Glossary of terms and acronyms

Glossary of terms and acronyms
ABET
Adult basic education and training, aimed at improving literacy levels and providing learners with nationally recognised qualifications.
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a disease of the immune system caused by HIV infection. HIV & AIDS poses serious challenges for the government and the industry, as South Africa is one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic.
AIM
Alternative Investment Market, a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, that allows smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main stock market.
ART
Anti-retroviral therapy, a treatment regimen for people with HIV & AIDS with anti-retroviral drugs.
BEE
Black economic empowerment, referring specifically to the empowerment of historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs); initiatives aimed at eliminating the economic legacy of apartheid in South Africa.
Charter
Broad-Based Socio-Economic Charter for the South African Mining industry. Document associated with the MPRDA.
Code
The Combined Code on Corporate Governance, referred to as 'the Code', is a set of principles of good corporate governance and provides a code of best practice aimed at companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
CSR
Corporate Social Responsibility.
dBA
Decibels - unit of sound measurement.
DME
Department of Minerals and Energy, South Africa (former name for the DMR).
DMR
Department of Mineral Resources, (formerly DME), South Africa.
DTI
Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.
DWEA
Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
EE
Employment Equity Act (55 of 1998) - these guidelines enable employers to ensure that their human resource policies and practices are based on non-discrimination and reflect employment equity principles at the commencement of, during and when terminating employment.
EMP
Environmental Management Programme.
EMS
Environmental Management System.
FIFR
Fatal Injury Frequency Rate - the number of fatal injuries per million hours worked.
GRI
Global Reporting Initiative - a multi-stakeholder process and independent institution the mission of which is to develop and disseminate globally applicable sustainability reporting guidelines. These standards set out principles and indicators that organisations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental and social performance.
HDSAs
Historically disadvantaged South Africans defined by the MPRDA, this term refers to any persons or communities disadvantaged by unfair discrimination before the 1994 South African constitution came into effect.
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus which causes AIDS by infecting the helper T cells of the immune system. This virus is transmitted through blood or bodily secretions.
HPDs
Hearing protection devices.
ICMM
International Council on Mining and Metals representing many of the world's leading mining and metals companies as well as regional, national and commodity associations. ICMM members are committed to the responsible production of the minerals and metals society needs.
IDP
Integrated development plans provided for by the Local Government Municipal Systems Act (32of 2000).
ILO
International Labour Organization.
ISO
International Standards Organization, a voluntary not-for-profit network of national standards instituted from 146 countries.
ISO14001
ISO standard relating to environmental management systems.
IUCN
International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Kimberley Process
This is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments.
LED
Local economic development.
LTIFR
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate per million hours worked - refers to work-related injuries which result in the employee being unable to attend work on the day following the injury.
MHSA
Mine Health and Safety Act (29 of 2002), South Africa.
Mining Charter
Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African mining industry. The goal of the charter is to bring about an industry that reflects the promise of a non-racial South Africa.
MPRDA
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, (28 of 2002), which came into effect in South Africa on 11 May 2004 and regulates the granting of mining authorisations and prospecting permits.
MQA
Mining Qualifications Authority, a Sector Education Training Authority for the Mining and Minerals Sector whose mission is to facilitate and promote human resources development inthe sector.
NGO
Non-governmental organisation.
NIHL
Noise-induced hearing loss reported as the number of new cases per 1,000 employees identified and submitted for compensation during the reporting period.
NUM
National Union of Mineworkers, South Africa the largest collective bargaining agent representing workers in the mining, energy and construction industries.
OLD
Occupational lung disease - compensable cases reported per 1,000 employees.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
R
South African rand (currency).
RDA
Recommended Daily Allowance for recommended dietary nutrients and dietary vitamin intake.
Rehabilitation
The process of restoring mined land to a condition approximating to a greater or lesser degree its original state. Reclamation standards are determined by the South AfricanDepartment of Mineral Resources and address ground and surface water, topsoil, final slope gradients, waste handling and revegetation issues.
SETA
Mining Sector Education Training Authority, South Africa.
SHE
Safety, Health and Environment.
SLPs
Social and labour plans stipulated in the MPRDA and aimed at promoting the employment and advancement of the social and economic welfare of all South Africans whilst ensuring economic growth and socio-economic development.
SMME
Small Medium and Micro Enterprises.
Tailings
The waste products of the processing circuit which may still contain very small quantities of the economic mineral.
TB
Pulmonary tuberculosis reported as the number of new cases of cardio-pulmonary and non cardio-pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed during the reporting period.
UASA
United Association of South Africa - a South African trade union.
VCT
Voluntary counselling and testing, a programme aimed at encouraging voluntary HIV testing in order for individuals to know their status.
WHO
World Health Organization.