Industry targets & milestones

Mining sector occupational health and safety targets and milestones

Employers’ commitment

We, the undersigned, representing employers in the South African mining sector – commit to achieving the occupational health and safety targets and 10-year milestones agreed to at the 2003 Mine Health and Safety Summit, namely:

Industry Target: Zero rate of fatalities and injuries
Milestones	In the Gold Sector: By 2013 achieve safety performance levels equivalent to current international benchmarks for underground metalliferous mines, at the least. In the Platinum, Coal and Other Sectors: By 2013 achieve constant and continuous improvement equivalent to current international benchmarks, at the least.
Industry Target: Elimination of Silicosis
Milestones	By December 2008, 95% of all exposure measurement results will be below the occupational exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica of 0.1mg/m3 (these results are individual readings and not average results). After December 2013, using present diagnostic techniques, no new cases of silicosis will occur amongst previously unexposed individuals (Previously unexposed individual = individuals unexposed prior to 2008, i.e. equivalent to a new person entering the industry at 2008).
Industry Target: Elimination of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) (The present noise exposure limit specified in regulation is 85dB(A))
Milestones	After December 2008, the hearing conservation programme implemented by industry must ensure that there is no deterioration in hearing greater than 10% amongst occupationally exposed individuals. By December 2013, the total noise emitted by all equipment installed in any workplace must not exceed a sound pressure level of 110dB(A) at any location in that workplace (includes individual pieces of equipment).

We further commit to:

• Identifying and implementing focused strategies and plans, as appropriate to our companies’ circumstances, to achieve the targets and milestones;
• Co-operating with other stakeholders, in particular the government and unions, to achieve the targets and milestones; and sharing best practices to promote occupational health and safety in the mining sector.