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Safety in South Africa

Safety management

Overall oversight of safety performance and high-level setting of targets is undertaken by the Sustainable Development Committee, a committee of the board.

The management of safety is a line management responsibility, undertaken within the framework of a co-operative health and safety management system and supported in terms of strategy by corporate safety and health personnel. These systems are aligned with the Mine Health and Safety Act (the Act) and involve the active participation of management, unions and representatives of the DMR at all levels.

Health and safety committees, made up of both management and elected employee representatives, are in place at all operations in keeping with the Act. These ensure employees’ active participation in safety and health management through the appointment of full-time health and safety stewards and part-time health and safety representatives. hese committees meet regularly to examine issues such as the provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs), orker representation and participation in safety audits and investigations, training and education, grievance mechanisms, the right to refuse unsafe work, and the setting and achievement of targets and performance. Formal health and safety agreements, in place at all operations, deal with similar issues.

Safety performance

It is with deep regret that we report that 22 employees lost their lives in mine-related accidents during FY09 (FY08: 21). The board and management extend their condolences to the families and colleagues of those who have lost their lives. Their names and details are recorded below.

These deaths were despite the significant emphasis that has been placed on safety during the year, and the substantial improvements reported in the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR), the reportable injury frequency rate (RIFR) and all injury frequency rate (AIFR). The LTIFR improved to 9.35 per million hours worked, the RIFR improved by 18% to 4.97 per million hours worked, while the AIFR improved by 24% year-on-year to 18.73 per million hours worked.

In total, 33 812 shifts were lost as a result of occupational injury, a 22% improvement on the 42 812 shifts lost the previous year. Shifts lost can be an indicator of the severity of occupational injuries.

LTIFR and FIFR by operation (per million hours worked) (South Africa)

	LTIFR		FIFR
	FY08	FY09	FY08	FY09
Bambanani	11.18	7.48	0.4	0.15
Brand 2	3.75	2.92	0	1.46
Brand, Unisel and St Helena operations	20.72	13.45	0.43	0.14
Doornkop	8.55	6.25	0.19	0
Elandsrand	16.24	12.67	0.36	0.36
Evander	16.64	10.39	0.07	0.16
Joel	4.91	2.59	0	0
Kalgold	4.97	2.94	0	0
Masimong	9.57	8.67	0.12	0.27
North Met	8.38	7.24	0	0
Phakisa	4.83	2.48	0.37	0
South Met	4.23	5.52	0	0.34
Target	10.76	9.66	0	0.40
Tshepong	18.52	15.82	0.17	0.62
Virginia	19.01	11.57	0	0
Harmony	12.83	9.35	0.18	0.21

An analysis of the fatal accidents showed a high degree of non-compliance with standards and an increasing proportion of accidents in non-mining related occupations. With this in mind, we are focusing our emphasis on further instilling a culture and mindset of safety, hence the emphasis on behaviour-based safety initiatives, and on service-related disciplines.

The primary causes of fatal accidents in FY09 were gravity-related falls of ground (27%), individuals caught between equipment (18%), seismic falls of ground (14%), falling (14%) and asphyxiation (9%). These statistics reflect a changing pattern from the previous year, as well as the efficacy of the falls of ground prevention initiatives, both seismic and gravity-related. In FY08, falls of ground were responsible for 57% of fatal accidents, with seismic falls of ground accounting for 38% and gravity-related falls of ground for 19%.

The recovery of the bodies of 91 illegal miners at the disused Eland’s shaft in June 2009, following an apparent underground fire, was the most serious safety and security incident in FY09. These deaths are not recorded as part of Harmony’s safety performance, however, as they are not company employees. Harmony has pro-actively addressed illegal mining activities, together with the DMR, the SAPS, the Department of Justice and private security units and communities.

In memoriam

Harmony pays tribute to those who lost their lives at work in FY09.

