Anglo Platinum has announced it is to implement a new safety strategy, part of which could see the number of contract workers reduced.

The proposed reduction is part of a new initiative spearheaded by Cynthia Caroll, Chief Executive of the firm's parent company Anglo American, Reuters reports.

The firm has targeted contract workers on the grounds that their safety record is worse than that of permanent workers, according to Francis Peterson, Head of Strategy at the firm.

Around 40-45 per cent of Anglo Platinum's current workforce are contract workers.

Mr Petersen said:" We have identified this [the safety record of contract workers] as the key challenge.

"We are always going to have a component of contractors. Reducing their number is one of the options we are looking at, or mixing them up to work in teams including other employees."

News of the safety initiative comes as President Thabo Mbeki recently ordered a probe into standards at mines throughout Africa in the wake of a high-profile incident at Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine.

Around 3,200 miners had to be rescued after a mine shaft collapsed.

Source:

Angloplat revamping safety strategy at mines
http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnBAN652998.html


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