Tegnologie en gesondheid: myntering op die Witwatersrandse goudmyne, 1886 - 1920.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Myntering was een van die vernaamste en mees gevreesde bedryfsiektes op die goudmyne van die Witwatersrand tussen 1886 en 1920. Daar was 'n duidelike verband tussen die toename van die siekte en die gebruik van moderne tegnologie, veral meganiese rotsbore. Die bore het baie stof veroorsaak en ondergrondse mynwerk gevaarliker gemaak. Deur die ingebruikneming van nuwe stofwerende apparate is tegnologie ook ingespan om die voorkoms van myntering te bekamp. Tot en met 1920 was die pogings slegs deels suksesvol omdat nog die staat nog die mynbedryf 'n duidelike gesondheids- en tegnologiebeleid neergelê en toegepas het.

• Summary: Miners' phthisis was the most prevalent and most dreaded industrial disease on the gold mines of the Witwatersrand during the period from 1886 until 1920. There is a clear connection between the rising incidence in miners' phthisis and the use of modem technology such as mechanical rock drills. The drills caused a large amount of dust and thus made underground mining operations more dangerous. New technology was, however, also used to prevent dust and consequently contain the incidence of miners' phthisis. Up to 1920 these efforts were only partially successful because neither the state nor the mining industry had a clear health and technology policy.