This conference is organised in conjuntion with AMMSA’s launch of a yearly hard rock safety awards, which is initially focused on hard rock mining. Safety in the South African hard rock mines remains a focus area, as a world leader in hard rock mining the risks encountered remain a challenge, yet some operations have shown specific advances and improvements. The conference will assist in passing on best practice from safe hard rock leaders, and best practice operations will share how they have managed to change people’s attitudes and behaviour, have applied technological improvements and systems, thus managed to reduce risks, and resulted in the reduction of their LTIFR, fatalities, and inherent risks. Portions of the conference will also specifically deal with improving the health of mineworkers as well as reducing the negative impacts on the environment in surrounding mine areas.