Mine fatalities already 22,2% more this year – Solidarity
28 July 2016
Trade union Solidarity said today that the number of mine fatalities that have occurred this year is already 22,2% more that the number of deaths recorded over the same time period last year.
According to preliminary statistics of the Department of Mineral Resources, 55 mineworkers have died in South African mines this year, compared with 45 workers in the same period last year.
Advocate Paul Mardon, head of Solidarity’s division for occupational health and safety, said that 2016 was a challenging year for the mining industry due to the demands of the economy on the sustainability of the sector.
In addition, the increase in retrenchments at mines this year has also resulted in decreased focus and concentration of workers. Both the economic challenges and challenges in terms of health and safety have brought the mining industry at a crossroads and new and innovative thinking is needed to ensure the sustainability of the industry,” Mardon said.