Mining sector records zero PGM fatalities for quarter

THE Minerals Council South Africa said on Friday that there were no fatalities related to Falls of Ground (FoG) in gold and platinum group metals (PGM) mines in the first quarter of 2022 – a historic first for the mining industry.

Dr Sizwe Phakathi, the head of Safety at the Minerals Council, said: “This is the first time ever that our gold and PGM mines have not had a Fall of Ground fatality in the first three months of the year … These things don’t just happen. A lot of effort goes into these safety initiatives.”

Managing the FoG risk was one of global mining’s most difficult challenges, the council said.

Mine safety came under renewed scrutiny by the Minerals Council and its 78 members after two successive years of regressions in fatalities.

FoG have been one of the leading sources of fatalities in South Africa’s deep-level, hard-rock mines and the industry has developed a special focus on eliminating them.

In the first quarter of 2022, there was one FoG fatality at a coal mine, which was an unusual event, the council said.

As at May 6, the industry has recorded 15 fatalities this year, compared to 18 in the same period in 2021.

The Minerals Council Board renewed the industry’s focus on safety after last year’s 74 fatalities, up from 60 in 2020.