AMCU worried about rising number of FoG-related mining fatalities
Trade union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) reports that the mining industry has, to date this year, recorded 26 fatalities, compared with 14 fatalities at the same time last year.
Of particular concern is the number of fall-of-ground- (FoG-) related fatalities, at 12 for this year, while FoG-related injuries are at 107, the union points out.
Two people died in FoG-related incidents on June 4 – one at Harmony Gold Mining Company's Joel mine, in the Free State, and the other at Aurous Resources' Blyvoor gold mine, in Gauteng.
Harmony, which has recorded 11 fatalities so far this year, has declared June 5 a Day of Safety across its South African operations in order to engage with employees and other stakeholders and to reflect on safety practices at each of the mines.
AMCU states that the high number of FoG-related injuries and fatalities is an indicator that the mining industry is headed in the wrong direction in terms of fatality prevention, stating that the industry is not doing enough to curb FoG hazards.
The South African mining industry recorded 42 fatalities in 2024, the lowest ever recorded, and a 24% improvement on the 55 fatalities reported in 2023 and the 45 reported in 2022; however, all stakeholders agree that work must continue until there are no fatalities.
With FoG-related deaths remaining a concern, the industry in April 2024 announced an investment of R46-million in the FoG Action Plan. At the time, the industry pointed to the need for improved underground workplace visibility and permanent workface aerial mesh protection.
The introduction of hydropowered drills and the use of exoskeletons are other areas being investigated.
Comments
Projects
Latest News
Showroom
We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Flatproofing tire technology engineered to perform in extreme mining environments.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
