Platinum group metals producer Impala Platinum’s (Implats’) immediate focus is on rebuilding the safety performance that it demonstrated in financial year (FY) 2021.

The group reported an increase in the number of fatalities in FY2022, relative to its safety record for FY2021.

Implats achieved an improvement in its lost-time injury frequency rate in FY2022. Twelve out of the group’s 17 operations finished the year with millionaire or multimillionaire status in terms of fatality-free shifts.

The group reported seven fatalities at managed operations, as well as one fatality at Implats’ Two Rivers mine – a joint venture operated by mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) – in Limpopo.

“We mourn the passing of our team members, and extend our sincere condolences to their families, friends and colleagues,” says Implats health and safety group executive Jon Andrews.

Following investigations of every incident and targeted safety interventions, along with a renewed focus on visible leadership, mining discipline and the monthly reporting and monitoring of leading safety indicators, the lost-time injury frequency rate improved by 14%.

The heightened safety measures implemented, which were shared across the group and industry, also resulted in a fatality-free final quarter in FY2022.

The group continues to learn from safety incidents to effect stronger controls to prevent incidents. Implats has strengthened its safety risk management interventions, with a focus on fatality risk control and preventing material unwanted events.

Andrews says Implats aims to ensure that operational risks are identified, assessed, analysed and managed in an integrated and coordinated way, with an emphasis on improving safety performance and eliminating safety incidents.

Safety Measures

Andrews explains that safety during production is non-negotiable, and that ensuring the safety of employees and contractors underpins everything that Implats does, along with delivering on the group’s commitment to zero harm.

“Our safety strategy is informed by external and internal reviews of our safety systems and culture, and by a continual analysis and elimination of the root causes of all fatal, reportable and lost-time incidents.”

The principal safety risks facing the group’s employees and contractors relate to falls-of-ground, moving machinery, transportation, and working at heights. Risks include accidents related to electrical currents or the release of stored electrical energy as well as isolation or lock-out.

Fatigue and stress management is also a focus area. Incidents of high-risk behaviour also result in fatalities and serious injuries. The group investigates and reports these incidents to provide guidance that can help prevent fatal injuries.

Implats’ safety strategy strives to foster a safe operational culture and deliver on its commitment to eliminate fatalities and reduce injuries. Group and site-specific health and safety policies, procedures and standards are in place to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.

Health Incentives

Covid-19 was the major health challenge facing Implats employees, their families and communities in recent times.

In all its operations, Implats maintains comprehensive response plans to safeguard and support employees and host communities. It ensures regulatory compliance through an approved Covid-19 Code of Practice and standard operating procedures.

In FY2022, Implats continued its proactive approach to Covid-19 prevention and treatment – including extensive employee education, strict Covid-19 protocols, the distribution of immune-boosting packs and capacitated medical facilities, as well as employee and community vaccination outreach programmes, which ensured lower morbidity and mortality rates relative to those in the regions in which the group operates.

Implats’ comprehensive communication and vaccination campaign ensured that employees and communities understood the importance of being vaccinated and had access to vaccinations.

At the end of May this year, more than 94% of Implats’ employees, including contractors, had received a first vaccine and more than 91% were fully vaccinated.

This was achieved through employee and community education and without imposing vaccine mandates. Impala Rustenburg, in the North West province, was the first accredited mine vaccination site in South Africa and has vaccinated more than 24 500 community members.

Meanwhile, a major occupational health risk associated with mining activities is noise-induced hearing loss. Progress was made on targeted interventions to reduce the main occupational and nonoccupational health risks facing employees. Employees undergo a medical screening examination at least once a year and are referred for further diagnostic investigation and treatment, should it be required.

No new cases of noise-induced hearing loss, as defined by the South African Industry Noise Milestones of 2024, have been reported, says Andrews.

Implats is also placing greater emphasis on supporting employees in managing mental health-related issues. Its operations facilitate access to professional support through an employee assistance programme and various other resources aimed at encouraging wellbeing.

Mental health support has been critical in helping to mitigate the mental health effects associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, he concludes.