Safety starts with the right mindset

The night shift team’s safety briefing at Savuka.

Phakamisa’s safety meeting at Vaal River.

From their humble beginnings in mining logistics based in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, to their now flourishing operation in Carletonville, Phakamisa Hard Rock Mining continues to climb the highest heights. 

Phakamisa’s success in the industry can be attributed to their unwavering commitment to safe and ethical business practices. The company’s earnest objective is to provide a safe, healthy workplace in which their employees can thrive. 

With their focus on safety and productivity, Phakamisa is well-positioned to deliver accurate and timeous mining solutions. This is made possible by their comprehensive maintenance regimes, low-hour and reliable equipment, highly skilled operators, and thorough training programmes. 

“We strive to work safely in everything that we do, and we are breeding a culture that promotes safe living whether we are at work or at home. Our Health and Safety protocols are very important to ensure that operations run smoothly and that our employees feel at ease in their work environments,” explained Jaun van Dyk, Group Risk Manager. 

At Phakamisa, management diligently upholds a safety culture of ‘Zero Harm to all Employees’ and ‘Zero Damages to all Equipment’. In order to keep these slogans at the forefront of all that they do, employees are encouraged to communicate safety concerns and report any incidents as soon as they occur. 

Other measures used to promote safe behaviour include using social media, toolbox talks and mid-shift break meetings to educate staff members. During shifts, inspections are conducted to ensure compliance. Phakamisa’s most recent initiative involves SOP tests to check that employees are fully conversant with relevant procedures. 

“Ensuring that our staff members are confident in conducting operations safely is a top priority. We are grateful that our employees are on board and respond well to safety initiatives as these increase their skills and knowledge,” said Jaun. 

Since implementing a variety of safety campaigns, Phakamisa has seen an improvement in near misses. Clear communication and adherence to corrective measures have assisted in preventing incidents from occurring again.

“It won’t stop here – we are currently looking to introduce a number of new initiatives in foreseeable future. As a Management Team, we are always ready to incorporate new strategies that promote health and safety.”