OVERVIEW ON HEALTH AND SAFETY AFFECTING WOMEN IN SAMI 1

Presentation Outline Background Personal Protective Equipment Health Risks Fatalities and Injuries Involving Women Safety and Security Conclusion 2

Background Traditionally, the South African Mining Industry (SAMI) has been a male dominated sector. The promulgation of the MPRDA and the Mining Charter created an enabling environment for women to participate in SAMI. The Mining Charter set a target of 10% of women in the SAMI by Women entering a traditionally male dominated sector, meant that the environment had to change to accommodate them. 3

Background Challenges experienced include amongst others: Lack of proper Personal Protective Equipment Safety and security challenges impacting on WIM Sexual Harassment - major barrier for women entering the mining sector 4

Personal Protective Equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the mining industry has previously been designed for men. Women working in the mining industry have unique and special health and safety needs resulting from their anatomical and physiological makeup. PPE for women must be designed to comply with: the physiological and anatomical being of female mine workers be based upon female anthropometric (body measurement) data Nature of mining environment Nature of work performed 5

Personal Protective Equipment PPE available for use in heavy duty work environments such as mining and construction are unsuitable and inherently unsafe for female workers – as most PPE were designed based on the male population characteristics. Female workers in these workplaces have: – inadequate protection against risks from work-related hazards while, – their personal comfort and work performance were also compromised. Literature also showed that inadequate or ill-fitting PPE presents a safety hazard for any worker. PPE should incorporate ergonomic and comfort aspects of users so as to guarantee its efficiency and effectiveness. 6

Safety, Security and Sexual Harassment Workplace Violence (WV) and Sexual Harassment (SH) is a recurrent problem and a threat to the health, safety and security of female workers in the SAMI Lack of formal structures, awareness, education and support in the management of violence, abuse and SH in the SAMI ensure that most female victims either: – do not formally report incidents or – opt to deal with them personally Policies and procedures for managing WV and SH are either non-existent or where they exist were obsolete and ineffective. 7

Occupational Hygiene Performance Personal exposure to Noise Exposures– Commodity 8

Occupational Hygiene Performance Personal exposure to Airborne Pollutants – Commodity 9

Occupational disease trends by region: 2013 and Percentage change RegionSil PTB Sil+TB NIHL CWP Asb Other Total EC % FS % GR % KZN % LP % MP % NC % NW (K) % NW (R) % WC % TOTAL %

11

12

2014 Summit Milestones Goal is ZERO Harm Elimination of Occupational Lung Diseases Elimination of Noise Induced Hearing Loss Reduction and prevention of TB, HIV and AIDS infections Elimination of fatalities and injuries 13

Safety and Security Risk factors include: Shift work and physical violence Living at home and commuting Place and time of the incident and the perpetrator and day of the week. 14

MHSC Research Projects Personal Protective Equipment for Women in Mining Safety and Security Challenges impacting on Women in Mining Prevention materials for sexual harassment in the mining industry. 15

Conclusions 2014 Summit Milestones MHSC Research Projects Research projects have been completed and the outcomes are ready for implementation! 16

Thank you I Ngiyabonga ! Dankie ! Ke leboha ! 17