Leading underground mining contractor Murray & Roberts Cementation recently celebrated an important contract milestone for its ventilation shaft, which is a component of the Lift II extension project of Palabora Mining Company (PMC). The organisation celebrated 1 million hours without a fatality on November 2, 2023, demonstrating its everlasting dedication to operational efficiency and safety.
This outstanding accomplishment at the PMC Lift II extension construction is not just an economic benchmark; rather, it is evidence of the mutual dedication of PMC and Murray & Roberts Cementation to operational efficiency and safety. A key component of PMC’s total mining infrastructure, the 8.5-meter-diameter ventilation tunnel is a vital component of the Lift II block cave, extending the project’s operational life well beyond 2040.
The technical challenges and intricacy of the ventilation tunnel project showcase the knowledge and skill of all those engaged. The project team at Murray & Roberts Cementation, led by Fred Durand, Senior Project Manager, has always placed a strong focus on safe implementation. Durand says that achieving this goal has been made possible in large part by the company’s strict safety procedures.
A deep-seated safety culture that permeates every part of the project is reflected in the achievement of one million fatality-free hours, according to Durand. Safety is the cornerstone of the project’s success from the planning phases to day-to-day operations, showing that even in the most technologically demanding environments, putting safety first is essential to attaining outstanding results.
The achievement serves as a reminder of the significance of safety in the mining sector, according to Aidan Schoonbee, Senior Manager for PMC’s Lift II Construction, Concentrator, and Ventilation Tunnel. “It is a brilliant illustration of how teamwork, knowledge and an unwavering dedication to safety can result in extraordinary achievements.”
