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Safety, health and environment
We aspire to be a good international citizen through our endeavours to contribute to sustainable development challenges facing the world
Commitment to safety, health, environment and sustainable development
Safety, health and environment (SHE) is an integral part of our business and a critical pillar of our success in achieving sustainable development. As part of our programme of continual improvement towards our vision of zero harm, we publicly report on our safety, health and environment performance.
We aspire to be a good international citizen through our endeavours to contribute to sustainable development challenges facing the world, hence our keen interest and participation in SHE issues beyond the call of law and, most importantly, on international treaties to which South Africa is a signatory.
We will sustain our SHE programmes through smart partnerships with all our stakeholders and periodically review our policy and management standards to ensure they are appropriate and relevant to the organisation.
A formal SHE policy informs most of our SHE-related work beyond our mine gates or work that the government may perceive as contributing to the well-being of South Africans.
Our SHE governance model has a focused compliance approach, meeting legislative requirements as a minimum. Proper risk management systems and processes are then modelled around key risks for implementation at operational level. A risk-based approach also informs the way resources are allocated and used within the group to ensure precision, progress and dedicated responsibilities towards legal compliance.
During the reporting period, no significant fines, sanctions for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations were imposed on any Exxaro operations.
Safety
At industry level
Safety is one of the biggest issues facing the South African and international mining industries, and local experts have set new goals and deadlines for getting the country’s safety statistics in line with global standards.
In 2003, the mining sector set a series of sector targets on safety and health, with the goal of reducing injuries and fatalities by 20% per annum for the following 10 years. When members met at a summit in 2005, they realised not much progress had been made.
Accordingly, the chamber has adopted a Mining Occupational Safety and Health best-practice system, with the deadline of 2013 for achieving these industry-wide goals. Four task teams will address particular issues, namely noise, dust, falls of ground, capacity building and leadership. One example of the work being done by a task team is investigation into a fogging system that could reduce dust in mining operations.
At Exxaro, we are working towards a 30% per annum overall safety improvement. We are earning from processes used abroad, and focusing on adopting the new system identified by the chamber.
Keeping our people safe
Our target is zero injuries and, therefore, zero fatalities. Our aim is to achieve this through stringent application of management protocols, programmes and systems. Formal management-worker health and safety committees are in place at all operations, and meet regularly to ensure we reach those targets.
Immediate management action is supporting our drive towards zero harm, with highlights already recorded at these business units including:
- Staffing high-risk areas with additional safety practitioners
- Retraining safety representatives
- Coaching and reinforcing the practice of using mini-HIRAs (hazard identification and risk assessments) before every task
- Implementation of a structured visible felt leadership (VFL) programme (a formal and monitored process in which leaders spend time with employees at work to focus on safety, reinforce positive behaviour and correct negative actions).
Although key risks differ by operation, the group’s major challenges are vehicle incidents, energy and machinery isolation, and risk awareness and discipline at all levels. Skills shortages effectively exacerbate these challenges and ensuring the group has sufficient trained people remains a priority.
A number of initiatives were launched in 2007 to address these risks, supported by corporate audits and incident investigations in the review period. Results to date have been satisfactory:
- The roll out of revised I Care fatal risk controls is ensuring special emphasis on the risks responsible for fatalities at Exxaro and the preventive measures in place to manage these risks better
- Revised HIRA standards have been rolled out to all operations and are ensuring a higher level of risk identification and mitigation
- Vehicle safety – revised standards have set a minimum compliance level for vehicles to operate on company property or be used for company business
- Visible felt leadership – improved communication and understanding of key safety risks between management and employees to improve risk awareness and proactively address and mitigate safety risks on the floor before accidents occur.
An initiative focused on incident notification, investigation and communication is in the final stages of development. This will include proper application of lessons learned.
All lost-time injuries are investigated by the relevant business unit manager. All fatalities are investigated by a committee with the appropriate skills, headed by an independent chairman. Each business unit tracks its adherence to standards and legislation through a programme of self-assessments and corporate audits.
Exxaro’s initiatives to improve safety performance extend to contractors at all operations as part of a formal programme:
- Contractors are managed as part of Exxaro’s workforce
- Corporate contractor management standards are in place and adherence is enforced by each operation’s contractor manager
- Monthly inspections to ensure compliance
- Induction and medicals are required by all contractors before starting work
- Contractors participate in monthly SHE meetings at operations.
A policy is in place that details Exxaro’s approach to identifying, preparing for and responding to emergency situations affecting employees and surrounding communities. This spans all known types of emergency including fire, flood, bomb threats, etc. Emergency situations that have occurred have been well handled, demonstrating the comprehensiveness of both policy and training.
