1. Chief Inspector of Mines
Occupational Health (OHS) and Safety at Mines and
Activities of the Inspectorate
Ms. M. Hermanus
Chief Inspector of Mines
Department of Minerals and Energy South Africa

2. Discussion Topics Introduction Key developments in the Sector
OHS performance of the Sector
MHSI profile
MHSI Strategic Objectives/Plan
MHSI activities
Challenges
Way Forward
Conclusion

3. Introduction MHSA requires CIOM to prepare an Annual Report on:
The state of health and safety at mines
Activities of the Inspectorate
The report focuses on;
Sector’s OHS Performance
MHSI’s performance against stratplan targets
Employers responsible for OHS at mines
MHSI enforce, oversee and promote

4. Key developments Industry Structure Mining Operations
Large corporations dominate (support performance rather than prescriptive standards)
Junior, small and artisanal mining emerging (need more guidance)
Older gold mines owners not well resourced
Mining Operations
U/G mines (approaching 4km, deepest in the world)
Open cast/pit
Off-shore mining

5. The Minerals Industry (cont.)
Structural changes affecting MHSI
Inter-mining / district level risks emerging e.g. water and seismicity
Growing mechanisation of platinum mines
Capacity of mature mines to maintain OHS systems
Capacity of small mines to operate safely
Administrative workload more than doubled
Employees estimated (2004):
JSE market capitalisation: 30%
Effect of HIV and AIDs
Integration of OHS agencies

6. OHS Performance Occupational health Occupational Safety
Data collection and analysis a concern
Control at source a major challenge
Best practice / benchmark info starting to emerge
More visible committments to addressing health
Occupational Safety
Fatality rates improving steadily but not fast enough
Injury data available for serious accidents (>14 days)
Databases to capture all accident data still awaited

7. Major Commodities Contribution
Safety Performance
Major Commodities Contribution
Production, 2004
Employment, 2004
Total
Fatal %
Total: 246
Rep. Injury%
Total: 4254
Gold
287t
R29.3b
40%
45%
67%
PGM’s
342t
R33.3b
32%
26%
21%
Coal
R27.8b
47 567
11% 8% 4%
Diamonds
14m carats
R1.1b
18 624 6%

9. Performance Comparison per Major Commodity-Fatalities
Actuals
% Impr/Regr(-)
Freq. Rates
Comment
2003
2004
Gold
149
110 16
0.82
0.62 24
Improved Pt 58 64
-10
0.52
0.46 12
Improved but not consistent
Coal 23 20 15
0.47
0.42 11
Diam 14 7
0.84
0.75
improved
Total
270
246 9
0.65
0.56

12. Performance Comparison per Major Commodity-Injuries
Actuals
% Impr/Regr(-)
Freq. Rates
Comment
2003
2004
Gold
3 079
2 861 7
16.94
16.18 4
Improved Pt
738
892
-21
6.60
6.36
Improved but inconsistent
Coal
188
187 1
3.84
3.93 -2
deterioration
Diam 61 65 -7
3.43
3.49
Total
4301
4254
10.32
9.63
Slow improvement

13. Silica Exposure

14. Exposure Data Commodity 2004 % Persons Employed Exposed to an AQI 1.0
Number of Persons Employed in Mining Industry
Number of Persons Occupationally Exposed as per Returns (% of persons Employed)
Number of Persons Exposed as per Returns to an AQI 1.0
% Persons Exposed to an AQI 1.0 as per Returns
2003
2002
2001
2000
Gold
(45.7%)
6 528
8.08
3.69
4.81
4.75
6.65
6.62
Platinum
(25.4%)
5 865
16.45
4.18
7.0
0.17
1.03
Coal
47 567
(32.0%)
4 618
30.32
9.71
12.1
19.83
28.92
30.94
Other Mines
76 925
(84.1%)
5 853
9.04
7.61
8.46
6.46
4.4
4.23
TOTAL
(44.5)
22 864
11.64
5.18
6.9
5.66
6.94
8.52

15. Compensation Trends – Respiratory Diseases
MINERAL
JANUARY – DECEMBER
OCTOBER 2001 – SEPTEMBER 2002
2004
2003
Compensation
Paid
Number of Cases
GOLD
R 38,351,411
997
R 59,273,643
2 168
R 54,471,353
2 204
PLATINUM
R 2,259,390 84
R 2,242,372
109
R 2, 51
COAL
R 1,537,428 55
R 1,594,567 58
R 2,154,813
ASBESTOS
R 5,854,101
207
R 12,432,567
3 486
R 4,089,912
167
OTHER MINES
R 3,659,398
126
R 3,353,142
117
R 4,221,994
119
TOTAL
R 51,661,728
1 469
R 78,996,237
5,938
R 66,951,828
2599

16. Compensation Trends - Noise
YEAR
NUMBER OF CASES
COMPENSATION PAID
2004
3 849
R77,067,521
2003
7 241 R
2002
14 457 R
2001
5 654 R
2000
4 965 R
1999
6 106 R
1998
5 395 R

17. The Regulator: The MHSI
Legislative Mandate (MHSA)
Regulate health and safety in the minerals sector
Promote health and safety at mines
Safeguard the health and safety of employees and communities affected by mining
Profile
Posts 315 Vacancies 42
Demographics
Male 199
Female 74
Whites 124
Africans 137
Coloured 9
Indians 3

18. MHSI Strategic Objectives
To reduce injuries and ill health
Develop Policy and Legislation for effective regulation of the sector
Provide advice and systems that monitor compliance
To improve access to information
Support Crosscutting initiatives-SMME, HIV andAIDS, etc.

19. Activity Report – Policy etc
Policy, Legislation and Management
Development of policy and legislation
875 from 922 projects finalised-95%
mainly mine equipment legislation outstanding
Key policy issue – registration and licences to practice
Internal Guidelines for MHSI in development
Improving the MHSI capacity and operations
Restructuring implementation plan rolling out
Operational improvements underway
Information Management
Current databases maintained, improvements depend of IT inputs
Reports made available on www.

20. Activities – Regional Operations
Regional Offices
Audits conducted v/s 4190 planned: 1% shortfall from the 80% target
Inspections conducted v/s planned: 8% above the 80% target
Investigations-78% completed on time
Inquiries-83% completed on time
Statutory Notices:
Halt operations (Sect.54)-3 900
Order compliance to H&S reqts(Sect.55)-1 731
Shafts Stopped-60
Working places stopped-407
Vacancies, turnover and capacity are key issues

21. Inspections and Audits
Major Issues
Inspections
Support on geological features
Support installation quality
Guarding of moving machinery nip points
Track maintanance
Lock-out of machinery and electrical gearr
Audits
Checklists and logbooks not used appropriately
Poor communication
Inadequate control of records and documents

22. Major Inquiries Major Inquires conducted/started DRD Hernic
Driefonein – Inquiry to be concluded
Harmony
Northam Platinum- Joint inquest/ inquiry commenced

23. Major Inquiries Key outcomes DRD Harmony
Escape routes not available and/ or inaccessible
Access way excessively long
Failure to effectively manage and equip mine
Inadequate staffing
Failure to identify hazards and risks and to respond
Harmony
Excessive stoping widths
Poor and/ or lack of communication with workers
Inadequate support

24. Major Inquiries Key challenges
Inquiries make heavy demands on resources
Inspectors face top legal experts
Very formal and time-consuming
Capacity to preside over major inquiries

25. Conclusion
With cooperation and support of all stakeholders, the ideal of a better quality of life for mine workers and communities affected by mining is attainable