In 2024, South Africa’s mining industry recorded 42 fatalities, the lowest in the country’s mining history and a 24% improvement on the previous year. During the same year, more than 1,800 miners were injured on the job – many in repeat incidents – revealing that more work is needed to enhance the sector’s safety strategies.
This was the focus of discussions at the Hexagon Regional Mining Forum, in Johannesburg, in October. The event brought together industry leaders and subject matter experts to discuss best practices shaping the mining industry and to exchange ideas around how technologies can make mining smarter and, more importantly, safer.
Leslie Fengu, General Manager – EMEA, Hexagon presents at the Johannesburg Regional Mining Forum in 2025
Hexagon’s General Manager for South Africa, Leslie Fengu, addressed the event, quoting Abraham Maslow: “It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” He pointed out that mining safety has traditionally been driven by a narrow set of tools. These methods, much like “the hammer”, treat safety as a singular, mechanical problem but this fails to address the complex factors that cause repeat incidents.
The following section presents four takeaways from the event, outlining key safety trends and their strategic implications for the mining industry.
#1 Marketing safety measures to mine workers more strategically
Mine workers are traditionally hesitant to adopt new technologies due to concerns about job security or because of limited training. To mitigate this uncertainty and apprehension, it is therefore crucial to reframe the narrative, clearly explaining the purpose of technological change and the benefits it brings.
Industry experts at the Hexagon Regional Mining Forum stressed that technology, particularly when applied to enhance miner safety, should be presented as a tool that empowers and supports operators, not one that replaces them or is deployed to uncover mistakes. Marketing the benefits of mining safety solutions directly to miners is a critical component of operational risk management. Clear, targeted communication ensures that workers understand the purpose, functionality, and practical application of safety solutions. This is essential for driving adoption and promoting consistent adherence to safety protocols.
Below are three real-world examples.
- Shifting perceptions around safety nets
The implementation of safety nets in mining operations is paramount to mitigate the risk of rock falls in high-risk areas. These nets are designed to significantly reduce the likelihood of severe injuries and fatalities underground. When safety nets were first introduced to protect workers from falls of ground, initial reactions were largely negative, as workers expressed concern about the potential for entanglement. According to Stanford Malatji, head of the Learning Hub at the Minerals Council South Africa, targeted messaging was essential to addressing these concerns.
REAL WORLD RESULT: Producing and disseminating a video featuring testimonies from the family of a miner saved by the nets shifted perceptions. Sharing visual evidence of large rocks being safely held in these nets also contributed to changes in workers’ perceptions of their safety. As a result, workers started asking for nets to be installed. This communication not only informed, but also influenced behaviour, reinforcing a culture of proactive risk management.
- Showcasing the benefits of automation
Automation is increasingly recognised as a transformative force within the mining industry, delivering measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, and operational consistency. For technology consultant Gladys Machikicho, the success of a drill automation project at a mine in the Northern Cape can be attributed to providing evidence of how automation directly enhances safety, efficiency, and working conditions for drill operators.
REAL WORLD RESULT: When drill operators learned that they no longer had to spend the entire day out in the sun and could now work from a control room, while wearing flip-flops and shorts, a clearer picture emerged of how automation would improve their lives by removing them from hazardous environments.
Hexagon OAS at Gold Fields Ghana’s Tarkwa mine
- Technology to empower, not punish
Operator Alertness Systems (OAS) are emerging as an essential technology for reducing accidents and injuries in mining operations. These systems leverage sensors, biometrics, behavioural analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor an operator’s face, eyes, and behaviour to detect fatigue and distractions. While the safety benefits of OAS are clear, mineworkers often view these technologies with scepticism, fearing they will only increase the risk of disciplinary action should they make an error. When mineworkers understand that OAS is designed to protect them and reduce the likelihood of injuries, acceptance increases, and the technology is more effectively integrated into daily operations, noted Daniel Korsah, manager for asset optimisation at Gold Fields Ghana.
REAL WORLD RESULT: By implementing Hexagon’s OAS technology at Gold Fields Tarkwa, the mine recorded a 88% and 77% reduction in critical events for 2024 and year-to-date October 2025, respectively.
#2 Is mining ready for Industry 5.0?
The mining sector has historically been cautious in adopting new technologies, often prioritising operational continuity and safety over rapid innovation. While pockets of modernisation exist, the industry is generally slower to innovate compared to other sectors.
Mining in Industry 4.0 is characterised by the integration of digital technologies to improve efficiency, safety, and decision-making. Key technologies driving Industry 4.0 include:
- Automation and robotics: Autonomous trucks, drills, and loaders are increasingly deployed to reduce human exposure to hazardous conditions.
- Sensor networks: Sensors monitor equipment performance, environmental conditions, and worker safety in real time.
- Data analytics and AI: Predictive maintenance and process optimisation are enhanced through AI and big data analytics.
- Remote operations: Control rooms enable operators to manage machinery and processes from off-site locations, improving safety and operational efficiency.
Looking ahead to Industry 5.0, the emphasis is on human-centric, sustainable, and resilient technologies, with the goal of complementing human workers rather than replacing them.
In a fireside chat at Hexagon Regional Mining Forum, Dr Gargi Mishra, a seasoned strategy and innovation leader, questioned if the sector is ready for Industry 5.0, also known as the Fifth Industrial Revolution. While Dr Mishra acknowledged that the industry has made incredible strides in the last decade, she stressed that real digital transformation is about more than replacing paper-based processes with digital ones.
#3 The business case for psychological safety
In a high-risk environment like mining, psychological safety is as important as physical safety. Psychological safety is the belief that individuals can voice ideas, ask questions, raise concerns, or acknowledge mistakes without fear of punishment or humiliation. Workers must feel comfortable speaking up, knowing that their observations will be taken seriously. Fostering a culture of psychological safety enhances team communication, strengthens adherence to safety protocols, and supports the effective adoption of new technologies.
Dr. Gargi Mishra speaking at the Johannesburg Regional Mining Forum in 2025
Speaking during a fireside chat at the Hexagon Regional Mining Forum, Dr Mishra and facilitator Bily Purushothaman, the founder of consulting firm AIR Consult, agreed that when pressure to perform is high and conditions are inherently risky, a lack of psychological safety can mean even a small lapse has catastrophic consequences.
Amid the drive for automation and technological advancement, it is essential not to lose sight of the human in mining, recognising that workforce well-being is crucial to safe and efficient operations. Technology consultant Gladys Machikicho outlined the importance of change management in an industry that, while rapidly automating, remains largely people-powered. “It’s all good and well to have technology, but if we don’t engage closely with the end users, the technology will be useless,” she said. For Machikicho, users must be considered in any transformation journey; developing the system with them, understanding their user requirements and their pain points.
#4 Trust and collaboration are key to mine safety
Collaboration across technology providers, industry regulators, government bodies, and mining companies is essential to drive innovation and implement solutions that enhance safety across mining operations. This was the event’s overarching sentiment. If improved mine safety is a shared goal, it is logical for industry stakeholders to work together to achieve it.
The mining industry has a responsibility to adapt and adopt new technologies to do things differently, shared Leslie Fengu in his closing remarks. “The goal of this forum is to bring like-minded individuals together to discuss our challenges and our successes. The hope is that we can bring a bigger group together in the future to discuss a broader range of topics and to ultimately come up with solutions that benefit our businesses and the industry as a whole.”
Watch the video below for a recap of the 2025 Hexagon Regional Mining Forum in Johannesburg.
In 2026, Hexagon will be hosting regional mining events and forums around the globe. Stay in touch with us @HexagonMining on LinkedIn for the latest updates on upcoming events.