Issued by Harmony Gold
Mining Company Limited
7 January 2014
For more details contact:
Russell and Associates
Charmane Russell and/or
James Duncan
Tel:
+27 (0)11 880 3924
James Duncan mobile:
+27 (0) 82 318 9855
Charmane Russell mobile:
+27 (0) 82 372 5816
Corporate Office:
Randfontein Office Park
P O Box 2
Randfontein
South Africa 1760
T
+27 (11) 411 2000
www.harmony.co.za
JSE: HAR
NYSE: HMY
ISIN No.: ZAE000015228
Registration number:
1950/038232/06
Sponsor:
J.P. Morgan Equities South
Africa Proprietary Limited
No blasting at Harmony for 24 hours, as company declares safety shifts
Johannesburg: Friday, 7 February 2014: Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited
(“Harmony” and/or “the Company”) advises that all operations across the group
embarked on safety shifts with effect from the night shift last night, 6 February 2014,
that will include the day and afternoon shifts today, 7 February 2014. No blasting will
take place for 24 hours.
This decision follows the fatalities at Doornkop and two fatalities on the afternoon of
6 February 2014, one at Kusasalethu in the North West Province and another at Joel
in the Free State. The accident at Kusasalethu occurred when a backfill paddock and
bag* failed, which resulted in an employee being inundated by backfill material. At
Joel mine, an employee died in a blasting accident.
Harmony chief executive Graham Briggs noted: “The past two days have been tragic
for Harmony, having lost our colleagues at three of our operations in three separate
events. This is unacceptable.”
“During these safety shifts, general managers will lead their senior teams
underground, re-enforcing safety messages and procedures, particularly in respect of
critical safety areas. Unions will play an important role throughout this process in
facilitating engagement and supporting leadership.”
*A backfill paddock and bag is a vessel that is placed in worked-out areas underground and
then filled with tailings material from surface in order to provide support.
end.