Sustainable development report 2015
Supplement to the integrated annual report 30 June 2015
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SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PEOPLE WHO RESPECT AND CARE
Safety

Case study: 2014 to 2024 safety milestones

Implats embraces the 2014 occupational health and safety milestones and we consider these milestones an important tool to transform the culture of health and safety in the workplaces to control risks with the intent to further accelerate our Journey to Zero Harm.

The milestones were developed in national collaboration with all stakeholders and agreed upon by the principals. These efforts will ensure learning and participative culture where all are treated with care, respect and dignity.

The 2014 to 2024 milestones are:
  • Milestone 1: Elimination of fatalities and injuries
    • Zero fatalities and 20% reduction in reportable injuries. From 2017 20% reduction in LTIs.
  • Milestone 2: Elimination of occupational lung diseases
    • Platinum dust exposure <1.5mg/m3 (all measurements)
    • No new case of pneumoconiosis for employees starting 2009 onwards.
  • Milestone 3: Elimination of noise-induced hearing loss
    • Noise emitted by any equipment < 107dB(A).
    • No employee’s Standard Threshold Shift (STS) will exceed 25dB from the baseline when averaged at 2 000, 3 000 and 4 000Hz in one or both ears.
  • Milestone 4: Prevention of TB and HIV/Aids
    • The TB incidence rate < National TB incident rate.
    • 100% of employees offered HCT annually. ART for eligible employees.
  • Milestone 5: Implement five pillars of the Culture Transformation Framework (CTF).
  • Milestone 6: Implement a National Centre of Excellence (CoE).

The rationale behind the CoE is to conduct occupational health and safety research, and facilitate the implementation of research outcomes for the mining sector.

The CoE will enhance capacity through collaboration; develop beneficial relationships; attract and retain top research talent; provide high quality training; and facilitate education and training in partnership with the MQA.

The progress on these milestones will be reported to the DMR in March 2016 for the calendar year 2015.

Pillar

Intention

Bonus and performance system

Prioritise zero harm ahead of production

Risk management

Eliminate risks at their source and investigate root causes

Leadership

Leaders to lead by example and walk the talk of zero harm

Leading practice

Common approach to identifying and facilitating the adoption of leading OHS practices and research outcomes

Elimination of discrimination

No racism, genderism and any forms of unfair discrimination


Our 2015 safety performance

It is with regret that we report that five of our own employees and two contractor employees died at our operations during 2015. Four of these incidents occurred in the first quarter, shortly after the return to work following the five-month strike at Rustenburg. Although these fatalities occurred at different shafts and from different contracting companies, non-compliance to standards and safe production rules was a common factor in all fatalities. Two incidents were caused by falls of ground, three incidents involved underground moving equipment, and the other two were drilling-related incidents. We have undertaken investigations into the root causes of these fatal incidents and have implemented remedial actions.

This very regrettable increase in fatalities – up from four last year, but down from nine in 2013 – detracts from the improvements in safety that we have made across many of our leading and lagging indicators for the year. Despite this progress, we acknowledge that there is still much to be done in our drive for zero harm.

IN MEMORIAM

We extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the five permanent employees and two contractors who died at Impala in the course of work during 2015.

Own employees
  • Mr Mojalefa Makhobeng died in an incident involving a scraper winch on 7 August 2014 at Rustenburg No 10 Shaft
  • Mr Otlabusa Itumeleng died in a fall of ground incident on 26 August 2014, at Rustenburg No 1 Shaft
  • Mr Jonathan Mabelane died on 5 September 2014 in an incident when drilling blast holes at 11C Shaft
  • Mr Joseph Sithole died in a fall of ground incident on 6 September 2014 at Marula Platinum
  • Mr Mantsonyane Malimole died in an incident involving mobile equipment underground on 13 April 2015 at Impala Rustenburg’s 12 Shaft
Contractor employees
  • Mr Martin Briedenhann from Shaft Sinkers died in an incident involving a drill rig on 4 September 2014 at No 16 Shaft
  • Mr Kgosithebe Richard Orekeng from RAK Mining died on 19 March 2015 after a locomotive incident which occurred at Impala Rustenburg’s E&F Shaft