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SIMRAC Issue 1, 2002 NEWSLETTER February 2002 - May 2002 Private Bag X63, Braamfontein 2017, South Africa LAUNCH : THE HANDBOOK OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PRACTICE IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINING INDUSTRY ISBN 1-919853-02-2 SIMRAC launched the Handbook at an interactive seminar held on 13 February 2002, at the CSIR Conference Centre in Pretoria. The work was undertaken under SIMRAC projects Health 612 and Health 713. In his opening address, the Simpross Research Manager, Paul van der Heever, said that a Safety Handbook was now also included in the SIMRAC research programme for 2002. He informed delegates of the changed SIMRAC structure that is replacing the previous unwieldy committee system. (See article on page 3) Haggis Guild of Advantage Consulting informed delegates that, unless an occupational health system contains all the elements necessary to manage all facets of the system, the system would not work. He cited specified implementation problems, the lack of a holistic approach and of follow-up programmes, and good target-audience oriented communication and training as essential elements in the management of an occupational health system. David Stanton of the Chamber of Mines informed delegates of Internet URL's to access databases relevant for occupational health practitioners in SA. He said that the SIMRAC Website http://www.SIMRAC.co.za contains the largest repository of downloadable and freely accessible final research reports. Gavin Churchyard presented statistical evidence suggesting that goldminers have a five-fold increased risk of being infected with Tuberculosis than the average population. Delegates were told that there was an increase in Tuberculosis infection in South Africa because of its association with HIV and silica dust exposure. Because of an increased linked exposure, the aging SA worker population is at a higher risk. The Handbook can be collected from Department Minerals and Energy offices in Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Welkom, Pietersburg, Witbank, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Dundee and Klerksdorp. Copies are also available from the National Union of Mineworkers and the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg. Copies can be ordered per mail order by contacting Ray Strydom at 27 012 654 8349 email Raysaf@mweb.co.za From left to right: John Johnston, Paul van der Heever and Haggis Guild This Issue Handbook on Occupational Health Practice in the South African Mining Industry Calendar of Events 3 Million Fatality free workshifts for De Beers SIMRAC Levy administration The new SIMRAC structure Information and Resources Page 1 CALENDAR OF EVENTS MEETINGS* SIMRAC: 16 May 2002 Simpross New Projects Presentations: 22, 23, 24 April 2002 LAUNCHES March 2002 - OTH 602 Handbook for mines other than gold, coal and platinum 25-26 April 2002 - COL 606 Handbook for Rock engineering launch and workshop [SAIMM] April 2002 - COL 702 Practice and guidelines for water barrier pillars. Contact Duncan Adams dadams@simpross.co.za 3-5 May 2002 - Health 617, Health 607, Health 605 at the M M O A Conference. Contact Mary Ross mross@simpross.co.za May 2002 - GEN 701 Best practice for conveyor belt systems June 2002- GEN 702 Safe use of commercial transportation underground. Contact Alec Gumbie agumbie@simpross.co.za 3 Million Fatality free workshifts for De Beers The Mine Health and Safety Council's Award for achieving 3 million fatality-free work shifts has been awarded to the De Beers Kimberley Mines. The De Beers Kimberley Mines division includes the Du Toitspan, Bultfontein and Wesselton Mines. The Mine Health and Safety Council has introduced the safety award scheme in 1999. It replaced the previous Chamber of Mines and Department of Minerals' safety award system. The awards are established in terms of a unified set of national safety awards for all branches of mining. The new awards will also include smaller mines that were previously not included in the old rewarding system. It was the first time that De Beers has achieved this award in its 114 years history. SIMRAC Levy administration An analysis of the audited financial statements of SIMRAC between 1993 and 2001 indicates an increase in the provision for bad debts in terms of the SIMRAC levy income. The amount of current outstanding levy debts is in the region of R14 million. Mines offer a variety of reasons for not settling outstanding levy amounts: liquidation or insolvency; poor financial situation and lack of funds; no statements or reminders for payments were received; they did not enter into contracts or agreements with SIMRAC; no services or information are received from SIMRAC, and change of ownership, or refusing historical levy liability. SIMRAC Project Support Services (Simpross) has appointed a debtor administrator, Mr. Adiel Badrodien abadrodien@simpross.co.za (011 358 9195) to analyse and control the levy administration and collection. Page 2 GET YOUR SIMRAC CD 3 NOW!! IT'S FREE IT'S INFORMATIVE IT'S AVAILABLE The new SIMRAC structure SIMRAC adopted a new organisational structure and operational procedures. Changes were made to the following: Project and programme administration; the use of external experts, advisers and auditors; and the appointment of technology champions and incentives for host mines. Project and programme administration Simpross will be responsible for expediting the