TWO employees of SGB-Cape Scaffolding, who died two weeks ago while performing maintenance work at Mondi Richards Bay, were reportedly felled by pieces of built-up industrial waste sediment.
This is according to a statement from SGB-Cape, indicating ‘the incident occurred when a clinker, which formed at the top of the (Mondi) boiler as a result of waste from industrial processes, fell onto the workers who were working below’.
Khanyisani Zulu was found with a fatal head wound in the vessel at around 4am on 10 October while his colleague Sipho Dladla was rushed to Mondi’s onsite clinic before being transported to Netcare The Bay Hospital.
Dladla also passed away from his serious injuries, two days later.
‘SGB-Cape sends its deepest heartfelt condolences to the Zulu and Dladla families,’ the company said in its statement.
‘We are investigating the cause of the incident and this investigation is ongoing.’
According to the Richards Bay SAP, police are still looking into matter after an inquest was opened for the men’s ‘unnatural deaths’.
‘We are still awaiting the post-mortem results for both men, which may take over a month to arrive,’ said SAP spokesperson Capt Debbie Ferreira.
‘We cannot confirm that the clinker fall was the cause of death at this stage,’ she said.
14 OCTOBER
Second man dies in paper mill tragedy
AN investigation is underway into the tragic deaths of two contractor employees at the Mondi Richards Bay mill.
Khanyisani Zulu (27) was found with a fatal head wound at around 4am on Thursday after a piece of scaffolding structure reportedly fell on him while conducting maintenance work in a vessel.
His colleague A Dladla sustained injuries and was rushed to Mondi’s onsite clinic before being transported to Netcare The Bay Hospital for further treatment. However, he sadly passed on from his injuries on Saturday.
According to the Richards Bay SAP, a safety officer on shift heard a loud noise before running to the ‘scaffolding room’.
‘He demanded everyone to leave the premises, but the incident had already occurred,’ said SAP Richards Bay spokesperson Debbie Ferreira.
The paper mill has since released a statement confirming the calamity.
‘Mondi regrets to advise that a contractor employee was fatally injured on the morning of 10 October during scheduled maintenance work at the Richards Bay mill.
‘A second employee of the same company sustained injuries and subsequently died on Saturday.
‘The company’s emergency procedures were immediately activated and relevant authorities were notified and are visiting the site.’
Mondi South Africa’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ron Trail also expressed his sympathies to loved ones mourning the losses.
‘Mondi extends its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.
‘A detailed investigation into the accident which occurred in a boiler has commenced,’ he said.
10 OCTOBER
A MAN died in the early hours of Thursday at the Mondi mill in Richards Bay.
According to unconfirmed reports the contractor was working inside one of the vessels when a piece of the structure fell on him.
Mondi released the following statement:
Mondi regrets to advise that a contractor employee was fatally injured on the morning of 10 October 2013 during scheduled maintenance work at the Richards Bay mill.
A second employee of the same company sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment.
The company’s emergency procedures were immediately activated and relevant authorities were notified and are visiting the site.
Mondi will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the accident.
