Determining the key enablers for a uniform safety culture in the South African iron ore mining industry

Abstract

A well-designed and mature safety culture is very important for mining companies to ensure that their employees are safe. This can be achieved through the establishment of effective strategies and procedures that are designed to improve the safety performance of their organisation. One of the most important factors that a mining company should consider when it comes to developing its safety culture is having a uniform, mature safety culture throughout its organisation. Moreover, research has shown that employees of mines that have low incidence rates have high safety maturity scores. Despite the various factors that have contributed to the reduction of the overall incident rate in South Africa's mining industry, the number of reported incidents has increased. The lack of risk awareness is believed to be the cause of the increasing number of disturbing incidents. The goal of this study was to analyse how employees and managers view the safety culture of an iron ore mining company in South Africa. The study also used the findings from the literature to identify the various factors that can improve the safety performance of the company. The success of an organisation's occupational health and safety (OHS) performance is not only beneficial to its employees but also contributes to its financial success and is a legal and moral obligation. A poor record of safety can lead to the termination of several workers and even cause an entire company to close. The literature review revealed that a well-designed and mature safety culture is very important for a company to ensure that its employees are safe. This can be achieved through the establishment of effective strategies and procedures that are designed to improve the safety performance of the organisation. However, many organisations fail to address the various factors that can improve the safety performance of their organisations. Despite the respondent’s positive perceptions about the safety culture of their company, the survey revealed that the level of safety culture in the South African iron ore mining company remained unsophisticated. This suggests that the country's mining industry still has a long way to go before it reaches a level of maturity and uniformity. Although the study was only focused on a single organisation, the findings

revealed that the various factors that can affect the safety performance of a mining company can also appear in the general larger mining environments. This suggests that the current precarious situation in the industry might be due to the lack of proper safety culture. The results of the study revealed that older employees are more knowledgeable about the current safety environment than younger ones. This suggests that the focus should be placed on the safety of younger workers, as they are still learning about the procedures and operations of the company. The survey results also revealed that the missing elements of the safety culture could lead to more accidents in an organisation. This suggests that the current situation in the industry might be due to the lack of proper safety culture. Studies have shown that a company's safety culture can have a significant impact on its performance. It can also help employees develop a better understanding of the organisation's operations. Unfortunately, most accidents and incidents happen due to the negligence of workers. Although the guidelines in a safety management system can help determine employee behaviour, investigations have shown that most of these incidents and accidents are caused by the negligence of workers. The study found that a lack of compliance with safety regulations was a major issue in an organisation, which could lead to more accidents. The recommendation is to establish a monitoring and evaluation system that is designed and implemented by a management team. Although the study found that the safety culture of an organisation is on the way to becoming uniform and mature, it noted that there are still areas where it can improve. One of the most important factors that the management and workers can consider when it comes to improving the safety culture of an organisation is to work together to achieve zero harm. Although everyone is responsible for the safety and health of their employees, management must still make sure that the organisation's safety culture is regularly emphasized. This can be done through regular discussions with employees about the various safety issues that affect the organisation. Having a positive attitude towards the establishment of a safe environment can help motivate employees to work harder and contribute to the company's success. In addition to being unhealthy, an unsafe

environment can also affect the productivity of employees. Having a well-designed and uniform safety culture can help an organisation establish a strong brand identity.