Cape Town – A R46 million action plan being implemented by the South African mining industry is aiming for zero fatalities linked to falls of ground (FoG).
The plan, driven by the Minerals Council of South Africa (MCSA), was discussed at a FoG workshop in Johannesburg on 5 April, as reported by Engineering News.
FoG fatalities, the leading cause of death on mines, have been steadily dropping thanks to the adoption of new technology, such as overhead safety nets and additional lighting.
Daily Maverick reports that in 2023, 131 South African miners died in falls of ground, while there were only six FoG fatalities in 2022. Fatalities rose again to 16 in 2023.
‘We know it is possible to restrict fall-of-ground deaths to six and so certainly, from where we are today, the next breakthrough must be zero fatalities. We cannot aspire for anything less than that,’ MCSA CEO Mzila Mthenjane said at the workshop.
Other safety measures discussed at the workshop included better underground visibility, permanent rockface aerial mesh protection and hydro-powered drills and drill guides.
The MCSA is also investigating the use of hazard warning systems, scanners to detect loose rock and wearable exoskeleton devices that could aid miners in removing loose rock.
‘It’s something that is urgent, and it’s something that we do need to achieve sooner rather than later because it means that more people will be going back home to their families. Part of the solution lies in how we leverage innovation and technology,’ Mthenjane said.
The action plan will rely on the adoption of leading practices; research and development; human resource development; operational discipline, as well as national policy considerations.
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