approved annual programme, monitoring the financial status, including levy payments, and reporting on relevant administrative matters. Projects will be clustered into new thrust areas to be managed by Simpross Programme Managers. Simpross progress meetings and presentations have replaced the unwieldy SIMRAC sub-committee system. Programme Managers will monitor progress, and assess contractual conformance and recommend payments to contractors. The use of external experts, advisers and auditors Permanent committees of the Mine Health and Safety Council have been advised that the use of professional facilitators should be considered to enhance the effectiveness of tripartite forums that require specialised technical skills. SIMRAC has ratified the use of experts, expert panels, facilitators and auditors and will continue to make use of such services to render the new organisational structure practicable. The sustained input from industry participants, who are not only experts, but are also closely involved with end-user needs, research priorities and implementation of research results, will be required. Commitment will also be sought from all stakeholders in the SA mining industry to ensure that ongoing input is maintained from their representatives. Incentives for participating mines and champions The principle of compensation for participation in SIMRAC projects will be negotiated with mining groups before formalising any procedures and policies. Some general guidelines are: The selection of a participating host mine or technology champion will only be considered once SIMRAC has ratified the development of a detailed research project proposal; Mine and champion involvement must be formalised with a guarantee of compensation at the completion of the research project for expenses incurred during the period of participation; Mining and industry champions may be invited to attend meetings and discussions. Organisational structure Page 3 INFORMATION AND RESOURCES SIMRAC CD VOLUME 3 IS NOW AVAILABLE. Contact Noleene Woods for nwoods@simpross.co.za or download from http://www.simrac.co.za a copy Dr Willie van Niekerk demonstrated an interactive CD on chemical exposures in the mineral processing industry (HEALTH 804) on 31 January 2002. Feedback was required from industry representatives before completing the CD. The newly appointed Chamber of Mines health advisor, Dr Faisel Randera, also attended the demonstration. The NIOSH Website http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html provides excellent downloadable reports on occupational safety and health in the mining industry. New publications include: Use of Simulation Exercises for Safety Training in the U.S. Mining Industry http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/ic9459.pdf Dust Protection for Bag Stackers--Hazard Control 31 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hc31 .html An Inexpensive Device for Monitoring Explosions in Sealed Areas of Underground Mines. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/tn490.pdf Reducing the Danger of Explosions in Sealed Areas (GOBS) in Mines. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/tn489.pdf Haulage Truck DumpSite Safety: AnExamination of Reported Injuries. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/2001-124.pdf Programmable ElectronicMining Systems: Best PracticeRecommendations. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/2001-132.pdf Miner Training Simulator: User's Guide and Scripting Language Documentation http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/2001-136.pdf Programmable Electronic Mining Systems: Best Practice Recommendations http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/2001-137.pdf Complimentary copies of the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards and Other Databases CD-ROM (Pub. No. 2001-145 - August 2001 Edition - is available from the NIOSH Publications Office, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226; Phone: (800) 35-NIOSH; Fax: (513) 533 8573 E-mail: mailto:pubstaft@cdc.gov Information on NIOSH Musculoskeletal Documents on CD-ROM (Pub. No. 2001-122) is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/muscu-cd.html NIOSH Released Two New Safety Training Videos for the mining industry: "Hazards in Motion" and "Hidden Scars" were shot in underground hard rock mines. More information about the videos is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ciss/pdfs/tn491.pdf Contact the NIOSH video library at mailto:rlw3@cdc.gov The 12th ISS International Seminar on Seismic Monitoring and Numerical Modelling will be held on 4 - 15 March 2002, at Oude Libertas Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa. To register visit: http://www.issi.co.za/sem.html The North American Ninth U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium will be held on the campus of the Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada from 8 -12 June 2002. http://mine.queensu.ca/ventilation/ The Fifth International Gold Symposium will be held in Lima, Peru from 14 - 17 May 2002 http://ekeko2.rcp.net.pe/snmpe/english/events/5%20gold%20svmposium.htm Elsie Zinsser produces the SIMRAC Newsletter three times per year. Contributions are very welcome. For further information contact her by email: ezinsser@simpross.co.za Telephone 011 358 9188 No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without prior permission from the SIMPROSS Research Manager. Telephone: 27 11 358 9185, Fax: 27 11 403 1821 Page 4