Effectiveness and profile of the SIMRAC research effort in improving safety in gold and platinum sectors.

Abstract

This research project dealt, importantly, only with safety issues and focussed only on gold and platinum mines. It was conducted amongst representatives (more than 75 personal interviews) of government, labour and mining groups and mines. The research indicated SIMRAC as not a waste of time and money. General positives that have emerged are the strong stakeholder support for the intent of the organisation, the view that SIMPROSS, in providing a project management and administrative support function, is doing sterling work, and overall acceptance of the funding (levy) mechanism to fund industry-wide research. General problem areas include a lack of technical expertise by both labour and the Department of Minerals and Energy, a disproportionate research focus on gold relative to platinum, a generally neutral stance by stakeholders towards active participation in SIMRAC and occasionally a blurred distinction between SIMRAC and major research providers.