At least six miners slain this week alone, But mortality slowed in comparison to last year. Six South African miners were slain this week bringing my accident deaths in the country nearly 40 this year, but the death rate has slowed compared to 2009, officials said. South Africa, the world’s deepest gold mines, has a dire security against its counterparts in the industrialized world and the deaths have led to temporary closure of the mines by the authorities and therefore the output.
Paul Mardon, head of security at the Union Solidarity Fund, said the mortality rate of mining operations has reduced this year compared to previous years, but incidents with falling rocks are a major problem.
By the end of April, 32 workers were slain in the mines of the country compared with 51 deaths in the same period last year, he said.
Approximately 165 workers died in mines last year, compared with 171 deaths in 2008.
The latest deaths took place in a Samancor chrome mine, where two workers were struck by falling rock in response to an exercise that went wrong with explosives, the National Union of Miners (NUM), the country’s largest union, said on Thursday.
Other deaths have been reported in this week s Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. (HARJ.J) Joel mine, which has led to the suspension of the gold output.
With indictments for BP Oil Costs Could Soar
As BP watches his bill rise quickly to the oil spill, including 20 billion U. . . Read more »
Massey Mine was mostly average violations Report Says
Massey Energy Co. 's Big executive in the mine, where 29 people were killed in an explosion on April 5, violations were more numerous and more serious than the national average, the U. . . Read more »