With the recent revision of the Mine Health and Safety Act, the South African Department of Mineral Resources sent a clear message to miners to get their houses in order with regards to health and safety. The Department announced an allocation of ZAR 145 million in an attempt to improve the enforcement and procecution of South African mines that do not comply with the requirements of the Act.
The South African mining industry suffered 165 fatalities in 2009 and this seems to be priority for the DMR. The money will be divided three-ways to address shortcomings in legislation, the establishment of a new chief directorate for occupational health, and assessing the actions taken by mines to address issues in high-risk areas, prone to seismic events. It is apparent that the focus will move to mine management and holding them accountable under charges of criminal negligence.
Notwithstanding the direct financial implications of legal non-compliance (penalties can range from R 500 000 to R 3 000 000), mining operations can be halted, mining licences can be revoked and company directors and managers can be subject to imprisonment of up to 5 years. In a country where the mining sector is battling to benefit from the recent growth in commodity demand it is critical that mine owners and -management get their affairs in order. Mine health and safety is no longer a PR excercise - an injury to one is an injury to all.
