About dust control
Practices that reduce occupational lung diseases and improve occupational health
Occupational Lung Diseases remains a serious health challenge in the South African Mining Industry, particularly within gold, coal, diamond and platinum operations. The inhalation of dust particles by employees may have adverse health effects on their respiratory system. Dust in the South African mining industry is liberated by numerous mining activities such as Drilling & Blasting, Crushing & Screening, Loading & Hauling, Material Handling, Milling & Grinding, bolting & Support, Ore stockpiles, Backfilling, Rock Construction & Processing Plant work Activity.
In 2003, the MHSC (Mine Health and Safety Council) through its tripartite alliance (Government, Employers & Organised Labour) introduced the first Occupational Health and Safety Milestones, aimed at reducing fatalities, injuries and occupational diseases such as silicosis, tuberculosis (TB) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). These structured, time-bound goals are central to the industry’s Zero Harm strategy.These milestones and the industry performance have been continuously being reviewed on a 10-year basis by the tripartite since 2003, with the recent revision in 2024 during the Mine Health & Safety Summit.
Current milestones focus on reducing exposure to respirable dust and eliminating occupational lung diseases, aligning the South African mining industry with global health and safety best practices.
Current milestones
Reduction of over exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust
Milestone Target:
By December 2034, 95% of all exposure measurement results will be below the milestone level for respirable crystalline silica dust of 0.03mg/m3.
(These results are individual readings and not average results, and the milestone will be reviewed in 2029 (after 5 years).)
Reduction of over exposure to respirable coal dust
Milestone Target:
By December 2034, 95% of all exposure measurement results will be below the milestone level for respirable coal dust of 1.25mg/m3.
(These results are individual readings and not average results, and the milestone will be reviewed in 2029 (after 5 years).)
Reduction of over exposure to platinum mine dust
Milestone Target:
By December 2034, 95% of all exposure measurement results will be below the milestone level for respirable platinum mine dust of 1.0mg/m3.
(These results are individual readings and not average results, and the milestone will be reviewed in 2029 (after 5 years).)
Elimination of occupational lung diseases / pneumoconiosis
Milestone Target:
By December 2034, using current diagnostic techniques, no novice pneumoconiosis cases of silicosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, and pneumoconiosis resulting from respirable platinum mine dust will occur amongst previously unexposed individuals.
(“Previously unexposed individual” are those unexposed to mining dust prior to December 2024 i.e., equivalent to a new person who entered the industry in January 2025.)
In 2009, the then Chamber of Mines (Now Minerals Council South Africa) and its social partners, government and labour, established Mining Industry Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Learning Hub to focus and drive the identification and widespread adoption of leading practices to address health and safety concerns and accelerate the progress towards achieving zero harm.
The practices to be addressed were falls of ground, transport and machinery (pertinent to the reduction of mine fatalities), and dust and noise (applicable to the elimination of silicosis and noise induced hearing loss (NIHL)). The occupational health and safety milestones identified were set to be attained over a 10-year period.
MOSH dust
Since the inception of the MOSH Learning Hub, eight dust leading practices have been identified, documented, demonstrated and adopted by several mining operations. These leading practices have been proven to have significant impact in reducing the airborne pollutant exposure risks amongst employees in the industry, thus assisting in achieving the industry set milestones towards elimination of occupational lung diseases.
Objectives
- To identify leading practices that have the highest potential for reducing diseases related to dust and for facilitating the adoption of leading practices through a people-oriented process
- To achieve MHSC occupational health milestones related to dust and achieve Zero Harm ultimately.