ZAC employees sign health and safety pledge
ZAC celebrates 5000 fatality-free production shifts, launches Silly Season safety campaign
Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC), a subsidiary of investment company Menar, located in Mahlabathini, in Kwazulu-Natal, held a celebratory event on 14 October 2021 to mark a significant safety milestone for the mine’s employees. ZAC as of 30 September 2021 recorded over 5000 fatality-free production shifts (FFPS).
Menar COO: Anthracite Bradley Hammond stated: “Mine safety is ZAC and Menar's top priority. Safeguarding our employees and contractors to ensure they return home safe and healthy every day is essential to achieving Zero Harm At ZAC.”
Furthermore, historical data shows that most accidents at mines are reported during the last quarter of the year. This period is very difficult as far as health and safety is concerned and is commonly known as ‘Silly Season/ Critical Season’.
ZAC therefore decided to initiate a campaign with an objective to proactively prevent incidents from happening, focusing on current issues and challenges with potential to cause injuries and fatalities.
“The intent of the initiative is to also empower employees to comply to basic requirements by ensuring participation by all in order to achieve the goal of Zero Harm at our operation. The campaign aims to reemphasise the health and safety culture of ZAC, and provide employees with the knowledge so that they are able to pro-actively perform their activities safely,” explained ZAC Safety Manager Sipho Nkosi during the launch of the campaign.
The theme of the campaign is “Work Safely, Our Family is Waiting for Us at Home”. Mine staff members were asked for the sake of their families to pledge to:
Work safely around roof support
Safely apply isolation and lockout where needed
Safely operate TMM and drive safely on the roads
Conduct a Take 5 (risk assessment) before performing any activities
Ensure that they are alcohol and drug free at work
Manage their health to prevent fatigue at work
ZAC General Manager Wayne Rowe highlighted that in the past 10 years there have been no fatalities at ZAC. “This is testament to the emphasis the mine places on the safety of all mineworkers. Many of us are thinking of the festive season and even the year-ahead and what it may hold, but it is crucial to maintain our standards and adhere to safety procedures,” he stated.
