No blasting at Harmony for 24 hours, as company declares safety shifts
Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (“Harmony” and/or “the Company”) advises that all operations across the group embarked on safety shifts with effect from the night shift last night, 6 February 2014, that will include the day and afternoon shifts today, 7 February 2014. No blasting will take place for 24 hours.
This decision follows the fatalities at Doornkop and two fatalities on the afternoon of 6 February 2014, one at Kusasalethu in the North West Province and another at Joel in the Free State. The accident at Kusasalethu occurred when a backfill paddock and bag* failed, which resulted in an employee being inundated by backfill material. At Joel mine, an employee died in a blasting accident.
Harmony chief executive Graham Briggs noted: “The past two days have been tragic for Harmony, having lost our colleagues at three of our operations in three separate events. This is unacceptable.”
“During these safety shifts, general managers will lead their senior teams underground, re-enforcing safety messages and procedures, particularly in respect of critical safety areas. Unions will play an important role throughout this process in facilitating engagement and supporting leadership.”
*A backfill paddock and bag is a vessel that is placed in worked-out areas underground and then filled with tailings material from surface in order to provide support.
For more details contact:
Russell and Associates
Charmane Russell / James Duncan
Tel: +27 (0)11 880 3924
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 372 5816 / +27 (0) 82 318 9855