MSA Africa celebrates mine safety with John T. Ryan Trophy winners

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 Mining houses AngloGold Ashanti and Lonmin Platinum were awarded the internationally-recognised John T. Ryan Safety Trophy, sponsored by MSA Africa, at MineSAFE 2018 on Friday 31 August at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

The annual conference is organised jointly by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), the Association of Mine Managers of South Africa (AMMSA), the South African Colliery Managers Association (SACMA), and the Mine Metallurgical Managers Association (MMMA), as a platform to promote ‘zero harm’ in the mining industry.

The John T. Ryan Trophy is named after the original founder of MSA. It was first introduced to the Canadian mining sector in 1941, before expanding globally. The trophy is a sculpture of a mineworker returning home, with his arms around the shoulders of his son and daughter, as a symbolic representation of the importance of mine safety.

AngloGold Ashanti was awarded the John T. Ryan Trophy (Surface Operations) for its Vaal River and West Wits Chemical Laboratories, where there have been no fatalities since operations commenced in 1948. Lonmin Platinum was awarded the John T. Ryan Trophy (Underground Operations) for its K3 Shaft UG2 Section, which has recorded no fatalities since 18 September 2003.

“MSA Africa, with its wide product range and continuous innovations in safety technology and equipment, is committed to the continual improvement of safety in all sectors of the South African mining industry,” Marketing Specialist Samantha Munawar comments.

MineSAFE 2018 follows the launch of the ‘Safety and Health First, Always and Everyday’ campaign by the Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA), which is aimed to be rolled out at all South African mining operations. A total of 58 mineworkers have died in various incidents in the local mining industry in the year to date.

In addition to the main winners, John T. Ryan Safety Trophy plaques were awarded for Best Safety Performance in Class in a range of categories:

Gold

1 Gold Fields SA, South Deep Mine

2 Harmony Gold, Bambanani Shaft

3 Harmony Gold, Asset Management Forum

Platinum

1 Glencore, Mototolo-Borwa Shaft

2 Anglo American Platinum, Mogalakwena Mine

3 Sibanye Stillwater, Bathopele

Coal

1 Exxaro, Matla Coal – Mine 1

2 Sasol Mining, Brandspruit Colliery – Siza Zonke Surface Services

3 Exxaro, Forzando Coal Mine (North and South)

4 Sasol Mining, Production Services

5 Coastal Coal, Tshikondeni Mine

Diamonds

1 De Beers Consolidated Mines, Voorspoed Mine

Base Metals

1 Tharisa Minerals

2 Assmang, Beeshoek Iron Ore Mine

3 Anglo American, Kumba Iron Ore – Kolomela

Quarries

1 Palabora Mining Company, Vermiculite Mining

Process

1 Harmony, Saaiplaas Plant

2 Anglo American Platinum, Mototolo – JV Concentrator

3 Lonmin, Assay Laboratory

4 Lonmin, Precious Metals Refinery

5 Sibanye Stillwater, Chrome Tech