REUTERS

Trade union Solidarity has welcomed a planned investigation into the implementation of section 54 orders, which allow the Mines Inspectorate to temporarily close down mines following fatalities or safety incidents, by the Department of Mineral Resources.

The Solidarity statement was issued on Friday after the Mine Health & Safety council presented to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources.

Solidarity stressed that the measures and guidelines for issuing section 54 orders cannot be relaxed under any circumstances.

According to Solidarity, the department should focus the investigation on the correct enforcement of the Mine Health and Safety Amendment Act by inspectors, and guard against a slackening of measures that would endanger the lives of workers in the mining industry.

Paul Mardon, Head of Solidarity's Occupational Health and Safety Division, said it would be extremely irresponsible to relax the established measures in terms of which work stoppage notices were issued.

“Thanks to the stringent enforcement of section 54 orders, mine deaths have decreased drastically over the past few years. On the other hand, issuing a section 54 order unnecessarily does not benefit anyone, as it impacts negatively on both company performance and job security. The emphasis must therefore fall on the correct enforcement of section 54,” Mardon said.

Solidarity stressed that companies who do not fulfil their obligations in respect of occupational health and safety standards can be forced by, among others, section 54 to do so.

“Mining companies who suffer huge losses as a result of poor safety standards only have themselves to blame. One cannot put a price on mine safety,” said Mardon. - I-Net Bridge