Safety remains the highest priority for Implats, and we are committed to achieving our vision of Zero Harm. It is a tragedy that 11 employees lost their lives at work during the year, and a further nine were killed in a fall-of-ground incident at 14 Shaft in July 2009. We extend our sincere and deep sympathies to the families and friends of all those who died.

The group’s safety performance did, nevertheless, improve marginally during the year. The improvement in the fatality rate, however, belies the disappointing safety records of both the Rustenburg and Marula operations. Ten of our team members were fatally injured at Rustenburg, and one at Marula. The lost-time injury frequency rate for the group was maintained at 2.92 per million man-hours worked.

It is of great concern to the company that safety performance was well below the targets set. A number of safety initiatives, developed jointly with our unions, were rolled out during the year. These include:

• Creating and promoting a safety culture within every employee at Implats;
• Safety communication using sms-messaging, e-mail, posters and billboards and our Safety, Health and Environment Quality (SHEQ) structures;
• Compliance with our new Platinum Rules;
• Visible safety leadership using our behaviour-based safety programmes and recognition of outstanding safety leaders and achievers in the company.

We are using our increased understanding of the cause of accidents to improve our performance going forward. Increased co-operation between management and employees will enable the further development of strategies to mitigate future incidents.

Implats welcomes the Department of Mineral Resources’ attention to safety and applauds all efforts to increase safety in the mining industry. It is only through the involvement of all role-players — including government, unions, management, employees, employee representatives and members of the community — that a safer working environment will be created. The realisation of the vision Zero Harm will only be achieved through a collective effort.

In memory of our deceased colleagues:

Tragedy at 14 shaft

On 20th July 2009, nine employees tragically lost their lives in a massive fall-of-ground incident in one of the mechanised sections. A tri-partite investigation involving Implats, the DMR and the unions, together with an independent review, was conducted. In order to significantly reduce the operational risks the decision was taken to reduce bord widths to six metres across all Rustenburg mechanised sections. A memorial service was held in Rustenburg on Friday, 24th July.

In memory of our deceased colleagues:

Name	Home
Sithembisile Foxo	Mdwaka Village, Mqanduli, Eastern Cape
Jotata Gitywa	Nenga Village, Mqanduli, Eastern Cape
Albert Machubeni	Digetlane Village, Matatiele– Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape
Ofentse Zacharia Mafora	Dinokana, Zeerust, North West
Mziwonke Matandabuzo	Lekhuni Village, Lebote, Eastern Cape
Phindisingaki Mvuleni Mbhamali	Bhanganoma Village, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal
Bethuel Karabo Rakoma	Thabaneng, Lerome Village, Rustenburg, North West
Sechache Coronea Ramonyatsi	Khakhathane, Mohaleshoek, Lesotho
Tsollana Tshatsha	Esunwane Village, Idutywa, Eastern Cape