It’s nearly that time again folks. Our IRJ team is wrapping up those final bits and pieces before our May magazine hits your screens and I think it’s fair to say that this one is quite a storming issue.
Speaking of storming, as the UK waits patiently under a cloud of volcanic ash, it’s been a pretty rocky read for mining news this month. We’ve been totting up the tragedies and between what has been going on in China and the USA, it’s certainly not been an easy April.
Worldwide calls for heightened health and safety standards for the industry are everywhere, but are we really about to see any drastic change? During this week following the deaths of 29 employees at Massey Energy’s Upper big Branch Mine, West Virginia, it emerges that the company has incurred approximately 130 other violations to its health and safety regulations across its various operations.
Almost a year ago, in late May/early June, 2009, we had the tragic mine fire at the Eland shaft of Harmony’s gold mine in Free State province, South Africa, where 82 died and in the weeks that followed, endless reports of further violations in Harmony’s operations cropped up.
This backlash in which the media and industry voices really take down an entire company is to be expected. In no way should any such violations be condoned, either, but does dragging one company into the firing line by way of example ever truly equate to operational and legislative development?
It appears that regardless of worldwide location, standards or media stances on mining, the same mistakes keep being made. What is it really going to take before significant change takes place and the health and safety of miners the world over picks up?