Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) - South Africa (Ratification: 2000)

Articles 5(2)(c) and (d) and 16 of the Convention. Procedures for reporting and investigating fatal and serious accidents, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences, compilation and publication of statistics, enforcement and application in practice. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that there are approximately 1,600 mines in South Africa, which employ approximately 500,000 workers. The Government states that inspectors conduct inspections and audits to monitor compliance with the legal provisions.

The Committee notes the statement in the annual report of the Department of Mineral Resources (2013–14) that the safety track record remains a challenge in the mining industry. The report indicates that 112 fatalities were reported in 2012 and 93 in 2013, with the majority of these fatal accidents taking place in gold and platinum mines. The accident rate for the mining sector was approximately 2.9 per cent in 2013. The report states that while the number of mine injuries is declining, the Department of Mineral Resources is concerned about the high number of injuries reported as the majority of these injuries are the result of repeat accidents. In light of this information, and recalling the obligations prescribed by Article 16 of the Convention, the Committee urges the Government to increase its efforts to ensure the effective application of the Convention. It requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures taken in this regard, and also to provide statistical information on implementation efforts disaggregated by year, including on the number of inspections carried out in mines and the number of violations detected, the number of corrective measures taken and penalties imposed, as well as the number of occupational accidents and cases of occupational disease reported in the sector.