Inside this issue...

-    Manchin orders mine inspections
-    He’s prepared to pay employees to review health and safety
-    Speaking of mines...

Dear reader,

I know… your employees should practice and implement safety measures without you having to “bribe” them. But, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, in the US, is only worried about results right now.

Manchin orders mine inspections

According to the Pittsburgh Gazette, the Governor has ordered urgent inspections of the state’s 200-plus underground coal mines following an underground blast two weeks ago that killed 29 miners. He halted production last Friday. He said miners and mine operators still had to report to work, but should “honour the memory of those who lost their lives by dedicating their shifts to safety.” He’s given inspectors two weeks to check on mines that have received repeated citations for “combustion risks”.

He’s prepared to pay employees to review health and safety

Workers were paid for reviewing health and safety procedures on Friday, and Manchin guaranteed that any economic loss during the stand-down will take care of itself. He used the exercise a means of honouring the fallen miners by re-evaluating all safety processes.

Would you pay your workers to review your health and safety procedures?

After all, you must investigate every incident that occurs at your workplace. What better way to educate your employees about the safety procedures you have in place, than by asking them to assist you to find the holes in your safety processes? Obviously this isn’t a long-term solution, and you and your workers are obliged by law to adhere to, and enforce, best practices for safety in business. Mining, by nature, is a high-risk business, but with the number of fatal incidents recently, this may be a solution to large-scale incidents. What do you think? Let me know at safety@fsp.co.za.

Speaking of mines...

...…remember I told you in my bulletin a few weeks ago that I’d been down further into a mine than ever before? Well the experience was quite interesting. Going down a mine in a cage that travels 1 300m in 17 seconds is daunting. I went as far as 3 300m down a gold mine where the temperature was 42 degrees. 

However I like the excitement of being able to assist employees in making their working environments safer. I also appreciate the fact that we have dedicated employees who are prepared to work under these circumstances every day of their lives and I am proud to say we're making a difference with risk assessments and training to ensure they go back to their loved ones in a good health and safety condition every day. Keep up the good work guys and remember we are thinking about you every day working in such harsh conditions. We appreciate your loyalty!

In the name of safety,

Christel Fouché
Managing Editor: Health and Safety Advisor