AngloGold Production Falls After Worker Deaths

AngloGold Ashanti(AU Quote), the South African mining concern, saw production decline in its first quarter after accidents that killed two workers forced a three-day shut down of its entire South African division.

Though the company led its first-quarter earnings release with assurances that safety has improved, four workers have already died in the company's second quarter.

"Safety remains the company's top priority," AngloGold said in a statement, "and operational management continued to make good progress on all fronts during the past year, recording the lowest ever number of lost-time injuries and a 58% decline in the fatality injury frequency rate. Regrettably, the second quarter thus far has been disappointing with four fatalities." ...