Flush from winning a key round in litigation against the gold-mining industry on behalf of victims of silicosis this year, lawyer Richard Spoor is set to launch a similar case next year, also at the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg), says a Business Times report. The case involves 22 former coal miners who say they contracted lung diseases after working at petrochemicals giant Sasol. ‘We are very confident. This is a winnable case,’ Spoor said.

‘Sasol runs better coal mines in terms of health and safety (than other coal-mining houses). That is why we are targeting it. The others could be even worse,’ he said. ‘We have the 22 people with good cases, no controversies. They have all worked on different collieries owned by Sasol.’ The two types of disease the former employees have are coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

According to Business Times, Spoor argues in court papers that coal dust is a noxious substance which, if inhaled in significant quantities, causes lung disease. In its papers, Sasol said some of the mineworkers had waited more than three years to decide to sue the company after finding out they were ill, and could not now legitimately claim anything. Sasol had made sure the miners knew how to use the protective equipment given to them, the company said.

Full Business Times report subscription needed)