The Chamber of Mines has expressed its concern over the deterioration of safety performance in the industry this year. This comes after Anglo American Platinum released a statement yesterday announcing a miner had died in a fall of ground at the company’s Union Mine in Rustenburg, North West, on October 31st. The incident increased the number of fatalities in 2017 to 76, from 73 in 2016, breaking the trend of annual decreases in fatalities.

Russell says the Chamber of Mines is deeply disturbed and concerned because the number of accidents related to seismic activity and fall of ground is increasing. This comes despite enormous efforts put in place to address safety and health.

The fatality at the Anglo American Platinum Union Mine in Rustenburg follows the death of four miners after a seismic incident at the Tau-Lekoa gold mine in Orkney in July. It also follows the death of two rock drillers at Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg Mine in September. Russell says efforts are being made to improve the safety of miners.

"We will continue to work with government and labour unions to ensure that safety does again improve. From an industry perspective no fatality is acceptable. We really are aiming for zero fatalities," says Russell.

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