Inside this issue…

- 66% is not a pass rate!

Dear reader,

Last week News24 reported on a recent audit conducted on the mining industry. This took place over 18 months, at the instruction of former President Thabo Mbeki. The audit revealed only 66% of our mines are compliant with legislation. You’d think this figure would be far higher, particularly in light of the new legislation passed last year, which allows for the imprisonment of mine managers where their negligence leads to fatalities.

Energy and Minerals Minister Buyelwa Sonjica has been quoted as “...not happy with the results. We expected better from the industry.” She further commented on the slackness of punitive measures for contravention of mining regulations, calling for a “tightening” on disciplining offenders.

One significant safety issue is ensuring all your workers have the correct protective clothing and equipment. But, do you know when it’s necessary that you do so?

When is PPE necessary?

Question
How often should I issue PPE clothing/overalls/goggles etc?

Answer
You should replace PPE in correlation to the number of times your employees use it (actually worn in the hazardous area), the level of exposure (cartridges are replaced more often in a situation where the concentration of fumes is high than in a situation where the concentration is low), and the condition of the physical work environment (cleanliness, dust levels etc.).

The level of maintenance of the equipment also plays a role.  If the equipment is well looked after and kept clean, it can be used for a longer period.  PPE should also be stored in a clean place, not in the area of exposure e.g. you store respirators in the workplace, thus there’s 24-hour exposure and the activated charcoal base is exhausted much sooner than if you had stored them in a clean area. 

See you on the 24th,

Nadia Pisanti