Exxaro set a target of zero fatalities and lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) per 200 000 man-hours worked of 0,21 for 2008, a 30% reduction on the LTIFR target for 2007. While there has been a steady reduction in the LTIFR from 0,52 in 2005 to 0,36 in 2007, actual performance was 0,39 in 2008. In risk-specific terms, the leading cause of injuries was lifting and materials handling, followed by energy and machine isolation, vehicle safety, ground control and working at heights. We are disappointed that we again missed our target in a year when the focus was on completing the integration of the former Eyesizwe and Kumba Resources’ systems, standards and procedures. The safety of our people is fundamental to our business, and we will not rest until we achieve our safety goals through collective responsibility, commitment and ongoing focus.
The fatality frequency rate per million man-hours worked in 2008 was 0,13. Our target remains zero, as any death is unacceptable. Despite excellent safety performances at several mines, we regrettably lost five colleagues during the year, four of whom were employed by contractors at Exxaro operations. There were two fatalities at Matla – one in March and one in November, and one each at Hlobane in February, Grootegeluk in September and Leeuwpan in October (non-reportable incident that happened outside working hours). Each case was thoroughly investigated, and lessons learned incorporated into our safety programmes to create an injury-free work environment.
The improved safety performance in the final quarter of the year could indicate that initiatives implemented throughout the year are beginning to have an impact on behaviour.
Health and hygiene
Exxaro is committed to reducing employee exposure to health risks in the workplace. We have also committed resources in responding to the major challenge of HIV/Aids.
Key risks
As a mining group, our major health and hygiene risks are noise, dust and thermal stress. Other risks include gases and illumination. These vary by commodity and by type of operation.
In a systematic process that includes a hygiene surveillance programme, business units identify, rank and quantify their risks. Workplace exposures are linked to individuals, and this informs the medical surveillance programme.
To improve our management of identified workplace risks in the enlarged group more effectively, standards for hazardous chemicals and tuberculosis will be implemented in 2009.
A group-wide awareness campaign that focused on the key risks (noise, dust and thermal stress) was introduced at all business units, emphasising the importance of employees caring for their own health today, to live a quality life in future – even after retirement. Creating awareness of the importance of individuals taking responsibility for their own health and that of their colleagues in the workplace is central to employees understanding the need to comply with procedures aimed at reducing adverse health effects.
Meeting mining sector targets
One of the targets set by the mining sector on noise and silicosis was to ensure that employees entering the industry after December 2008 would not develop noise-induced hearing loss or silicosis.
Following the baseline audit we conducted in 2007 to assess Exxaro’s readiness to meet sector targets, our business units began to implement appropriate corrective actions to enable them to meet these goals.
Occupational diseases
In 2008, Exxaro had 22 occupational disease cases accepted for compensation. These included five cases of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), two cases of pneumoconiosis, and 15 cases of occupational tuberculosis (TB). The increase in occupational TB cases from two in 2007 to 15 in the review period can be explained by the fact that in 53% of the cases, there were co-existing medical conditions which may have contributed to increased susceptibility to occupational TB.
We will continue to focus on implementing hearing conservation and dust control programmes to reduce employee exposure to aggravating risks in the workplace.
HIV/Aids
HIV/Aids remains a challenging disease in South Africa, with one out of every six people living with HIV/Aids in the world found in South Africa.
Exxaro HIV prevalence is currently estimated at 14%. At the end of 2008, 64% of our employees had participated in voluntary counselling and testing. However, at some sites less than half the employees have tested. Our target for 2009 is to get at least 50% of all employees at each site to test for HIV.
The group’s HIV/Aids programme was reviewed and the strategy revised to address identified implementation gaps.
The major strategic objectives of Exxaro’s HIV/Aids programme are to:
- Reduce risk of infection. This includes providing a workplace programme focused on prevention, early detection, treatment and support
- Reduce the cost of intervention by quantifying and reducing direct, indirect and systemic costs
- Minimise impact on financial returns by reducing absenteeism, retaining skills and increasing productivity
- Improve the health of employees and business sustainability (by improving employee wellness and prolonging lives).
The range of services available to employees includes:
- Telephonic support through a call centre
- Lifestyle and nutrition counselling
- Anti-retroviral readiness and adherence counselling
- Anti-retroviral treatment
- Monitoring of side effects and adverse drug reactions
- Post exposure prophylaxis.
One of our challenges has been ensuring adherence to treatment and this will be an area of focus in 2009. Training will be provided to encourage employees to be more supportive to HIV positive employees and peer educators will be equipped with skills to help colleagues adhere to treatment.
Progress on achieving Exxaro’s strategic objectives will be tracked over time by introducing targets on training, testing enrolments and adherence to treatment.
Environmental management
Conserving natural resources and reducing the burden of pollutants to the natural environment remains our core focus in this field. We strive to achieve this by:
- Complying with all applicable environmental legislation –as a minimum standard
- Developing innovative policies and programmes for addressing environmental impacts.
All our South African operations have environmental management programmes required under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), which is one of the key indicators in ensuring that Exxaro becomes a sustainable business. Given that the principles of the precautionary approach recommended by GRI are embedded in these pieces of legislation, Exxaro adopts the precautionary approach in evaluating business opportunities.
