Safety

The excellent safety performances at Northam reported in the past couple of years have been tragically marred by the death of eight employees. This was particularly disappointing taking into account the 2 million fatality-free shift achievement in September 2002. 

Of some relief were the improved statistics for the lost time injury incidence rate and the reportable injury incidence rate (measured per 200 000 man-hours) which dropped from 4.02 to 2.05 and from 1.28 to 1.21 respectively. Also encouraging were the 1 million fatality-free shifts achieved by one of the four underground managers sections and the 2 million fatality-free shifts at the metallurgical plants. Nevertheless, the overall performance is of serious concern to management. Much work remains to be done to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents and in further sensitising employees to hazards in the workplace. 

A number of safety initiatives have been introduced, among them accident prevention videos, and a permanent communiciation centre known as Radio Vuka, which provides for on-site presentations by team leaders. Further behaviour-based safety campaigns will be initiated during the new financial year to effect long-term attitudinal change in the workplace. 

Falls of ground (FOG) and tramming remain the most serious causes of accidents. Although poor ground conditions have been the cause of a number of the FOG accidents, we are intensively and continuously monitoring our support standards. The principle of no work taking place further than 1.5 metres from any support remains intact, and will be more strictly enforced. 

Safety targets for F2004 per 200 000 man hours:

LTIIR:	3.0
RIIR:	0.85
FIIR:	Nil

Health

As anticipated, the results of the regular occupational health screening have not indicated any negative trends in diseases associated with platinum mining and smelting. This is largely attributable to the continuing benefits associated with the hydropower used underground, which largely eliminates noise in underground working areas and further minimises the already low dust levels. 

An exception to these trends was the increase in the number of employees compensated for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), with 64 cases reported during the year largely as a result of previous exposure to pneumatic machines on other mines. 
 

Number of medical examinations performed
	Northam	Contractors
Initial	940	1 445
Annual	5 286	831
Exit	252	192

Tuberculosis continues to be on the increase, with a total of 139 cases reported during the year, probably reflecting the impact of HIV. HIV positive patients who are being treated with prophylactic antibiotics for secondary symptoms are also more prone to developing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. The medical department maintains regular contact with patients, and counselling is provided for patients who renege on their treatment. 

Some progress has been made in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Northam's efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic continue to focus on three key areas:

• Peer education and awareness campaigns
• Controlling the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Encouraging voluntary testing and counselling

The peer educator project continues, with a total of 38 peer educators in three local villages and 24 on-mine educators. Further training will continue, with the aim of increasing these numbers to 75 and 25 respectively by October 2003. Quarterly high-profile AIDS awareness days are held on the mine, complemented by continuous small-scale campaigns, which address issues such as life-threatening diseases (including tuberculosis), the benefits of HIV testing, the matter of confidentiality and disclosure and the promotion of a safer workplace. 

Treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is crucial to containing the spread of HIV. On-mine statistics indicate a declining trend in first-time STIs with the incidence of repeat infections remaining constant. This pattern points to the difficulty in changing sexual behaviour. 

An AIDS coordinator has been appointed to assist with pre and post-test counselling, and an AIDS committee has been established. This has resulted in more people making use of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) programme and has led to the establishment of a support group for those infected and affected by the disease. 

Plans are in place to conduct a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) survey among the workforce to ascertain the effectiveness of the company's prevention and education campaigns.

Environment

Northam Platinum is committed to ensuring that impacts on the environment in which it operates are managed effectively to promote sustainable development in the area where it operates. In order to achieve this, the company's mandatory environmental management programme is constantly reviewed in consultation with various regulatory bodies. 

The management of the environmental programme is enhanced by:

• Regular audits by independent specialists to ensure compliance with both mandatory and self-regulatory requirements
• Quarterly surveys to monitor performance in key areas
• A continuing focus on advancing technology to address impacts effectively
• Increasing awareness and knowledge of environmental requirements

Biodiversity

Northam's mining property lies adjacent to the Crocodile River to the east, and the Bierspruit to the west. These rivers are an important focus area of the mine's environmental monitoring systems. Biomonitoring surveys are conducted at three pollution control dams on the mine property as well as at points both up and downstream of the Bierspruit and Crocodile River. 

In order to determine the level of impairment of the water quality in the rivers, the environmental department is currently compiling an inventory of aquatic organisms. The biomonitoring survey can determine, qualitatively, the level of impairment on water quality based on the presence and abundance of these organisms. To date the two rivers have indicated minimal adverse effects, although the pollution control dams have shown rising salinity levels. 

The layout of mining infrastructure was designed to minimise land usage. A nature reserve, comprising 810ha, has been established on the surrounding land to preserve the area's biodiversity; the balance is used for farming purposes. 

Alien invasive vegetation is sometimes a problem in areas where soils have been disturbed. This alien vegetation is regularly removed and the areas are treated with registered herbicides to prevent their regrowth.

Water management

Northam's water management programme is based on the following tenets:

• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation including the National Water Act, the National Environmental Act and the Minerals Act
• Optimising the use of water from supply authorities to minimise demand
• Recycling water for a number of uses and regular monitoring of the quality of industrial water
• Preventing discharge of polluted industrial water into adjacent receiving water bodies

Water consumption is monitored at each of the strategic consumer points (shafts, processing plants, housing and amenities). For the period under review the total water consumption was 15 058 megalitres, of which only 3 816 megalitres were supplied by the Magalies Water Board; the balance of 11 242 megalitres having been recycled. 

Surface and industrial water

Northam makes use of three pollution control dams to contain run-off water from the shaft and processing plants as well as fissure water encountered in underground workings. The dams are lined with clay to avoid seepage. Similarly, overflow in the rainy season is avoided since the dams' design maximises the surface area of the water, thereby promoting evaporation. Pumping facilities to route water from these dams to a central dam near the concentrator plant have been completed. The water is re-used in the plant.

Additional pumping facilities have been installed at the tailings return water dam to ensure that no overflow runs into the Crocodile River. 

In order to comply with the provisions of the current water use permits, and in preparation for applications for water user licences in terms of the SA National Water Act, Northam is moving towards quantifying waste loads (salt levels) of the surface and ground water regimes. This will enable an assessment of the cumulative impact of the operation on the downstream environment.

Ground water management

The mine's ground water monitoring programme has been boosted by an additional 12 boreholes drilled during the first half of the year. The first samples have been analysed and have been found to be of an acceptable standard, with no evidence of heavy metal contamination, and only slightly raised salinity levels attributable to the hydrogeology of the region.
 

Air quality management
Emissions	Management control mechanisms
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulates (dust) from the smelter processes	15 monitoring stations are situated on and around the property to determine the potential impact of emissions. Current readings of SO2 are 20 times lower than the threshold of 50 parts per billion (ppb). Dust emissions have been eliminated since the installation of a wet scrubber downstream of the electrostatic precipitator.
Particulates from tailings dams, transportation and materials handling	The tailings have been largely grassed and covered by natural vegetation, resulting in minimal dust levels.
Carbon dioxide	The use of vehicles is restricted to a very small fleet of transport vehicles. Ore is hauled either by battery or electrically-driven transport.
Ozone-depleting substances (CFCs)		Two refrigeration machines have been converted to the acceptable R134a refrigerant. Extensions to the refrigeration plant will also comply with this standard. During the year four tonnes of CFCs were contained and disposed of. Their transportation is being monitored by the United States' Environmental Protection Agency.

Glyn Lewis
General Manager 

12 September 2003