Cases of occupational lung disease

The data below provides disclosure under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicator LA7: Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and number of work-related fatalities by region.

Occupational lung disease (OLD)

The most significant occupational hazard for employees is exposure to respirable silica dust, which can cause OLD. OLD cases reported in the table below are cases of silicosis, TB, TB silicosis (where TB and silicosis occur together) and obstructive airway diseases which were compensated during the year indicated. TB incidence and prevalence levels are aggravated by the high rate of HIV prevalence in the mining population, with HIV being a major factor in the development of TB. It is estimated that between 80% to 85% of employees diagnosed with TB are also HIV-positive.

*Refers to cases at service divisions in our South Africa region.