To enhance implementation of these legal requirements and the sustainable use of natural resources, draft standards for managing air quality, water, biodiversity, rehabilitation and incidents have been completed.
In pursuit of sustainable development, Exxaro is responding to the global threat of climate change, beginning with successfully determining the group’s carbon footprint. This process will allow us to identify opportunities in our operations to reduce greenhouse gases.
A dedicated in-house environmental management specialist unit is making good progress in addressing environmental risks and impacts to enhance Exxaro’s legal compliance.
Key risks and management activities
Key environmental risks from Exxaro’s mining and mineral processing activities include:
- Water and waste management
- Air quality and climate change
- Biodiversity and land management
- Rehabilitation and environmental liability management.
Water and waste management
To manage Exxaro’s waste water risks, the following management actions were taken during the review period:
- Integrated water and waste management plans were developed for Matla and the char plant. All other Exxaro operations have plans in place, except Arnot, Glen Douglas and Glisa which are planned for 2009.
- Water balances were revised and updated for Zincor, the char plant and KZN Sands’ Hillendale mine. In progress are Glen Douglas, Matla, Arnot and KZN Sands’ central processing complex.
| Water efficiency projects at Exxaro | ||
| Business unit | Description | |
| Grootegeluk |
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| Matla |
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| Leeuwpan |
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| Inyanda |
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| Tshikondeni |
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| New Clydesdale |
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| North Block Complex |
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| Zincor |
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| Glen Douglas |
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| KZN Sands |
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| Namakwa Sands |
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Biodiversity management
Conservation is becoming increasingly important as climate change impacts on habitats and the richness of global biodiversity. Exxaro-owned and managed land has significant biodiversity given the wide geographical distribution of the group’s operations. A summary of the biomes, vegetation types and associated business units is available on this site.
Exxaro’s mine rehabilitation policy and management standard is based on a legal and risk approach – a system of chronological steps to optimise ongoing rehabilitation at operational business units and prepare for efficient mine closure. It also emphasises the fact that rehabilitation starts at the feasibility stage of a mining operation.
This will now inform physical processes and financial provisions, including rehabilitation performance indicators.
Most business units are already reporting on these indicators each quarter. By closely monitoring this data, rehabilitation backlogs can be identified before undue financial liabilities occur. The goal of the environmental rehabilitation department is to report against set ongoing rehabilitation budgets per business unit, in terms of volumes and finance.
Exxaro contributed R54,9 million in 2008 and had R342 million in its trust fund at 31 December 2008 for mine closure activities. Annually updating rehabilitation provisions also guides potential rehabilitation optimisation alternatives that will decrease the closure liabilities of mines in the long term.
Land management
Land management is aimed at reducing or preventing various business-related risks, such as:
- Safety – previously mined areas, ie inactive sites that are scheduled for later rehabilitation and pose a safety risk in the interim
- Environment – risk assessments of all inactive sites
- Illegal occupation or invasion of land – settling disputes.
ISO/OHSAS certification
Nine of Exxaro’s 15 operations have both the international health and safety certification (OHSAS 18001) and environmental certification (ISO 14001). While we did not meet our target of having all operations internationally certifi ed in 2008, preparations are well advanced and certification of the outstanding business units is expected in the current year. To date, one operation has completed the conversion to OHSAS 18001:2007.
Environmental performance – 2008
To measure continuous improvement, all business operations have guidelines for reporting on relevant diesel, gas, electricity and water use performance indexes.
Corporate integrated safety, health and environment audits
Internal integrated safety, health and environment audits conducted by the head of the safety and sustainable development division, and executive general managers, have now been rolled out across group operations. With three mines audited to date, areas identified for improvement include:
- Adherence to standards and procedures
- Severe skills shortages in safety management (establishment of professionals-in-training programme for safety practitioners and implementation of skills retention programme)
- Application of site-specific procedures and tracking operational adherence to standards and legislation through a programme of self-assessments and corporate audits.
Exxaro is also actively participating in representative industry forums to ensure the group develops and applies best practices at all operations.
Case study – Innovation and nature work hand in hand In an example of innovation and nature working hand in hand, the team at Matla are going below the wetland using undermining, a technique typically used when a mine extends under a building, roadway or town. |
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| impact on the Blesbokspruit/Rietspruit wetland that lies above the surface. | ||
| The Matla wetland management project is one of Exxaro’s key biodiversity conservation projects. It is unique in that the water flow and function of the wetland is protected through a shortwall mining design that allows for even subsidence of the area. The entire wetland area will drop by 1,8m, thus avoiding the formation of ponds and ensuring the continued natural flow of water. The flow of water into the wetland is controlled in a way that protects the ecosystem and allows mining to continue without the risk of flooding. | ||
CONTACT
Dr Nombasa Tsengwa
Executive General Manager Safety, Health and Environment
Tel: +27 12 307 4316
Fax: +27 12 307 5329
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