Occupational Health Milestones and Chamber’s

Response to Key Health Issues.

Dr Thuthula Balfour-KaipaHead: Health DepartmentChamber of Mines SA

MMPA Annual Congress6 September 2014, Kloofzicht

Outline

Occupational Health MilestonesProcess of revision at MHSC Assessment of progress on milestonesChallenges Other health issues

CompensationOne Stop CentresChamber position on TB in contractors

Conclusion

Occupational Health Milestones

• Industry milestones for 2013 – Noise• After 2008 - no deterioration in hearing greater than 10% amongst

occupationally exposed individuals• 2013 - total noise emitted by all equipment installed in any workplace

must not exceed a sound pressure level of 110dB(A)

– Dust• 2008 - 95% of all exposure measurement results below OEL for

respirable crystalline silica of 0.1mg/m3

• 2013 - no new cases of silicosis will occur amongst previously unexposed individuals (exposed after 2008)

Process of revision of milestones at MHSC

• Health and Safety Tripartite Summit: 18 -19 November 2014

• Collation of data from companies – early 2014• Engagement of expert to analyse health data• Tripartite discussions on new occupational

health milestones.

Performance on current milestones

Noise

•

• After 2008 - no deterioration in hearing greater than 10% amongst occupationally exposed individuals

Milestone not met

Noise

• 2013 - total noise emitted by all equipment installed in any workplace must not exceed a sound pressure level of 110dB(A)

Milestone not met

Dust• By 2008 - 95% of all exposure measurement results below

OEL for respirable crystalline silica of 0.1mg/m3

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012

Exposure level

%Compliance Target

Milestone not met

Dust

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

6.20%

3.50%

3.02%

2.15%

1.30%

3.20%2.88%

6.28%

3.59%

4.06%

1.35%

4.42%

% of individual personal RCS measurements > 0.1 mg/m3% of employees exposed to RCS measurements ≥ OELSilica Milestone target

Milestone met

Dust

• 2013 - no new cases of silicosis will occur amongst previously unexposed individuals

Challenges thus far

• Milestones that were unrealistic – NIHL• Milestones that were not measured –

equipment, silicosis after 2008.• Health has not been effective in reporting due

to lack of accurate data – AMR– 2011 Regulation on Reporting of Occupational

Diseases

Other health issues

Compensation

• Collapse of the compensation system for occupational lung diseases.

• Proposed amendments to ODMWA• Chamber request for extension of deadline for

submissions by Advisory Committee.• Support through Ex-Mineworker Project

One Stop Centres

Vision of DOH• Serves all workers• Can handle all enquiries;

UIF, COIDA, ODMWA• Provides promotive,

preventive, treatment and rehabilitation services.

• Require a doctor.

Support through COM• Focused on ex-mineworkers• Benefit medical

examinations• Nurse based• Support for 2 years.

One Stop Centres

• Mthatha • Carletonville – April 2014• DOH intend to have more in:– Kuruman– Burgersfort– SADC countries

• Limited funding.

Chamber Position on TB and Contractors

• Standard/position that, by the end of 2014, contractors should be managed similarly to permanent employees in the provision of TB services.

• Position adopted by Chamber Council in March 2014.

Conclusion

• Much still needs to be done.

• Challenge for industry is to raise the bar for our performance.

• “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

THANK YOU