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AMCU reiterates call for less mine work outsourcing as fourth Sibanye fatality is reported
Episode 43
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
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The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has reported a fourth mineworker having been killed at Sibanye-Stillwater's operations this year, which adds to the national mining fatality figure of 52 so far this year.
A mineworker was reportedly found with a severe head injury at the Beatrix gold mine, in the Free State, on September 21, where he worked for Sibanye directly as a winch operator.
AMCU says the cause of the incident remains unclear and it awaits the outcome of an investigation into all underlying and contributing factors.
The union reiterates its clarion call for better enforcement, particularly in respect of glaring malpractices when it comes to disparity between practices at mines themselves compared to those at subcontracting companies operating at mines. AMCU maintains that core mining work should be performed directly by employed mineworkers and that contractors should be used only for genuinely specialised work that requires expertise that is otherwise not reasonably available within the mine's permanent workforce.
"The continued outsourcing of core mining work can create gaps in accountability, supervision, training, experience and health and safety standards. The Mine Health and Safety Act must be amended to strengthen enforcement and hold mine bosses personally accountable when their failures expose mineworkers to preventable harm," says AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has reported a fourth mineworker having been killed at Sibanye-Stillwater's operations this year, which adds to the national mining fatality figure of 52 so far this year.
A mineworker was reportedly found with a severe head injury at the Beatrix gold mine, in the Free State, on September 21, where he worked for Sibanye directly as a winch operator.
AMCU says the cause of the incident remains unclear and it awaits the outcome of an investigation into all underlying and contributing factors.
The union reiterates its clarion call for better enforcement, particularly in respect of glaring malpractices when it comes to disparity between practices at mines themselves compared to those at subcontracting companies operating at mines. AMCU maintains that core mining work should be performed directly by employed mineworkers and that contractors should be used only for genuinely specialised work that requires expertise that is otherwise not reasonably available within the mine's permanent workforce.
"The continued outsourcing of core mining work can create gaps in accountability, supervision, training, experience and health and safety standards. The Mine Health and Safety Act must be amended to strengthen enforcement and hold mine bosses personally accountable when their failures expose mineworkers to preventable harm," says AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa.