In the stope
the bad figures in 2017. We are
edging towards the goal of zero
harm in mining. Our fatality
frequency rates are comparable
with international benchmarks.
South Africa’s coal mines are
safer than coal mines in the US.
Remember, accidents in South
African mines have a devastating
effect on the extended families
of mine workers. One mine
worker takes care of about eight
dependents, on average. The
devastating impact of fatalities
and injuries is catastrophic —
families lose breadwinners.
The mining industry closed the
year having recorded more
than 80 fatalities. Why has the
fatality rate increased after a
few very good years?
Last year, a large number of
seismic-related fatalities occurred. It
is concerning that we finished 2017
with more than the 73 fatalities
recorded in 2016. The issues of
safety culture and behavioural
safety still need to be addressed.
What was your first-hand
experience when you worked
underground? Does the
culture of safety, or the lack
thereof, still have an impact
on the health and safety of
underground workers?
Hard-rock platinum and gold mines
are still labour intensive. The gold
mines’ shafts and infrastructure
are ageing. Walking distances to
the rock face are increasing, and
the risks in terms of depth and
fall of ground are now higher than
before. The Chamber is doing a
lot of technology-related research
focussing on mining with nets
and bolts to counteract the fall of
ground-related incidents and, of
course, issues of transport. Mining
transport is one of the biggest
causes of fatalities. We do look
at worker behaviour as well.
Who should ideally read
this book in the mining
environment?
Everybody really; the operators,
all managers. It can also be
used for induction and training
programmes in the mines, and
if it can be translated, the book
[30] MINING MIRROR MARCH 2018
should be provided to production
crews as well — it should be used
as an illustrative reference for
production teams, supervisors, and
mine captains. This book should
really be a guideline for each and
every team leader, shift boss, mine
captain, production manager,
general manager, and CEO.
Were you easily accepted by
the underground workers?
During the first few days, people
were a little shy, but with time
they accepted me. They were very
welcoming, and I became part
of the team. I could speak their
language, I am a black person,
and we could talk about soccer.
Wherever I went underground, I
observed, listened, and made notes.
I knew when they were happy,
and I always knew why they were
unhappy. The bonus system was
always a big point of discussion,
or the shortage of material.
How difficult is it to work in an
underground mine? What are
the challenges for those guys?
Look, mining at that level (3km)
is not for the faint-hearted. It
demands an element of bravery — it
is extremely hot and you sweat
profusely, despite the ventilation.
You must crawl in narrow stopes,
it is dark, rocks often obstruct
the way, and the hard hat is
important personal protective
clothing to wear on your head.
You must drink a lot of water to
remain hydrated. It is tough!
Even living in the hostel was a
challenge — and the hostels have
been upgraded significantly over
the past few years. I was out of my
comfort zone: the food, waking up
so early, going down the cage at four
o’clock in the morning in the middle
of winter — these things are really
challenging. It’s like being a soldier.
When mingling with the
workers, what were their main
concerns? What did they talk
about most often?
The one thing that bothered them
and that they were always talking
about, is remuneration. They feel it
is a hazardous working environment
and that they need to be well
compensated. If their opportunity
to qualify for a bonus is affected,
they feel that management is
letting them down. They criticised
the bonus system often when it
failed to meet their expectations.
A big issue at the time of the
research on which the book is
based, is that these workers were
disillusioned with the trade unions
— I do mention it in the book.
They would often say that the
union leaders do not really care
about them and are only interested
in serving their own agenda.
Is safety a critical issue for the
underground mine worker?
Yes, safety is important to them.
I do argue in the book that they
have a concern about safety.
If they feel it is unsafe, or if
they have to complete a task
that they feel is not safe and
their leader tells them to
continue, will they refuse?
No, this is unfortunately something
we still need to work on. It is not
done at the level that everybody
wishes. There is still this carrot
stick of production bonuses, trying
to meet production targets, and
qualify for the bonus. And the
miners like to supplement their
wages. There are still elements of
autocratic sup ervision; the culture
has not really changed that much.
Mining companies need to
incentivise safety; some companies
are already doing so. Miners
must be prevented from taking
shortcuts that will compromise their
safety. This is where behavioural
safety starts playing a role; this is
where the book will also make a
significant production contribution.
We still have a long way to go.
Do you think mines have
changed over the past 30
years? Is there still a divide
in terms of race — the white
supervisor and the black
worker?
Mines have changed a lot. The
one thing about the underground
environment is that it unites
workers across colour differences.
But yes, I would say elements of
the legacies of the past are still
there, but it is a lot better. Mines
have improved significantly in that