Loss-control, an old productivity and risk management system in mining, holds great lessons on how we can boost our country’s fortunes in general. In brief, the system prescribes in detail the division of labour among all involved in a mining operation.  

Efficiency is as much about improved productivity as it is about avoidance of risks to life, limb time and capital. To achieve this requires a trained workforce and an efficient management – all well-versed in loss-control. In circumstances where some in the work force and/or in management fail to do their part, a mining operation can lose productivity, put life and limb at risk and generally fail to live up to its purpose. It is a matter of utmost necessity that loss-control is adhered to at all times.  

But the fact that loss of life and limb as well as productivity has occurred in many mining operations, causing strife and hardship in the process, shows how difficult it is to enforce the loss-control principles. Despite the difficulty, the mining industry in South Africa has continued to promote safety measures alongside productivity. 

In recent times, however, productivity wasn’t given the same priority as health and safety. Due to the evolution of regulations, health and safety have taken precedence over other considerations, including productivity. It is within this context that the government, mining companies and workers adopted the Zero Harm undertaking. Like loss-control, Zero Harm means everyone in the operation – workers and management and now regulators – is responsible for preventing loss of life and injury. Workers have to be trained, managers must have the know-how to be efficient, while state regulators need to enforce the regulations. All our companies under Menar – Sitatunga, Kangra, Canyon Coal and ZAC – are proud adherents to Zero Harm.  

Although loss-control and Zero Harm are specifically about the mining sector, a case can be made that they should be applicable in relation to the safety and security of the whole country. Consider a scenario where all South African citizens play their part and our managers (that is, the government leaders) do what they should in the interest of national security. In this scenario, all of us make sure that neither life nor limb would be lost; that no infrastructure – public or private – is looted on our watch. This scenario requires a highly efficient government, a well-oiled criminal justice system run by well-trained officials who are unquestionably responsive to the security needs of the country.  

In this scenario crime, including the sabotage of economic infrastructure, would stop and the violent procurement extortionists at mining operations and hijackers at construction sites would not dare try their tricks to prevent investment and job creation. With safety having been secured, the country’s economy would improve a great deal. Security of life and property is, after all, the prerequisite to investment, growth and prosperity. Let’s not allow criminals to take over the running of the state and businesses – and indeed the country. We have to make our country a safe place to live, invest and prosper.  

Mpumelelo Mkhabela | Chairman & Director of Menar