – Milestones
Industry Target:
Elimination of
Silicosis
Industry target:
Elimination of Noise
Induced Hearing Loss
(NIHL)
By December 2008, 95% of all exposure measurement results will be below
the occupational exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica of
0.1mg/m3 (these results are individual readings and not average
results)
After December 2013, using present diagnostic techniques, no new cases
of silicosis will occur amongst previously unexposed individuals
(Previously unexposed individuals = individuals unexposed prior to
2008, i.e. equivalent to a new person entering the industry in 2008)
After December 2008, the hearing conservation programme implemented
by the industry must ensure that there is no deterioration in hearing
greater that 10% amongst occupationally exposed individuals
By December 2013, the total noise emitted by all equipment installed in any
workplace must not exceed a sound pressure level of 110dB(A) at any
location in that workplace (includes individual pieces of equipment)
Health and Safety Yardstick
Occupational Safety – Fatalities and Injuries – Milestones
Industry Target: Zero
rate of fatalities and
injuries
Benchmark less than 1 fatality per 33 million hours worked by 2013
Occupational Health – Milestones
Industry Target:
Elimination of
Silicosis
Industry target:
Elimination of Noise
Induced Hearing Loss
(NIHL)
No new cases of silicosis for new employees from 2008
Deterioration < 10%
Noise from any & all equipment < 110 dB(A)
The Target
ZERO
HARM
5
Our track record - Safety
Our track record - Safety
THE
CHALLENGE
REMAINS
Safety vs. Health
• Prior to 2003 milestones, focus was on safety
• Respirable related deaths approx 80%
Health – Silicosis
• Silicosis
• OEL of 0.1 mg.m-3
• Country as a whole has
steadily regressed.
• Only 3/9 provinces
showing upward trend
• GP, NW, FS combined
have largest workforce
– 70%, 85% 70%
compliance only
Health - Occupational Diseases
• Same areas in the last
few years
• SILICOSIS
• TB
• NIHL
Our track record - Safety
• Prior to 2003 milestones,
focus was on safety
• Respirable related deaths
approx 80%
Safety Statistics - Machinery and Transport
Excerpt from summary of Accidents as per DMR website
July 2009
• worker was killed when he was caught between two hoppers
• A driver lost control of the truck and it drove into a construction crew, killing two workers
• A worker was killed when he was caught between a hopper and the sidewall
• In another fatal accident a worker died when he was struck by a scraper rope whilst conducting
cleaning operations
• A worker died when he was caught between a loader bucket and a dump truck
June 2009
• A worker was squashed to death between the Continous Miner machine and the rib side whilst
walking past it
• A worker using a cloth to touch a rotating rod, when the cloth was caught and he was pulled into the
rotating shaft
• Forklift overturned on a dirt road and fatally injured driver
April 2009
• A worker was killed when he was squashed between a hopper and a redundant ventilation door
frame
February 2009
• A worker fatally injured when he was run over by the leading hopper of a locomotive span
• An operator sat upright in the scoop and died when he got his head caught between the roof and the
machine when he reversed
• A locomotive bumped into another, the caboose derailed slightly and unfortunately bumped into the
a worker
Safety Statistics - Machinery and Transport
Excerpt from summary of Accidents as per DMR website
July 2009
• worker was killed when he was caught between two hoppers
• A driver lost control of the truck and it drove into a construction crew, killing two workers
• A worker was killed when he was caught between a hopper and the sidewall
• In another fatal accident a worker died when he was struck by a scraper rope whilst conducting
cleaning operations
• A worker died when he was caught between a loader bucket and a dump truck
June 2009
• A worker was squashed to death between the Continous Miner machine and the rib side whilst
walking past it
• A worker using a cloth to touch a rotating rod, when the cloth was caught and he was pulled into the
rotating shaft
• Forklift overturned on a dirt road and fatally injured driver
April 2009
• A worker was killed when he was squashed between a hopper and a redundant ventilation door
frame
February 2009
• A worker fatally injured when he was run over by the leading hopper of a locomotive span
• An operator sat upright in the scoop and died when he got his head caught between the roof and the
machine when he reversed
• A locomotive bumped into another, the caboose derailed slightly and unfortunately bumped into the
a worker
Fatigue – A factor?
• It was first postulated that
accidents occur on either
side of shut-down periods.
• Close inspection shows
accidents peak around
10H00
• If one assumes that a shift
starts at 05H00 in the morning
and would end at 13H00
• approximately 26% of accidents
occur within the first three
hours of the start shift
• Approximately 60% of
accidents occur within by
12H30.
• Shifts may be 8 hours but what
is the true start times and end
times?
• Influenced by nutrition, fluid
intake, health and medication
The road to ZERO HARM
• Attaining ZERO HARM is a journey
• Long
• Windy
• Very bumpy
• SAMI has achieved major
successes but the challenge is
ever-constant.
