The Chamber of Mines (CoM) is considering joining forces with government and labour in order to create a new 'centre of excellence' aimed at improving mine safety in South Africa.

Creamer Media's Mining Weekly reported yesterday (November 24th) that CoM Chief Executive Zoli Diliza wants to establish the facility to help reach the target of zero fatalities by 2013.

Mr Diliza explained that the move would further accelerate progress which has seen mines record a 15 per cent year-on-year safety improvement in 2008 and a 50 per cent improvement in the past decade.

He told the news provider: "As much as we want to argue that one death is one too many, there is improvement, as we have seen this year. But we are talking about lives, and people are still dying."

According to Mr Diliza, the CEOs of major miners in South Africa were locked in talks for two days about "nothing but safety" when they attended the latest CoM round-table conference.

He also confirmed that a "learning hub" has been put in place to help encourage best practice and a full-time team of mining representatives will also be used to reinforce the message.



Source:

Centre of excellence to achieve zero-fatality target - SA Chamber (24/11/08)
http://www.miningweekly.com/article.php?a_id=148178