BUSINESS
that’s not common because not everyone
will come out to their colleagues.”
The problem with harassment, says Van
den Berg, is that it can difficult to pinpoint
where it starts and ends. The MHSC has
a DVD they show to miners [male and
female] to educate them and explain what
sexual harassment is.
Incidents of harassment are sensitive as
there is a stigma surrounding females in
reporting sexual harassment.
“Once it is reported, no one wants
anything to do with her. There’s always
going to be an uncomfortable feeling
afterwards. In one case of intimidation,
sexual harassment was reported before
a long weekend, but by the end of the
long weekend the case was withdrawn,”
she explains. Although companies have
policies and procedures in place to deal
with sexual harassment, whether cases are
managed properly is less clear.
There are several mechanisms to
educate workers about harassment in
the workplace, explains Van den Berg.
Intelligence Transfer Centre hosts two
workshops during the year where women
and men in mining are asked to talk
about progress, such as their perception
if women can technically perform the
same mining duties of a male colleague.
The MHSC is currently setting up formal
structures in all regions.
Bottomline
Although there’s still a long way to go
before we see a transformed mining
sector, the industry is working towards
reducing discrimination. Van den Berg
says that coaching and mentoring is
crucial to achieve this.
“Women were brought into the mining
industry when no-one was ready. Just
imagine, men had to just deal with it.
No-one prepared them or asked for their
input and no-one is asking them now.
That’s the purpose of the questionnaire –
118 out of 233 responses are from men.
It shows that men are interested in this
topic as well; it’s hard for them too. Men
are struggling as much as women, which
is why gender reporting structures should
include men. Men need educating on
the reporting process and they need to
“Females were brought into the mining industry
very quickly. The industry was not ready for it: not in
underground nor in surface mining.”
found although there has been significant
improvement.
With a small number of women
working in mining, it brings into question
their security. “How do you protect
women in a vulnerable situation working
with a group of men? In addition, how
do you protect the woman from
unauthorised entry through underground
shafts?” she asks.
From the analysed responses, sexual
harassment was also a hot topic.
“Harassment is not only about women,
men are harassed too. There is bullying
though harassment of a person (whether
they are gay or lesbian) and it is a dynamic
www.quarryonline.co.za
Harassment in the workplace
Letisha van den Berg from Afrimat.
QUARRY SA | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019_15