MHSC Mandate
•
•
•
•
•
Advise the Minister on all occupational health
and safety issues in the mining industry
relating to legislation, research and promotion
Review and develop legislation for
recommendation to the Minister
Promote health and safety in the mining
industry
Oversee research in relation to health and
safety in the mining industry
Liaise with other bodies concerned with health
and safety issues
17
MHSC Overview
Mine Health and Safety
Council
State
Labour
Employers
Audit and Risk
Committee (ARC)
Mining Regulations
Advisory Committee
(MRAC)
Legislation
Regulations
Guidelines
Standards
Mining Occupational
Health Advisory
Committee (MOHAC)
Health Policy
Health information
Health regulations
Research input
Safety in Mines Research
Advisory Committee
(SIMRAC)
Research needs
Research
programmes
Mining Industry
HIV/AIDS and TB
Advisory Committee
(MITHAC)
HIV/AIDS and TB
programmes
Operational Execution and Implementation
18
MHSC Research Priorities and Process
Total Fatalities per Classification
Total Fatalities per Classification
• Analysis of OHS performance
EXP
2%
Step 1
EXP
2%
• Review of previously conducted research
GEN
14%
GEN
14%
MISC
3%
EL
3%
FF
7%
RB
8%
MAC
7%
Step 2
Step 3
• Latest Developments in OHS (national and
international)
• Development of Key Focus Area
Step 5
• Project Execution
Step 6
• Transfer of Research Outcomes
Step 7
M ISC
3%
FOG
38%
M AC
7%
EL
3%
FF
7%
RB
8%
TMM
18%
FOG
38%
TM M
18%
Research determination for OHS
Thrust Area
Research Area
Number of Research projects
1
Human Factors
2
Rockfalls
130
3
Rockburst
67
4
Fires and Explosions
47
5
Machinery and Transportation
99
14
Rock Related Research - Dynamic
• SIMRAC has funded more than 50
projects on rockbursts and
rockfalls, published handbooks,
textbooks and reader-friendly
informative booklets,
• South Africa is significantly more
advanced in terms of research
relating to the management of
rockburst risk.
• Handbooks that were developed
through SIMRAC that is used
predominantly by the deep level
gold mining rock engineers has
become a prescribed textbook at
the Universities of Witwatersrand
and Pretoria respectively.
Rock Related Research - Static
• 3 current research projects on
gravity-induced falls of ground
• Development of techniques for
monitoring the rockmass as
precursory events that would
indicate impending instability and
collapse.
• To assist in rock related
engineering issues from layout
design to support strategies on a
daily basis.
• Development of Rock Engineering
handbook for Platinum mines.
Rock Related Research - Static
• Investigating use of thermal imaging
and use of infrared to determine the
integrity of the hangingwall (roof) of the
excavation.
• The hypothesis that is being tested is
that “loose and potentially unstable
rock will have a lower temperature than
the surrounding more competent
rockmass”
Machinery and Transportation
Criteria: safe use of commercial personnel
transportation underground
Engineering and human factors in machinery and
transport accidents
GEN 702
CD Vol 4&5
COL 203
CD Vol 1
Ergonomics of machinery and transport
SIM 02 05 04
CD Vol 5
Factors affecting driver alertness
SIM 02 05 02
CD Vol 5
Guidelines for the development of safer use of mobile
COL 341
machines
Hazard recognition learning programmes in
GAP 857
transportation thrust area
CD Vol 1
CD Vol 4&5
Investigate/recommend coupling systems : rail-bound
GAP 703
vehicles
CD Vol 3
Methods to combat mud rushes in diamond and base
OTH 601
metal mines
CD Vol 4&5
Dust
Silicosis Eradication Programme Phase 2 - Track A
SIM 03 06 03a CD Vol 06
Silicosis Eradication Programme Phase 2 - Track B
SIM 03 06 03b CD Vol 06
Silicosis Eradication Programme Phase 2 - Track C
SIM 03 06 03c CD Vol 06
Status (base lining) of noise & dust exposure
SIM 06 06 01
Quantification of dust generating sources in gold & platinum
mines
Monitoring and techniques for personal gravimetric dust
sampling
Investigation of Crystalline Phases in Silica Fume
GAP 802
CD Vol 5
GAP 046
CD Vol 1
SIM 02 06 01
CD Vol 5
Enhancement of gravimetric dust sampling
Direct (real-time) estimation of occupational dust exposure
GAP 326
HEALTH 704
CD Vol 1
CD Vol
4&5
Noise
Methods whereby noise levels of mining
equipment may be reduced
Evaluation of new methods for NIHL screening
and diagnosis
GEN 420
CD Vol 2&2
SIM
020701
CD Vol 5
MHSC Initiatives- OHS Summit
Health and Safety
Culture
Learning industry
• Implement culture
transformation
framework
• Establish Centre of
• Eliminate Silicosis
Excellence for research,
research implementation and • Eliminate NIHL
capacity-building focusing on:
• Eliminate falls of Ground
• Improve OHS capacity
• Improve tripartite
relations
Healthy and Safe
Workplaces
• Eliminate transport and
• Ensure implementation • Reduce illiteracy in the mining
machinery accidents
sector
of summit commitments
• Increase scarce skills that are • Improve lifestyle of mine
critical to OHS
workers
• Improve monitoring of
occupation diseases
• Integrate and simplify
compensation system
27
MHSC Initiatives- HIV/AIDS & TB Summit
• At the Summit in November 2011, the principals agreed to work to
the three pillars on HIV/AIDS, TB and Silicosis in the mining sector
• PREVENTION
• TREATMENT, CARE AND
SUPPORT
• RESEARCH, MONITORING
& SURVEILLANCE
• In total there are 22 areas
focus.
