How worker health and safety representatives are captured and outdone by production on South African mines

Abstract

In South Africa, post-apartheid, under the Mine Health and Safety Act No. 29 of 1996, workers elect health and safety representatives (HSRs). Descriptive case studies were conducted at four underground mine sites (gold, platinum and diamond) to explore the relationship between employer safety management and HSRs. A systems approach (socio-autopoiesis) is used as a metaphor for the circular/closed communication that ensured HSRs were dominated by employer interests and let down by the regulator. The stance of the employer to worker representation has not significantly changed since the managerial self-regulation prevalent in the demise of apartheid years. Given union membership is high, the capacity of HSRs to act without reference to management is uniquely compromised and presents as an anomaly in studies of worker representatives worldwide.