SUSTAINABILITY 
Health and wellness
Occupational diseases
Our workforce is potentially exposed to hazards that could cause a range of occupational diseases. These include noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), Silicosis and Cardio-respiratory Tuberculosis (CRTB), and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The degree of exposure risk varies between our sites due to the nature of our operations. We balance leadership, behaviours and fit-for-purpose management systems, and protocols and controls to protect our employees from exposure to these risks, all of which align with our commitment to upholding human rights.
We manage occupational diseases through our CCM approach and Occupational Health Strategic Framework. We also formed a Health Working Group to consolidate and align occupational health management practices and develop consistent approaches to mental health and psychosocial risk assessments across the Group.
The number of occupational disease cases recorded during 2023 rose to 29 from 27 in 2022. MSDs made up nine of the cases (2022: 10), NIHL eight RA (2022: four), CRTB eight (2022: nine) and Silicosis two RA (2022: two).
Silicosis and CRTB only occurred at South Deep, while MSDs occurred in Ghana, South Africa and Australia. No occupational diseases were reported in Peru and Chile.
DPM poses a risk for employees operating diesel-powered vehicles or working with machinery in confined underground spaces. This risk is more pronounced at our Australian and South African mines than our open-pit operations in Ghana and Peru. During the year, DPM levels continued to fall significantly, and only 3% of personal samples exceeded the occupational exposure limit (2022: 4%).
Silicosis and Tuberculosis
Airborne pollutant exposures and suppression remain a key focus area for South Deep, which recorded all cases of CRTB in the Group and two RA Silicosis cases (2022: two), which were submitted for compensation. While high, the trend is improving amid a decline in respirable silica dust exposures as the mine has expanded the number of dust suppression units.
In line with industry milestones, South Deep has not had any Silicosis cases for individuals who joined the industry after 2008. All employees diagnosed with Silicosis go on a six-month prophylactic CRTB course of medication to reduce the risk of contracting CRTB.
Wider dust mitigation strategies include extensive dust monitoring and measuring, automated dust suppression systems and, as far as practical, removing people from risk. Training, education and awareness programmes, as well as appropriate protection equipment, are provided to employees. Annual and ad hoc medical screening help with early identification.
In May 2018, Gold Fields and five other South African gold companies reached a historic settlement with claimant attorneys in a Silicosis and Tuberculosis class action. A settlement trust, known as the Tshiamiso Trust, was established to execute the terms of the settlement and ensure all eligible current and former mineworkers across southern Africa with Silicosis or work-related Tuberculosis (or their dependants, where the mineworker has passed away) are compensated. By 7 March 2024, the Trust had paid out R1.47bn (US$79.5m) to 16,102 industry claimants.
At 31 December 2023, the provision for Gold Fields’ share of the settlement of the class action claims and related costs amounted to R94m (US$5m).
While no Silicosis or CRTB cases were recorded in West Africa for the past two years, we continue to implement wider dust mitigation strategies in the country, including extensive dust monitoring and measuring, automated dust suppression systems and, as far as practical, removing people from risk. Training, education and awareness programmes, as well as appropriate protection equipment, are provided to employees. Annual and ad hoc medical screening also help with early identification.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
NIHL is a risk for employees exposed to ongoing high noise levels from machinery and equipment. New NIHL cases increased slightly, with six cases reported at South Deep (2022: four) and two in Australia (2022: zero). The majority of the employees affected in South Africa have over 36 years experience in the industry. All new equipment purchased, as far as reasonably practical, should not exceed noise levels of 107 dB(A), in line with the 2024 industry milestone.
South Deep continues to mitigate exposure by applying engineering and administrative controls at all high noise-emitting sources. This includes installing silencers; purchasing less noisy equipment where possible; identifying and zoning noise areas; and providing personalised hearing protection devices to employees. We also continue to encourage original equipment manufacturers to develop quieter equipment through our participation in the Minerals Council South Africa.
HIV/Aids
HIV/Aids is a particular risk for the South African population and is therefore a focus at South Deep. The percentage of HIV/Aids cases increased slightly to 19.7% (2022: 19.4%), mainly due to the increase in our workforce. At end-2023, 979 employees were living with HIV/Aids. We offer voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) to prospective and permanent employees, including contractors, and 98% of the workforce underwent VCT in 2023. We also provide HIV-positive employees with free highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and 580 employees are enrolled in this programme at present . Employees’ dependants can access HAART through the Company’s medical aid schemes.
HIV/Aids is less of a risk in Ghana, where the national HIV/Aids rate is below 2%. However, we offer free VCT to employees and contractors and run several educational programmes. During 2023, 47% of our workforce in Ghana underwent VCT (2022: 61%) and nine employees are enrolled in HAART (2022: eight). We identified three new HIV/Aids positive cases among our Ghana workforce.
In total, 8,184 Gold Fields employees underwent VCT in 2023, while 589 were enrolled in HAART.
Malaria
In Ghana, our employees face a high risk of exposure to malaria. The region has a comprehensive malaria control strategy in place, which includes education initiatives, prevention, prophylaxis and treatment. We also provide mosquito repellent to our workers, support for community health facilities and rapid diagnosis and treatment. In 2023, 460 RA employees (2022: 260) tested positive for malaria. We continue to assist our employees and communities under the indoor spraying programme.
Covid-19
In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared an end to Covid-19 as a public health emergency. The pandemic had a limited impact on our operations in 2023. We continued to screen employees as needed and had no active cases as at end-December 2023. We also did not record any Covid-19-related deaths during the year. Nevertheless, our operations remain ready to implement the necessary hygiene and distancing measures should new Covid-19 waves emerge.
