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Mining diseases unacceptably high
SAPA, 22 October 2002
2002-10-24

The burden of disease resulting from working in mines is unacceptably high in South Africa, Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Tuesday. Speaking in the National Assembly during debate on the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Amendment Bill, she said about 25 000 compensation applications were made each year for occupational lung diseases resulting from working in mines. In the past, occupational health has often been neglected, and yet the fact remains that globally over one million workers die from work-related diseases and injuries, and there are over 160-million cases of work-related diseases annually. The amendments in the bill might appear to be minor, but had far-reaching implications, as they will unblock some of the problems experienced thus far, she said. Among other things, the bill extended the length of time during which an ex-miner could apply to be medically examined from six to 24 months. Tshabalala-Msimang said one of the most important provisions in the bill was one that limited commission for agents who assisted mineworkers in accessing compensation. A fee of not more than half a percent of the benefit paid to the sick worker could be charged, and the bill made it an offence to charge more. The measure received the support of all sides of the House, and will now go to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.(Source:SAPA, 22 October 2002)

The burden of disease resulting from working in mines is unacceptably high in South Africa, Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Tuesday.

Speaking in the National Assembly during debate on the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Amendment Bill, she said about 25 000 compensation applications were made each year for occupational lung diseases resulting from working in mines. 

In the past, occupational health has often been neglected, and yet the fact remains that globally over one million workers die from work-related diseases and injuries, and there are over 160-million cases of work-related diseases annually. 

The amendments in the bill might appear to be minor, but had far-reaching implications, as they will unblock some of the problems experienced thus far, she said. 

Among other things, the bill extended the length of time during which an ex-miner could apply to be medically examined from six to 24 months. 

World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines recommended that people who had been exposed to dusts, such as silica and asbestos, should be re-examined every 24 months. 

The reason for this is that there is a slow progression of diseases caused by these dusts, and that X-ray changes, which are essential for the diagnosis of the diseases, do not show up within a short period.

Therefore, examinations performed every six months will not have significant value. The bill also provided that the owner of a mine or works pay the reasonable costs of a mineworker who had contracted such a disease, for a period of up to two years after the commencement of the disease, even if the worker had left the mining house. 

Tshabalala-Msimang said one of the most important provisions in the bill was one that limited commission for agents who assisted mineworkers in accessing compensation. 

A fee of not more than half a percent of the benefit paid to the sick worker could be charged, and the bill made it an offence to charge more. 

The measure received the support of all sides of the House, and will now go to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.

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