Abstract
M.Phil.
There has been considerable debate amongst specialists as how to
minimise accidents in dangerous working environments. Irrespective of
many contributions from a variety of studies, inputs and attempts, safety in
dangerous working environments still remain a problem of great concern.
This is equally true in especially the mining sector in South Africa. To this
extent this study was conducted in an underground hard rock mine in the
North West Province.
Leadership may play an important role in the behaviour of employees in the
work place, and may therefore have a direct impact in minimising
workplace related accidents and incidents.
Analysis indicated that it would be beneficial to focus on the real reasons
for accidents in the mining industry i.e. the human factor. It was calculated
that the human factor could be blamed for 87% of injuries in the South
African mining industry, with 11% where a direct link exists with the
physical working environment.
This study is not an attempt to provide an answer that will solve all mining
related incidents and accidents. It is an attempt to use Personal and
Professional Leadership (PPL) as framework in order to establish if PPL
may be a contributing factor in solving accidents and fatalities.
Einstein once said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at
the same level of thinking we were at when we created them". Suffice to
say that our present problems are a product and consequence of our past
and present paradigms.