Exxaro’s Matla coal mine, about 20km west of the town of Kriel in Mpumalanga, has set a new milestone when their Plant and Central Engineering Workshops (CEWS) achieved 730 lost-time-injury-free days.

Exxaro’s Matla mine has achieved another milestone in terms of health and safety. Image credit: Exxaro

Exxaro launched the Khetha Ukuphepha safety campaign in 2019 across all business units to address the risky nature of mining work. The cornerstone of the company’s zero-harm pledge, the campaign ensures that every employee adheres to strict safety standards and procedures both at work and home.

Earlier this year, Exxaro celebrated three years of fatality-free operations with a steady decrease in their lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) over the last five years. In 2019, Exxaro maintained an overall LTIFR of 0.12, above their target of 0.11.

“We remain determined to achieve zero harm in our operations. This includes focusing our efforts on health and safety measures that will ensure the well-being of our employees,” says Exxaro’s Matla’s acting business unit manager, Musa Mabasa.

Mabasa stresses the importance of building a collaborative culture where every employee, no matter their job designation, is responsible for the safety and well-being of their colleagues. “When it comes to a risk-free work environment, we are all leaders, and all of us need to lead the way to safety excellence,” says Mabasa.