As we come out of the critical season, our company continues to strengthen efforts across all its operations to support the industrywide call for Zero Harm. Over the years, occupational health and safety standards at South Africa’s mines have shown progressive improvement due to regular legislative updates and technological advancements, amongst other things. The critical season, also known as silly season, is a crucial time in the mining industry with regards to health and safety, as most injuries and incidents are reported during this period.

The industry’s journey to Zero Harm is an ongoing effort, and commitment to safety must remain a top priority all year-round. You can never say that you have arrived when it comes to health and safety. It is a continuous and intentional collective effort. As part of our mission to support the Mine Health and Safety Council’s vision to ensure that every mine employee returns from work unharmed daily, the company started rolling out an integrated safety improvement plan in 2024 which includes silly season campaigns for all its mining sites. The campaigns touched on important themes such as drug and alcohol abuse, employee wellness, road safety, and visible felt leadership.

Our wellness campaigns align with key topics such as cancer awareness, HIV/AIDS, and TB. We must ensure that the message is felt and internalised across the board because the well-being of our employees depends on it. Some of the mines within the Group have achieved commendable safety-related milestones. For instance, Khanye has kept a fatality-free record since it started operating six years ago. Such milestones are achieved by continually implementing strong safety leadership and safety measures and strengthening teamwork. Prioritising training, risk management, and emergency preparedness will also contribute to the collective mission of achieving Zero Harm.

Industry stakeholders, including mining companies, institutions of higher learning, government, and research hubs, must work hand in hand to identify best practices and share key learnings from incidents. To improve safety standards, the industry must intentionally support innovations and research initiatives that can revolutionise how we operate. In embracing the use of technology to create safer workplaces, our operations have also implemented technology like Collision Avoidance Systems and Proximity Detection Systems, which have proven to be effective. An effective approach to health and safety requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders who share a common goal.