SAfrican union wants levy to help curb mine deaths

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 4 (Reuters) - South Africa's Solidarity trade union on Tuesday asked the government to impose a training levy on every accident or death that occurs at a mine, in a bid to force mining companies to cut fatal accidents.

South Africa has an appalling safety record. Solidarity said 142 workers have died in mines so far this year, compared to 221 for the whole of 2007, and 200 in 2006.

The latest death was that of a worker at a coal mine owned by diversified mining firm Exxaro (EXXJ.J) on Monday.

Solidarity said a financial penalty would make mining firms draw a valuable comparison between their money and the value of their workers' safety.

Jaco Kleynhans, Solidarity's spokesperson said calls to mining firms to end the deaths were "falling on deaf ears".

"If mining groups realise that the levies on accidents are going to affect their pockets, they will just have to take better care of their employees' safety," said Kleynhans.

"A monetary value should not be assigned to the lives of employees, but mines regard money, instead of employees, as their most important asset. As soon as this so-called asset is affected, mines will hopefully introduce every possible measure to ensure safety."

Funds raised in this way could be used for safety training at the mines, the traditionally white union said.

Mining companies have suffered production losses after fatalities, due to routine shutdowns ordered by the government for investigations. Union members have vowed to stop work for a day when a colleague is killed.

Led by Gold Fields (GFIJ.J), which has the worst fatality record among gold producers this year, and Anglo Platinum (AMSJ.J), a unit of Anglo American Plc (AAL.L), which has the most deaths in the platinum sector, mining firms in South Africa have repeatedly vowed they won't tolerate fatalities.

To this end, Gold Fields shut parts of key mines for safety repairs for months, losing output and profits. Angloplat has also carried out similar shutdowns to make safety improvements.

Mining houses say fatalities are declining and point to the fall in deaths compared to the same period last year. They have set a target of cutting deaths by 20 percent each year.

(Reporting by James Macharia, Editing by Peter Blackburn)