JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa's sizeable manganese ore, manganese alloy, and iron-ore producer Assmang has achieved a major mining safety landmark by being totally fatality free for ten years.

Jointly owned by African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Assore, Assmang operates three underground mines at Black Rock in the Northern Cape, and two opencast mines at Khumani and Beeshoek, also in the Northern Cape, plus a smelter in KwaZulu-Natal.

“This is a proud and humbling moment for all of us at Assmang,” ARM Ferrous CE Andre Joubert commented.

Khumani and Beeshoek produce 17-million tons of iron-ore a year, Black Rock’s manganese ore output is four-million tons a year, and the annual production of Cato Ridge Works & Alloys is 110 000 t of high carbon ferromanganese and 55 000 t of medium carbon ferromanganese.

With just over 10 000 people and a world-ranking lost time injury frequency rate of 0.11 per 200 000 shifts worked, Assmang has collectively achieved more than 28-million fatality-free shifts.

Beeshoek has been fatality free for 22 years, Cato Ridge for 17 years, Black Rock for 16 years, and Khumani for a decade.

“Ten years of fatality-free operations is more than a number — it’s a powerful reflection of the values, discipline, and deep care our people have for one another.

“I want to extend my deepest thanks and congratulations to every employee, supervisor, manager, and contractor who made this possible. You have proven that zero harm is not only an aspiration, but a sustainable reality.

“Together, we’ve set a benchmark for the industry, and we remain firmly committed to continuing this journey of safety and excellence,” Joubert added in a media release to Mining Weekly.

Interestingly, these milestones were accomplished during significant refurbishment and upgrading programmes involving up to 3 500 contractors at a time. During this time, Black Rock refurbished the Nchwaning 2 vertical shaft and the Gloria decline shaft, sunk the new Gloria ventilation shaft, and executed a major modernisation project.

Amid all this, Assmang reports that it has, over the past decade, prioritised safety and driven continuous improvement through rigorous safety protocols, employee empowerment, and an unyielding commitment to accountability at every level.