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COMMISSION
  
OF
  
INQUIRY
  
INTO
  
SAFETY
  
AND
  
HEALTH
  
IN
  
THE
  
MINING
  
INDUSTRY 
 
154 
 
protective equipment he needs to be independent of the mine, should be provided with a 
computer and a modem transmission facility which would enable him to write his report as 
soon as he has left the workplace, either in his vehicle or at home, and transmit the report 
instantly to the office of the Principal Inspector, or to the GME’s office. He could also 
retrieve any information he needs concerning the mine or workplace from the data base of 
the inspectorate. 
 
He could also call up exemption forms, print them and issue them at the mine where 
necessary. This method of working, which is becoming increasingly used in all walks of life 
worldwide, has many advantages. It is very fast, can cope with a large amount of data and 
make it instantly available. It obviates much of the need for office accommodation and 
clerical support staff. These economies offset the cost of the electronic equipment and the 
essential training required. 
 
Individual inspectors should also be supplied with all the instruments they need to measure, 
gas, ionising radiation, dust, pollutants, and ventilation survey instruments. The scientific 
back-up facility that the GME should have, should provide for the servicing and calibration 
of this equipment. 
 
The COMMISSION RECOMMENDS that the GME be encouraged to make this investment in 
electronic and scientific equipment and that the necessary training to enable inspectors to work in 
this modern way be provided. 
 
11.4  THE MINES SAFETY AND HEALTH INSPECTORATE (MSHI) 
 
The adoption of these recommendations should result in the establishment of a new 
inspectorate with this approximate complement: 
 
At Headquarters - 
Government Mining Engineer 
 
1 
Deputy Government Mining Engineers 
3 
Principal 
Inspectors 
   3 
Senior 
Inspectors 
   3 
Inspectors 
 
 
 
 
3 
Specialists 
- 
Medical 
   1 
 
        Legal 
 
 
 
2 
Safety 
Management 
   1 
Total   
 
 
 
 
17 
 
The GME should have access to a small scientific investigatory and laboratory service 
under his control which will act as a back up for the inspectorate and enhance its expertise. 
 
In the six underground mining districts 
For each district - 
 
Principal Inspector 
1 
Senior Inspectors 
3 
Inspectors  
15 
Assistant Inspectors  2 
Sub-Inspectors  
2 
Total   
 
23 x 6 = 138 
 

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COMMISSION
  
OF
  
INQUIRY
  
INTO
  
SAFETY
  
AND
  
HEALTH
  
IN
  
THE
  
MINING
  
INDUSTRY 
 
155 
 
Second Tier Quarry Inspectorate 
Senior Quarry Inspector 
 
1 
Quarry 
Inspectors 
  13 
Total   
 
 
 
14 
 
TOTAL COMPLEMENT MHSI 
169 
 
11.5  THE IMPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF THE MHSI 
 
The total complement shown is less than shown for the existing organisation (GME Exhibit 
C10). This is mainly because the units that have little or no involvement with health and 
safety, namely survey, land rehabilitation and some of the environmental control unit have 
been removed from the inspectorate, for relocation elsewhere. 
 
The number of inspectors available for inspection has been increased.  The issue of quality 
and calibre of staff has been emphasised by making nine new appointments of highly 
trained, qualified and experienced inspectors and four non-mining specialists to assist the 
GME.  This emphasis on quality is not without cost, and in order to retain existing staff, 
encourage them to improve their qualifications and expertise, and to fill existing vacancies, 
the recommendation to increase remuneration packages in all grades has been made.  Proper 
equipment and electronic data processing will also be a cost item.  Proposals for additional 
recruitment of assistant and sub inspectors has been made to increase the proactive work of 
audit sampling.  These arrangements will mean that the activities of the inspectorate will be 
focused on those areas where the risks are highest: the underground workings.  A far higher 
rate of inspection of those places will be possible. 
 
The existing cost of the GME’s office was said to R 22 million for 1993/94 compared with a 
total revenue collected from the industry by the State of R 1,305 billion or 1.7%  
(GME Exhibits C11 and C13). The contribution of the mining industry to the GNP was said 
to be R50 billion in 1992 and the mining companies in that year paid R1.3 billion in 
dividends to shareholders and invested R2.1 billion in capital expenditure (Benjamin p  
1 941 1-20). 
 
In relation to these figures, the State’s funding of R 22 million was seen as inadequate to 
deal with the problem of 578 deaths, 8 532 injuries and a large volume of ill-health in 1993. 
 
The Commission agrees with this view, but realises that resources are not unlimited, and for 
that reason has given careful consideration to the issue of using existing resources to the 
best advantage before adding to the resource requirements. It is the duty of the State to 
provide an adequate protection for the mine workforce through good legislation and 
effective enforcement, and the funding should come from State revenue. 
 
The Commission in forming its recommendations having regard to, inter alia, the question 
of cost and, after due deliberation, has concluded that its recommendations, taking into 
account all the circumstances, are reasonable, appropriate and necessary in the interests of 
the health and safety of mineworkers. 
 

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