Safety and inclusion go hand-in-hand locally (Part 3)

Compiled by Sharyn Macnamara

#InspireInclusion was celebrated on International Women’s Day (IWD) locally this year, when ten inspirational women miners – nominated by their colleagues for the work they have done to make their workplace and the industry safer – took to the stage.

This is part 3 of African Mining’s Women in Mining series – “Safety and inclusion go hand-in-hand locally”. In South Africa, on 7 March 2024, safety and inclusion were celebrated within the annual Women in Mining Heroes campaign run by the Minerals Council – who on behalf of its more than 70 member companies and associations – gave inspiration to women in the mining industry with the acknowledgement that their contributions are recognised and valued. While part one1 of our series set the scene, delineating the context of mining for women in South Africa; part two2 homed in on six of these extraordinary women who have made a difference in their immediate working environments; and part 3 continues to celebrate another four heroes who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep their colleagues safe.

Mark Munroe, Impala Platinum chief technical officer, in his keynote address at the event hosted by the Minerals Council in March, said, “When we look at the current state of affairs in the mining industry and in South Africa, it is evident that there is much work to be done… I am proud to say that the industry has now started making strides in the right direction.”

Munroe pointed out that it is essential for companies in the mining industry to continue to “actively strive for the economicempowerment of women”. He spoke of number of intentional, actionable strategies that mining companies should focus on in order to achieve this, including:

• The adoption and implementation of diversity and inclusion policies that specifically address gender equality – advocating for equal pay opportunities; supporting initiatives that foster a more inclusive workplace culture “where women feel valued and can thrive”; investing in education and training programmes tailored to women interested in pursuing careers in mining including scholarships, internships and mentorship programs aimed at equipping women with the necessary skills and confidence to succeed in the industry.
• “Advocating for the inclusion of women in leadership roles within mining companies is crucial” – promoting the appointment of women to executive positions and boards drives diverse decision-making processes and showcases the capability of women leaders.
• “Ensuring workplace health and safety measures are inclusive and considerate of the specific needs and concerns of women is paramount” – providing proper facilities, safety equipment and policies that prioritise the well-being of all employees.
• Community engagement initiatives that involve women in development projects related to mining activities can empower women in local communities and create a more positive perception of the industry
• “Investing in technology that makes mining operations more inclusive and accessible to a diverse workforce, including women, is vital” – allocating funds for research and development in this area can drive innovation and efficiency within the industry.
• Transparency in data collection and reporting on gender diversity within the workforce is essential for identifying areas for improvement and holding companies accountable for progress.
• Fostering collaboration between mining companies, government bodies, non-profit organisations and educational institutions is key to creating a collective effort in advancing gender equality in the mining sector.
• Promoting procurement practices that support women-owned businesses in the supply chain of the mining industry – Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) led by women should be specifically encouraged. “

It is not just a matter of diversity and inclusion; it is about creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all,” said Munroe. While companies are driving these initiatives, women are making the difference themselves in their immediate environments when it comes to safety with an understanding of exactly what women need to work with ‘peace of mind’ and achieve optimally.

Hands on modern training

One of these women is Mariska Bolton. In her role, as a senior HRD Business Partner at Glencore, Bolton oversees a comprehensive operational underground training centre. By assisting with legal compliance and career development, the aim of this project is to cultivate a skilled workforce capable of executing its responsibilities safely and proficiently, notes Bolton. These safety interventions enable employees to adopt improved safety practices with the integration of new technologies and to exchange best practices, providing them with opportunities to learn from one another. Bolton adds that she is driven by a commitment to innovative training methodologies that contribute to safety and productivity. She emphasises her dedication to enhancing systems and procedures which add to safety in the workplace and strives to foster an environment where females can grow and thrive within the industry, ensuring that her female colleagues possess the necessary competence to execute their duties safely, while actively contributing to the safety achievements of the industry, ultimately achieving zero harm.

“I Care Buddies”

Ouma Mogale is a Safety advisor at Kumba Iron Ore. Mogale runs a number of safety campaigns at the company, where she is responsible for enforcing compliance. One of the campaigns is “I Care Buddies”, a system for employees to look out for each other by taking the time to stop and correct unsafe ways of working when they notice them. Mogale says that she was inspired to pursue a career focused on mining safety after experiencing how communities were negatively impacted by mining incidents where she grew up in Burgersfort, a mining town in Limpopo.

“A safe operation is a productive and stable one”

Zanele Madinane, manager Health, Safety Environment and Risk at South32 studied chemical engineering. Her role at South32 is to ensure effective HSER risk management, compliance with regulatory and company requirements, continual improvement in HSER performance and the successful delivery of the Hillside HSER strategy. She is part of South32’s Woman@Work forum, aimed at creating an inclusive environment for women in the company. The forum’s safety focus areas involve infrastructure, personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing, procedures and talent development. Madinane says she is led by the belief that “a safe operation is a productive and stable one”. To this end, she has been leading conversations and interventions to challenge teams to improve how they work. In so doing, she aims to connect the hearts and minds of her colleagues so that they make choices that ensure they all go home safely everyday.

Successful FOG management initiatives

Pelonomi Gae, a rock engineer at Assmang leads the operation’s fall of ground (FOG) initiatives, aimed at minimising injuries and fatalities. Fall of ground incidents are some of the leading causes of mine fatalities in South Africa, making them a key challenge to resolve, in line with the industry’s zero harm goal. Gae and other rock engineers at Assmang have implemented a number of safety tools and interventions, such as virtual reality and physical rock engineering models. Their efforts have led to a better understanding and awareness of FOG hazards and the controls the business has put in place. The number of uncontrolled FOG accidents and incidents have declined as a result. No women have been injured due to FOG incidents in the history of the operation.

Source: Supplied by Minerals Council South Africa

References:
1. Go to https://joom.ag/U1Zd/p30 to read part 1 of the series, “Safety and inclusion go hand-in-hand locally”.
2. Go to https://joom.ag/Jekd/p28 to read part 2 of the series, “Safety and inclusion go hand-in-hand locally”.

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