The fatalities include three deaths in South Africa, with Bulelani Nongwejane and JD Drotsky from Anglo’s platinum operations and Luyanda Zindlu from the thermal coal division.

Manager Joe Fallon died from an underground explosion at the Irish Lisheen zinc mine last week, while Ronaldo Luiz da Silva from the Brazilian iron ore operations also died during a poor safety start to this year.

Carroll said the recent tragedies were unacceptable.

“We are doing everything that we can to look after the families and colleagues of those who have died, but I want you to know that I am deeply upset and enormously disappointed that this has happened,” she said in her message to all Anglo employees.

“Put simply, our people have a right to go home safely at the end of every day and we are all responsible for making sure this happens. I do recognise that we have come a long way in terms of our safety performance, but it is clearly not enough.

“We are still failing to keep our people safe in the workplace, so I am going to make some changes. We will refocus resources to review the adequacy and effectiveness of key aspects of our safety management practices across our business.

“I will also be addressing safety with our business unit and functional leadership teams this week. Safety is our number one priority, but we need to explore what more we can do to fully live the value.

“I am ultimately accountable for safety in our organisation and am passionately committed to zero harm. I expect and require you all to share this commitment. Zero harm will only be achieved when safety underpins everything we do. Each and every one of us can and must value safety and respect the health and lives of others.”