Zero Harm is the mantra driving Xstrata Nickel’s health and safety program at the Nickel Rim South Mine.
It begins from the moment employees, contractors and visitors enter the site. Large stop signs displaying “STOP and CORRECT” alerts are stationed throughout the site, inside and out. They are a constant reminder that safety is a line responsibility. If anyone on the site notices a safety infraction, it’s the individual’s responsibility to point it out.
“It is not what one person does, but the collective whole,” said Dave Stephen, safety manager. “Our role is to coach, mentor and train, because true safety is a line responsibility and we have to give everyone the tools to be successful.”
As of July 4, 2009, Nickel Rim South had 1,774 days with no lost-time accidents, an exemplary safety record in any industrial environment, yet Stephen adamantly declares it is not a big deal. “It is the way we do business,” he said.
Safety is now, in the present and future. It is an expectation and part of daily work procedures. Stephen preaches prevention. Measures are put in place to use the same kind of root-cause analysis for a near miss or first aid injury as for a fatal accident.
“We put a big focus on little things to encourage the workers to tell us about near misses,” Stephen said, adding that most serious accidents or fatalities probably had early warning signs. By paying heed to the little things, more severe injuries can be avoided.
“Our philosophy on site is to find solutions, not blame. The minute you start blaming, you will fail when it comes to doing meaningful things to prevent a recurrence.”
Every visitor, employee and contractor who comes on site must go through an Xstrata Nickel safety orientation session.
Visitors receive a review of injury, fire and other emergency procedures. The traffic plan, smoking policy, personal protective equipment requirements and a site safety contact are discussed. Any known medical concerns and family contacts are recorded, so next of kin can be notified in an emergency. Depending on the visit, other items may be reviewed. A visitor comment form is also completed.
The employee indoctrination program is a four-hour training session that occurs at the Skead community centre.
Five to six speakers deliver safety information about the regulations in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as company health and safety expectations and values. As of early July, a total of 6,773 people had received a full indoctrination, Stephen said.
Contractors who come on site are also trained and made aware of the safety expectations.
“If they have their own safety policies, in most cases, they’ll work under that, as long as they are equal to or better than the Nickel Rim safety policies.”
The five-point safety system is used on a shift-by-shift basis. It is a five-step checklist used by the supervisor to check on crews and by the miners themselves as they perform their work. Under the safety management plan there are engineer-designed risk reviews and daily safety co-ordination meetings. A third party safety audit is performed annually.
