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High-risk areas, such as drilling, loading, or crushing operations, require more frequent monitoring.
Implementing South Africa’s new occupational exposure limit for silica dust By Drikus Senekal, Senior Ventilation Consultant at BBE Group. Health and safety are at the core of every responsible mining operation. While this was not always the case, the mining industry has evolved to make safety an integral part of its culture - not as a ticking box exercise, but as a deeply held ethos. Today, the principle that everyone goes home safe and healthy has transformed from a slogan into a shared responsibility.
E mployees are not only accountable for their own safety but also for the well-being of their colleagues. This responsibility extends beyond preventing immediate accidents; it involves fostering a culture of care, where workers look out for one another and make sound decisions that protect both their present and long-term health.
Historically, awareness of long-term health hazards in mining was limited. Generations of workers were often unknowingly exposed to unseen dangers. Legal action, including class suits, has compelled the industry to reflect and act, not merely to protect their reputations, but because genuine care for employee health has become the hallmark of a responsible employer.
Drikus Senekal, Senior Ventilation Consultant at BBE Group.
Health and safety are at the core of every responsible mining operation.
56 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026
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