Health and safety

We aim to operate a safe workplace that is injury- and fatality-free, and to enhance the well-being of employees, contractors and communities. Safety is given the highest priority by management. To achieve our aim of zero injuries, occupational illnesses or fatalities, we focus on the following:

• visible safety leadership;
• appropriate safety training at every level;
• fostering a positive safety culture, behaviour and awareness;
• identification and elimination/mitigation of safety and health hazards;
• operational integrity;
• safe work systems;
• occupational and community health and hygiene programmes;
• monitoring and management of contractors/partners’ safety performance;
• reporting, management and learning from actual and high potential risk incidents; and
• preparing for and effectively responding to emergencies and crises.

Xstrata’s fatality prevention programmes have achieved substantial reductions in some principal causes of previous fatalities or critical incidents at its operations. In particular, underground roof falls and near-miss or actual incidents involving mobile equipment underground have significantly reduced in South Africa, where the majority of fatalities have historically occurred. Nonetheless in 2008, we deeply regret that six people lost their lives at Xstrata’s managed operations, including four fatalities at South African operations. Every incident and high potential risk incident is reported and thoroughly investigated to ensure we learn from them and we implement all appropriate training or hazard management improvements identified.

Injury frequency rates continue to improve significantly year-on-year, reflecting the impact of ongoing training, learning from incident and near-miss investigations, initiatives to address behavioural and cultural issues that impact safety performance and ongoing safe working programmes. In 2008, the frequency of total recordable injuries reduced by 18% compared to 2007, or by 24% on a like-for-like basis excluding 2008 acquisitions.

We encourage and support our people and the communities associated with our operations to participate in programmes which enhance their health and well-being. Our health programmes encompass occupational health, the well-being of our employees and community health issues. At each location, we identify the main health issues affecting our workforce, including global epidemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and implement healthcare programmes in partnership with local health authorities and NGOs.

Xstrata’s South African workforce is particularly impacted by the HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics. Comprehensive, fully funded workplace testing, counselling and treatment programmes are in place across our South African operations. We have also initiated innovative public-private partnerships with provincial government and other partners, to extend voluntary testing, counselling and treatment into communities associated with our operations. In 2008, 97% of Xstrata Coal South Africa employees and over 80% of Xstrata Alloys participated in voluntary HIV testing to know their HIV status.

Our health and safety performance against key indicators is shown on Non financial KPIs, and described on Performance against KPIs.