Date	Operation	Name	Town and country of residence	Occupation
29 June 2008*	Tshepong	Nokanyo Gcasamba	Ndabakazi, Butterworth, Eastern Cape, South Africa	Locomotive operator
5 July 2008	Target	Mokutu Qondile	Odendaalsrus, Free State, South Africa	LHD operator
10 July 2008	Unisel	Kali Makase	Leribe, Lesotho	Driller
15 July 2008	Elandsrand	Diago Bila	Stilfontein, North West, South Africa	Winch operator
23 July 2008	Tshepong	Zinikele Yam	Phumleni, Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, South Africa	LHD driver
20 August 2008	Elandsrand	Mpeo Moeti	Leribe, Lesotho	Driller
20 August 2008	Elandsrand	Magatsela Mangaliso	Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, South Africa	Driller
2 October 2008	Elandsrand	Amandio Massingue	Petro Da Escoda, Mozambique	General miner
3 December 2008	Bambanani	Moeti Mololo	Mafeteng, Lesotho	Driller
12 December 2008	Tshepong	Ntlatlapa Lazaro	Pitseng, Lesotho	Winch Operator
16 December 2008	Tshepong	Zolane Baboza	Timane, Idutywa,  Eastern Cape, South Africa	Miner
17 January 2009	Elandsrand	Mziwa Bantu Bodlanim	Lebode, Eastern Cape, South Africa	Driller
30 January 2009	Masimong	Patrick Mabitsoa	Maseru, Lesotho	Locomotive operator
17 March 2009	Central Plant	Frans Majake	Virginia, Free State, South Africa	Plant supervisor
24 March 2009	Brand 2	Fuzile Ntlebe	Qumbu, Eastern Cape, South Africa	Team leader
14 April 2009	Target	Legotla Nkhatho	Allanridge, Free State, South Africa	Team leader
17 April 2009	Evander	Ntshumayelo Blayi	Idutywa, Eastern Cape, South Africa	General miner
17 April 2009	Evander	Dumisani Magagula	Piggs Peak, Swaziland	Engineering services
24 April 2009	Tshepong	Tsibolane Khotso	Ha Likhama, Mafeteng, Lesotho	Winch operator
23 April 2009	Tshepong	Tello Tsoke	Ha Isaka, Mafeteng, Lesotho	Driller
4 May 2009	Tshepong	Meshack Raletooana	Mangaung, Bloemfontein, South Africa	Team leader
12 June 2009	Masimong	Vukile Bhomane	Dordrecht, East Cape, South Africa	Stope team member

* Note that Harmony uses “measuring months” (which indicate the number of days per month by which production is measured), and not calendar months. The ‘safety’ year ends on 17 June each year.

A significant amount of attention was directed towards safety management in FY09,with a number of positive outcomes being delivered. Graham Briggs, the CEO of the company, and operational executives have played a significant role in setting safety objectives and in developing safety strategies that continue to focus on:

• management leading by example;
• involvement of all stakeholders;
• compliance with standards, and the auditing thereof;
• behaviour-based campaigns and initiatives;
• recognition of achievements; and
• in situ training, particularly in hazard identification and risk assessment.

Harmony’s commitment to zero fatalities is communicated to employees on a regular basis, at every level of the company, with a persistent, deliberate and consistent safety awareness effort.

The third round of a comprehensive safety auditing programme (first reported in FY07) was completed in South Africa in FY09. These audits assess the physical workplace, compliance with fall of ground regulations, shafts and metallurgical processes (specifically in relation to compliance with the Cyanide Code).

Full implementation of the OHSAS18001 occupational health and safety management standard is to be achieved in 2010. However, all occupational hygienists have been trained under the OHSAS18001 standard and are now all “Accredited Lead Auditors”.

More than 90% of the group’s South African workforce participated in formal joint management-worker health and safety committees that participate in occupational health and safety programmes. The workforce is represented on the committee by elected spokespersons. The South African workforce is largely unionised (87%).