28
MHSC Initiatives- Culture Transformation
• At the Summit in November 2011,
the principals launched the Culture
Transformation Framework
• 11 pillars were identified
• Each focussing on various aspects
that would improve the attitude and
approach to OHS in the sector.
• Stakeholder prioritised 5 of the
pillars.
PILLAR
1
INTEGRATED MINING ACTIVITIES
2
RISK MANAGEMENT*
3
TECHNOLOGY
4
LEADING PRACTICE*
5
ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION*
6
BONUSES AND PERFORMANCE
INCENTIVES*
7
TRIPARTISM
8
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
9
INSPECTORATE
10
DATA
11
LEADERSHIP*
• Focus is on promotion and
implementation of the CTF
29
MHSC Initiatives- Centre of Excellence
• The MHSC will fund the Centre of Excellence in line with an
approved Business Plan for the Centre.
• The MHSC will ensure that leadership of the Centre
implement a strategic plan in a coordinated and
comprehensive manner in line with the mandate of the
MHSC and purpose of the Centre.
• The MHSC will consider the Centre of Excellence as a
provider of choice for research and capacity building as the
Centre develops its own capacity to deliver.
30
MHSC Initiatives- research programme
Project name
Investigation into surface activity of
airborne particles in the gold, platinum
and coal mining environment’
Adverse Health Impacts from Dust
Tailings Facilities
Objectives
Draft best practice manuals for sector with
regards physicochemical properties of respirable
dust samples
Year 2 will consolidate the preliminary studies
associated with the dust from Tailings Facilities.
Characterising the Risk of Human To understand the risks from exposure to AMD
Exposure and Health Impacts from AMD
in SA
Fluid Induced Seismicity (FIS)
To assess the Risk posed to Jhb and
surrounding areas from FIS from abandoned
mined
Integration of national seismic network To integrate the mine network with the national
and the mine networks
network
Noise Control for Fans and Other Sources To finalise the testing of equipment for sound
levels and to negate sources of sound prior to
sending the underground
Technology Transfer
Technology Transfer Opportunities
Paradigm Shift Required
32
Paradigm Shift Required
Attaining ZERO HARM
Skills,
capacity
and
training
Each set is critically important to the
reach the target…
Zero
Harm
The right mind set….
Doing the right things….
With the right support….
Health and
Safety
Culture
Relevant
knowledge
and
information
OHS initiatives sector perspective
• Poor track record on dissemination
• Poor track record on implementation
• Mining Charter forces employers to focus on
research
• How does the MHSC initiatives reach the target
audience?
• How do issues on the ground reach the MHSC?
Promotion of the MHSC
• Regional Tripartite Forums provide ideal
opportunity for shared
• MHSC will support such initiatives
• Currently dominated by safety issues
• If 80% of mine deaths are HEALTH related why
are health issues not brought to the fore?
Attaining ZERO HARM
The MHSC continues to work
tirelessly to make a
meaningful contribution
towards the realisation of
ZERO HARM at South African
mines.
Reaching the industry’s 2013
milestones is indeed a
mammoth task that calls for
dedication and co-operation
from all
Outputs: Value
Created
Inputs
Coordination of
Tripartite
arrangements
OHS Levies
Mine Health and
Safety Data
Skills and
expertise
Liaison with
other
organisations
Research into
Mining Health
and Safety issues
Development and
comment on
Legislation and
Guidelines
Improved
standards of OHS
in mining sector
Advice to the
Minister regarding
Mine OHS
A centre of
Mining OHS
Knowledge
Promote Culture
of OHS in Mining
Industry
Clients /Partners
Mining Industry, Mining Labour Unions, Department of Mineral Resources, Mining
Qualifications Authority, HEIs, research centres
Conclusion
Driven by
ZERO HARM
ZERO HARM is not just about SAFETY but HEALTH as well
“who is going to drive the bus?”
the time for talking is over
ZERO HARM THROUGH ACTION
Thank you
Mine Health and Safety Council
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