UPDATE 1-S.Africa's Sibanye checking mine shaft for damage before workers exit

South Africa's Sibanye-Stillwater said on Tuesday about 1,800 miners might not be able to exit via one of its Rustenburg mine shafts because of possible damage that could force them to use another route.

Rails being taken down the Thembelani shaft at its platinum operations had fallen, Sibanye said, adding that there were no serious injuries caused by the incident. The company said staff were removing the rails and inspecting the shaft for any structural damage.

Sibanye spokesman James Wellsted said that, if the shaft was damaged, the workers would have to exit via its Khuseleka shaft which was 4 km (2.5 miles) away. He did not say how long it could take to bring the workers out, but said they were were receiving food and water.

The mines ministry said it was monitoring the situation and said the shaft's condition had to be assessed before employees could be hoisted up. Safety is a major issue in South Africa’s deep mines and is a concern to investors. Fatal incidents at Sibanye's gold operations, including a seismic event that killed seven miners in May 2018, has raised pressure on the firm to improve safety.

(Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg Editing by Edmund Blair)