abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

23 Sep 2014

Author:
Dewald van Rensburg, City Press (So. Africa)

So. Africa: Plaintiffs' experts accuse gold mining companies of distorting science to quash silicosis class action lawsuit

"Silicosis lawyers defend class action", 21 Sep 2014

Gold mines were slammed this week for allegedly distorting the science around silicosis in their bid to quash a colossal class action potentially involving tens of thousands of sick former mine workers or their dependants…Professor Rodney Ehrlich and Jonathan Myers from the University of Cape Town filed affidavits this week tackling the experts who had filed affidavits for the mines. They said the affidavits amounted to obvious bias and attempts to “cast maximum doubt upon, and obfuscate, the known relationships between exposure… and silica-related diseases” The mines’ medical experts… have made several claims, including that the cause, diagnosis and health effects of silicosis are all up for debate…Establishing that silicosis in South Africa is a result of working in a gold mine where dust levels are negligently high is pivotal to the potential multibillion-rand class action, which makes the rival expert testimony crucial to the matter…[Refers to Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold]

 

Timeline

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.