Your rights and the law

To ensure maximum protection of all mineworkers, it is the responsibility of the employer to:

• Provide adequate health and safety equipment at no cost to employees;
• Implement a suitable health and safety policy;
• Conduct regular occupational hygiene measurements;
• Establish a system of medical surveillance; and
• Arrange annual medical examinations at the cost of the employer.

Every mineworker has the right to leave any working place whenever:

• Circumstances arise at that working place which, with reasonable justification, appear to pose a serious danger to the health or safety of that person;
• The health and safety representative responsible for that working place directs that employee to leave that working place.

It is also the right of every employee to dispute findings of unfitness to perform work.

Preventing dust exposure on SA mines today

South African mining companies have made comprehensive efforts to address dust as an occupational hazard in South African mines. These efforts include limiting dust generation, controlling dust liberation at source, monitoring workers exposure and ensuring the availability and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).

South African mining companies are world-leaders in cooling and ventilation management, particularly when it comes to dust control knowledge and technology.

Containing and controlling dust generation

As far as possible, mines aim to prevent the generation of dust at source. Dust may be caused by various mining activities, such as blasting, drilling and sweeping, and during transport. One of the most effective ways of managing the dust that is inevitably generated is through efficient ventilation, with fans and detailed ventilation plans in place to remove the dust from working areas.

Collectively these efforts have resulted in the incidence of silicosis (the number of new cases in a study population in a given period) declining over time.

Education

Educating mineworkers is key to the success in limiting workers’ exposure to dust. A range of tools are used to educate – including regular health training sessions, messaging included in internal communications (i.e. educational comic strips), posters at workplaces, leisure / changeroom areas and health facilities, and discussions at team meetings during work hours. Education and training initiatives are regularly undertaken, including at induction sessions and annual medicals, and also in workplace briefings.