Workers illness to be put on agenda at Anglo American AGM on
Thursday, April21,2011 06:46:38 AM
ALLAN SECCOMBE
ANGLO American, one of the world’s largest resources companies, is likely to face some tough questions about sick workers in SA at its annual general meeting today.
A representative of Alpheus Blom, a worker who contracted silicosis at a South African gold mine, is likely to raise the question of what Anglo is doing about dust-related illnesses for a second time in two years at today’s meeting of shareholders, said Richard Meeran, a lawyer from Leigh Day & Co.
Mr Meeran, who successfully spearheaded claims for workers made sick by asbestos and mercury in SA, is a consultant for the legal team representing 18 South African workers afflicted with silicosis, a lung illness brought on by inhaling silica- laden dust while mining for gold.
Preparatory work has been going on since 2004 for the court case due to start next year to decide the merits of the compensation demands from sick employees who once worked for Anglo’s subsidiary Anglo American SA, which was the holding company of gold mines.
Silicosis, which damages the lungs by scarring, leaves the victim susceptible to tuberculosis and other respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and emphysema.
Anglo spokesman Pranill Ramchander said the company’s response was unchanged.
"Anglo American does not believe that it is in any way liable for the silicosis claims brought by former gold mine workers and is defending the actions," he said.
"The claimants were employed by South African gold mining companies in which Anglo American had an interest of less than 25%. Anglo American maintains that these companies were responsible for the health and safety of their employees and took reasonable steps to protect them," he said.
It will be interesting to see how Anglo CEO Cynthia Carroll and chairman John Parker respond to the issue raised given the strong emphasis they have brought to the company on health and safety and community relationships.
Tony Davies, an occupational medicine specialist, said if the test case was successful, claims against SA’s gold miners could run into billions of rand.
The statutory maximum payment for a mineworker with silicosis is a once-off R38000 and those with silicosis and tuberculosis could receive a maximum R80000 once- off payment.
One of the claimants in the Anglo case is seeking R3m, which is not the highest claim, Mr Meeran said. He declined to put a total value on the claims against Anglo American SA or give a range of the claims brought against the group.
Graham Briggs, the CEO of Harmony Gold, said yesterday that dust reduction at gold mines was one of the mining industry’s four main issues it was tackling to improve safety and health.
(sourced Business Day)
ANGLO American, one of the world’s largest resources companies, is likely to face some tough questions about sick workers in SA at its annual general meeting today.
A representative of Alpheus Blom, a worker who contracted silicosis at a South African gold mine, is likely to raise the question of what Anglo is doing about dust-related illnesses for a second time in two years at today’s meeting of shareholders, said Richard Meeran, a lawyer from Leigh Day & Co.
Mr Meeran, who successfully spearheaded claims for workers made sick by asbestos and mercury in SA, is a consultant for the legal team representing 18 South African workers afflicted with silicosis, a lung illness brought on by inhaling silica- laden dust while mining for gold.
Preparatory work has been going on since 2004 for the court case due to start next year to decide the merits of the compensation demands from sick employees who once worked for Anglo’s subsidiary Anglo American SA, which was the holding company of gold mines.
Silicosis, which damages the lungs by scarring, leaves the victim susceptible to tuberculosis and other respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and emphysema.
Anglo spokesman Pranill Ramchander said the company’s response was unchanged.
"Anglo American does not believe that it is in any way liable for the silicosis claims brought by former gold mine workers and is defending the actions," he said.
"The claimants were employed by South African gold mining companies in which Anglo American had an interest of less than 25%. Anglo American maintains that these companies were responsible for the health and safety of their employees and took reasonable steps to protect them," he said.
It will be interesting to see how Anglo CEO Cynthia Carroll and chairman John Parker respond to the issue raised given the strong emphasis they have brought to the company on health and safety and community relationships.
Tony Davies, an occupational medicine specialist, said if the test case was successful, claims against SA’s gold miners could run into billions of rand.
The statutory maximum payment for a mineworker with silicosis is a once-off R38000 and those with silicosis and tuberculosis could receive a maximum R80000 once- off payment.
One of the claimants in the Anglo case is seeking R3m, which is not the highest claim, Mr Meeran said. He declined to put a total value on the claims against Anglo American SA or give a range of the claims brought against the group.
Graham Briggs, the CEO of Harmony Gold, said yesterday that dust reduction at gold mines was one of the mining industry’s four main issues it was tackling to improve safety and health.
(sourced Business Day)
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