Mines need better tech

South African mines need to make better use of technology to prevent deaths from seismic events, says trade union Solidarity.

The union points out that, while deaths are declining, mineworkers should not be dying while at work.

“All stakeholders in the mining industry worked together to create a safer environment and the decrease in mine deaths over the past year shows that these contributions are paying off,” says Paul Mardon, the union's head of occupational health and safety.

Three years ago, 221 deaths occurred at South African mines. That translates into more than four people dying every week, says Solidarity. However, last year, the number dropped to 165, or more than three workers a week.

In the first 16 weeks of this year, 29 workers have died at local mines, which is about 1.8 deaths a week.

“This figure is relatively low and looks promising if projections are made. The first third of the year has passed and it appears that deaths are on the decrease. However, one death is still one death too many,” says Mardon.

“Technology that is currently used to measure underground seismic activity, for example, can monitor movement in rock to a thousandth of a millimetre, but is still not accurate enough. In spite of this technology, the time and location of a rock fall still cannot be predicted with complete accuracy,” notes Mardon.

UMT Consulting SA CEO Pieter Meyer says there is a lack of information collection and use within the mining industry. Better use of data would allow for proactive responses to impending seismic events, he points out.

Meyer explains that, while mines have implemented safety policies, there is a lack of technology that can collate data and send it back to a central point in real-time. Such information could be used to proactively prevent disasters, he says.

Information is often delayed because it is not sent through the use of technology, such as cellphones, adds Meyer. He says safety check lists can also be performed through a mobile device, and the information sent back to a central point through a wireless connection.

Meyer says this technology does not have to be expensive, and can be sourced locally.

UMT has implemented an integrated project management control office at mines such as Grootegeluk.

Minister of mineral resources Susan Shabangu said on 22 April in her budget speech that the “health and safety track record in the mining industry continues to be a matter of great concern”.

“I am still very much concerned about the high number of fatalities in the mining sector - one death is one too many. Consequently, many families lose their sole breadwinners,” she noted. Shabangu said rock falls are the main cause of death, followed by the transportation and machinery category.

To combat mining deaths, the department is working on a programme to improve seismic network coverage and seismic systems integration, which will allow it to assess what actions are being taken by mines in dealing with high-risk areas that are prone to seismic events.

The Department of Labour has also highlighted the need for better labour inspections at mines. During a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee meeting this month, DG Jimmy Manyi said there was a need for more inspectors who were fully competent and able to handle any situation, as mines often showed inspectors only what they wanted.