As part of ASPASA’s drive to champion Zero Harm in the South African extractive industry, every year the surface mining industry association conducts its stringent Health and Safety (ISHE) Audit, with a strategic intent to enhance member compliance and drive best practices.
Over the years, the audit has become a comprehensive safety net that tests companies’ procedures and policies against national legislation and internationally accepted standards. Instead of reprimanding companies where non-compliances are found, the ISHE Audit points out issues and highlights corrective actions to ensure compliance with the legislation.
As with the previous years, the 2025 audit, says Health and Safety auditor Marius van Deventer, once again demonstrated ASPASA members’ commitment to achieving Zero Harm. “After another extensive round of ISHE Audits, the overarching finding is that all quarries and other non-mining operations audited in 2025 maintain a very high standard of health and safety compliance,” he says.
It is also encouraging, adds Van Deventer, to see that operations are actively pursuing continuous improvement every year, aiming to move beyond compliance to achieving a Zero Harm environment, where every worker returns home safely every day. Over the years, the audits have transformed the industry’s perspective on compliance, moving away from the notion that it is a mere regulatory requirement, to treating it is a core component of operational sustainability, financial stability and ethical responsibility.
Audit results
A total of 75 audits for mining operations were conducted during the 2025 audit, achieving an average score of 87,81%, a slight drop from the 90,16% achieved during the 2024 audit period.
For the fifth year running, Afrimat Qwa Qwa was named the Top Corporate Performer with a whopping 97,44% score, representing the sixth time in a row that the operation has achieved Showplace Status (95%+). For the second year running, Eskay Crushers took home the Top Independent Performer honours and the overall runner-up award with a 96,31% score.
In the non-mining audit, a total of 17 operations was audited, with an average score of 91,04% achieved. The audit is provided to ASPASA members running operations that are separate from the mine and are guided by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The highest score of 97,12% was achieved by AfriSam Rheebok Readymix Concrete.
Breakdown of achievements (Mining)
| Status | Number of Operations |
| Showplace Status (95% +) | 10 |
| 5 Shield Status (90-95%) | 34 |
| 4 Shield Status (80-90%) | 18 |
| 3 Shield Status (70-80%) | 9 |
| 2 Shield Status (60-70%) | 3 |
| 1 Shield Status (50-60%) | 1 |
| Participation (< 50%) | 0 |
Breakdown of achievements (Non-Mining)
| Status | Number of Operations |
| Showplace Status (95% +) | 7 |
| 5 Shield Status (90-95%) | 4 |
| 4 Shield Status (80-90%) | 4 |
| 3 Shield Status (70-80%) | 2 |
| 2 Shield Status (60-70%) | 0 |
| 1 Shield Status (50-60%) | 0 |
| Participation (< 50%) | 0 |
In the face of challenges
The remarkable 2025 achievement, says Van Deventer, came in the face of an array of compliance challenges. Both audit protocols – for mining and non-mining operations – were extensively reviewed for 2025 and numerous changes were made to align members with key focus areas of the regulator, the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources (DMPR). New mandatory Codes of Practice (COPs), Directives, and Guidance Notes were added to the revised audit protocol.
In addition, the milestone objectives and targets of the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) were extensively factored into the 2025 audit. Complying with ever-changing legislation, says Van Deventer, is a complex, high-stakes endeavour, frequently complicated by financial and operational constraints. As regulations change, mines and quarries face severe pressure to keep pace.
“In view of these changes, scores and weights of scores were changed to put more emphasis on these new focus areas. Not all members adapted well to these changes, but generally the industry demonstrated a great deal of effort to comply with these new requirements,” says Van Deventer, adding that the changes to the 2025 audit protocol resulted in a 2,35% drop in the overall performance of members.
Compounding the challenges, he adds, was the inconsistent interpretation of mining legislation by regional inspectors, making it particularly difficult for members operating in more than one region. Conflicting instructions on safety protocols from regional offices make it impossible for a company that has operations in different regions to be fully compliant.
High standard
Despite the documented challenges, Van Deventer commends members of ASPASA for demonstrating high levels of health and safety compliance. “The results of the 2025 ISHE Audit were of an extremely high standard and all participating members need to be commended for their exceptional efforts, commitment and performances during the year,” he says.
In conclusion, Van Deventer calls on members of the association to share their leading practices. Information-sharing, he says, transforms localised pockets of excellence into industry-wide standards, driving high levels of safety while reducing operational risks. By collaborating on, rather than siloing, best practices, companies can overcome common challenges and achieve Zero Harm.
