Mining Industry Sets New Health and Safety Milestones Beyond 2024
The Minerals Council South Africa has released a new fact sheet outlining ambitious mine health and safety milestones aimed at improving working conditions across the mining sector beyond 2024. The initiative reflects the industry’s continued commitment to protecting workers and advancing safer, more inclusive mining environments. A key priority highlighted in the fact sheet is the elimination of mining fatalities, reinforcing the industry position that every fatality is unacceptable. Mining companies are working toward a long-term goal of zero fatalities while implementing measurable safety improvements across operations. These include targeted reductions of 20% per year in falls-of-ground incidents, transportation and machinery accidents, and general workplace accidents.
The milestones also introduce significant health targets to be achieved by 2034. These include reducing worker exposure to respirable dust such as silica, coal, and platinum mine dust to safer thresholds, alongside preventing new cases of occupational lung diseases among workers entering the industry in the coming years.
Beyond physical safety, the initiative emphasises broader workforce health programmes. Key focus areas include expanded TB prevention measures, annual HIV counselling and testing for employees, mental health screening, and monitoring of non-communicable disease risk factors. Noise exposure management is another priority, with the aim of preventing future cases of noise-induced hearing loss.
The framework also highlights culture transformation within the mining sector, focusing on leadership accountability, improved risk management, diversity initiatives, and the adoption of leading practices and technology. These measures are intended to support long-term behavioural change and strengthen safety performance across mining operations.
A further priority is the safety and inclusion of women in mining, with efforts aimed at eliminating gender-based violence and harassment while improving workplace facilities and support systems.
Overall, the milestones signal a coordinated industry effort to drive meaningful progress toward zero harm, improved worker health, and more sustainable mining practices in the years ahead.