AMCU calls for thorough investigation into various mineworker injuries
Trade union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction (AMCU) has expressed deep concern about the spate of high-potential accidents across mine sites in North West during the second week of January,
“These incidents highlight serious shortcomings in safety management systems and reinforce the urgent need for stricter adherence to health and safety standards across the mining sector,” AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa states.
One incident involved a team leader’s legs having to be amputated following a slip, while another related to a hot condensate release during the cutting of a pipeline, which resulted in serious burn injuries caused to a boilermaker repairing the pipeline.
In another incident, a winch operator was in the process of moving a snatch block to align it with the sweeping line, in what had been a cleaning operation, before a workers’ fingers got caught between the winch ropes and the snatch block, three of the injured employee’s fingers needed to be amputated.
AMCU views these incidents as unacceptable and entirely preventable. The union has called on all mining companies involved to conduct thorough investigations into each incident; review and strengthen risk assessments, lock-out procedures and supervision; and ensure that workers are not exposed to unsafe working conditions in the pursuit of production targets.
“The safety, health, and lives of workers must never be compromised. It is therefore imperative that Planned Task Observations are conducted for ad hoc and critical tasks,” Mathunjwa concludes.
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