by Yeshiel PanchiaThe Coalbrook Mining disaster of 1960 laid bare how multiple echelons of the mining sector dovetail to affect safety. South Africa is thought to be the home of over a third of all at-risk tailings dams in the world, according to a Reuters report. The very same elements that allowed for the Coalbrook disaster are those that in many ways contribute to the much better climate of mine safety that we have in South Africa today. However, some research has shown that legislation plays more of an enabling role in good mining safety practice, rather than a governing one, with mining safety best practices and legislation and technology all requiring a positive attitude toward mine safety and management to be effective. Lastly, the issue of social stratification within the mining industry, a problem that has persisted since the Coalbrook disaster, requires urgent attention.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 03, 2023 14:26 UTC