15 Aug 2016

In the last six months, eight accidents occurred at BCL mine where four people died and 13 were seriously injured, Parliament was informed.
This was said by the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila, in response to a parliamentary question on August 10.
Mr Mokaila said in the last three years, there had been 10 dangerous occurrences by BCL in terms of the Mine, Quarries, Works and Machinery Act.
Parliament heard that an inquiry into the cause of an accident that occurs at a mine is conducted under Section 8 (1) of the Mines Quarries Works and Machinery, Chapter 44:02.
Minister Mokaila explained that “While an inquiry is conducted, a union representative is always involved in the process. In the report of the findings, the inspector instructs the manager of the mine appointed to prevent accidents of similar nature in future.”
He further said the ‘report is sent to the manager for him to comply with the instructions so issued and report back to the inspector on action taken by him’.
In case of fatal accidents, he said, the chief government mining engineer submits copies of the enquiry to the minister, directorate of public prosecutions, commissioner of labour, district commissioner of the district in which the mine falls and the registrar of births and deaths.
Minister Mokaila stated that ‘the mine is periodically inspected by inspectors of mines and inquiries into all reportable accidents are conducted. If during the inspections, inspectors find any unsafe act or practice at the mine which may affect the safety of the people, they instruct the manager to rectify such act.
In addition, he said, where inspectors find people appointed under the statutory requirements of the Mines, Quarries, Works and Machinery Act incompetent, they instruct the manager to remove such persons from such statutory positions.
“Three mine officials involved in 2015 fatal accident were instructed to be removed from their statutory positions, while recently three legal appointments were cancelled, he said.
Parliament was further informed that all accident inquiry reports are sent to Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for their perusal and to decide whether inquest was required to be initiated or not.
“However, the department has requested DPP to initiate inquest in all BCL fatal accidents. Inquests in three accidents from 2014 and 2015 are already in progress,” he said.
Minister Mokaila pointed out that an independent audit ordered by government through Mineral Development Corporation Botswana (MDCB), to investigate recent multiple fatality at South East Extension was currently underway.
“This audit includes a formal route cause analysis and recommendations to prevent similar occurrences at all the shafts. They also conduct mine wide shaft infrastructure integrity (Shaft and Hoisting systems).
This investigation is undertaken and managed by RSV Consulting Engineers who are specialists in shaft design, construction, operations and the associated infrastructure,” said Mr Mokaila.
He said an enquiry was conducted by the Department of Mines as a statutory requirement and all deviations identified had been closed out.
Further, he said measures put in place to further enhance safety include the introduction of Behavioural Based Care (BBC) in partnership with IRCA focusing on the behavioural aspect of safety.
The Francistown West legislator, Mr Ignatius Moswaane had asked the minister to state the number of reportable incidents or dangerous occurrences at BCL Mine in terms of the Mines, Quarries, Works and Machinery Act.
He also wanted the minister to state the number of incidents investigations reports which had been shared with Botswana Mine Workers’ Union or published and to state how those reports had influenced safety policies of BCL.
MP Moswaane further asked the minister what government was doing to improve and guarantee the safety of BCL workers. ENDS