The safety of all employees while on duty is a key strategic objective. The group safety policy is based on the key resolutions adopted at the group safety summit held in February 2006, and entrenches the firm belief that mining, and underground mining in particular, can be undertaken without causing injury and harm.
All Implats' operations in both South Africa and Zimbabwe have aligned their operational safety strategies and plans with those of the group. Practically, implementation of 'visible, felt leadership' is showing positive results. In terms of this initiative, supervisors and management ensure that safety is not compromised in any way by taking responsibility for employee safety, leading by example, and encouraging positive and discouraging negative safety behaviour.
Allied to this is the intolerance of non-conformance with Implats' safety standards and procedures, which are enshrined within operation specific Platinum Rules. To achieve the group's long-term goal of ‘Zero Harm’, an intermediate goal has been set to achieve 12 consecutive months free of lost-time injuries by FY2012. This is a significant target but one which we believe is achievable.
A board sub-committee has oversight of both safety performance and goal setting. Further details of this committee are provided under the Corporate governance section. An executive responsible for safety, health and environment at a group level was appointed and will drive goal setting, strategy development, performance management and reporting.
Overall, safety performance at Implats improved in FY2008. Regrettably, there were 12 fatalities at Implats' managed operations (FY2007: 13 fatalities) – five at Impala Rustenburg, three at Marula, three at Zimplats and one at Mimosa.
The group fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) was 0.10 per million hours worked (FY2007: 0.12), an improvement of 21% on the previous year. The group lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) was 2.92 per million man hours worked (FY2007: 3.48), declining by 16% and the best annual performance achieved by Implats to date. The LTIFR improved at all operations other than Zimplats.
The causes of the fatalities were primarily falls of ground (50%), explosives (26%) and machinery (16%). Specific action plans were compiled and implemented to ensure that working areas are safe, high-risk fall-of-ground conditions are identified and barring practices conform to standard. These initiatives have played an important part in reducing the incidence of fatal accidents, particularly as a result of falls of ground.
A relatively high turnover of staff, especially at supervisory level, and the subsequent employment of less experienced members of staff, also had a deleterious effect on efforts to maintain safety and achieve targets. As a consequence, particularly at Zimplats and Marula, greater emphasis was placed on the frequency and intensity of training sessions.
Impala – Rustenburg: While safety performance improved, particularly with regard to falls of ground, these remain the most significant safety risk. The fall of ground safety campaign was reinforced and involves a newly developed workplace entry examination procedure, including improved barring techniques, ongoing assessment of ground conditions and regular communication with supervisors.
Impala – Refineries: Just one lost-time injury was recorded in FY2008. The focus during the period was on contractor safety given the expansions currently taking place.
Marula: Supervisors received instruction on applying zero tolerance to non-compliance with safety standards and the constant display of visible-felt leadership. All employees received refresher training on the safe disposal of explosives and the safe parking of LHDs.
Zimplats: The deterioration in safety follows two fatality-free years and was a consequence of the high staff turnover where a lack of experience resulted in inadequate assessments of pre-task risks. Management introduced the visible felt leadership programme, extended the length of induction training, and adopted OHSAS 18001.
Mimosa: Increased efforts were made to improve behaviour-based training and a policy of zero tolerance to sub-standard safety practices was enforced. In addition, the risk assessment system was improved. The fitting of canopies to the LHDs, the enforcement of the mining cycle, adherence to safety standards and a campaign to further prevent falls of ground were implemented.
Implats - Annual Report 2008
| Forward-looking statements