The Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) awards a flag known as the Safety Achievement Flag to the industry for recognition of successful participants.

The flag is awarded to the mines that have the highest improvement in their allocated risk (days lost when comparing two consecutive three-year periods, the same periods that are used to calculate the SIMRAC levy).

Eligibility

A mine, or a portion thereof, which is in continuous operation and forms a participating entity as defined by the manager, will be eligible for this award.

Categories

The categories are divided into:

• Ultra-deep (deeper than 2 000m) gold and platinum mines;
• Shallow to deep (less than 2 000m) gold and platinum mines;
• Coal mines; and
• Other mines.

Flag holder

The recipient of the Safety Achievement Flag is permitted to fly the flag for a period of 12 months after receiving the award. Thereafter, the flag will be returned to the DME.

Whenever a fatal accident occurs at any time during the year, the flag will be flown at half-mast on the day of the fatality, as well as the following day to convey respect to the deceased and their families.

Awards decisions rest with DME

Any decision in connection with the awards scheme is vested in the DME. If a participant chooses to appeal against a decision, the matter will be referred to the MHSC.

Evaluation criteria

• Each participating entity will have its "safety risk" calculated by the DME every year. This safety risk will then be compared with the previous year's safety risk to establish whether there has been any significant improvement.
• An evaluation to determine the best performer in each category will be conducted by a tripartite panel convened by the DME. The panel will ensure that the improvement in the risk was managed and not merely a result of a reduction of labour, a prior disaster, luck, or any incidental process.

Safety risk

The safety risk of a mine is a function of the allocated days lost attributed to serious injuries, depending on the type and nature of the injury. For example, a fatality results in 6 000 days lost while a minor injury such as a bruised thumb will be allocated 14 days lost.

All serious injury accidents for a three-year period (for example, from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006) and their allocated days lost for a participating entity are then added together. This figure is then the measure of the severity of the accidents that occurred on that mine, or the safety risk attributed to that mine.

The safety risk for the previous three-year period (for example, 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2003) is then determined, and the two safety risks compared with one another to establish whether any improvement has taken place.

Transportation of flag

A participant that has become eligible to be awarded the flag shall, by arrangement with the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate, set a suitable date for the presentation of the flag.

Presentation

A participant that has become eligible for presentation of the Safety Achievement Flag will, by arrangement with the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate, set a suitable date for the presentation of the award. A member of the MHSC should be invited to present the flag to the representative nominated by the mine. The recipient will determine the format of the event.