Johannesburg – The total number of deaths as a result of
mine accidents during the first five months of the year came to 48‚ presumably
because of a 29% increase in deaths on platinum mines‚ says trade union
Solidarity.
Advocate Paul Mardon‚ head of Solidarity's occupational
health and safety division‚ said 46 miners had died during the corresponding
period in 2011.
"While it is good news that the number of mine deaths
on gold and coal mines dropped by 32% and 14% respectively during the first
five months of the year‚ it is disturbing that the number of deaths on platinum
mines has increased by 29% during this period‚" Mardon said.
Mardon added that more than 75% of the fatal accidents
reported in the first five months of 2012 occurred in North West Province‚
Gauteng and Limpopo.
"In North West‚ 13 miners have already died this year‚
while 11 and 10 fatal accidents have been recorded in Gauteng and Limpopo
respectively‚" Mardon said.
Ground falls have contributed to 29% of the past five
months’ mining fatalities.
"General accidents‚ which among others include falling
objects and gas explosions‚ contributed to 11 deaths‚" said Mardon.