Health and safety
All our employees and contractors have the right to work in an environment that allows them to return home safely each day. Our approach is to look at the root causes of safety incidents and to create a strong safety culture.
Our target is zero fatalities, injuries and work-related illnesses among our employees and contractors. While the rate of injuries and fatalities has declined over the past several years, there were regrettably six fatalities at our managed operations in 2011.
It is everyone’s responsibility to address safety issues: from senior leaders supporting initiatives to employees challenging unsafe behaviour. We also seek to improve the wellbeing of our workforce, tackling issues such as:
- fatigue
- obesity
- smoking
- stress
- depression
- alcohol and drug abuse
Mining operations are often located in or near communities where healthcare provision is limited. At some of our locations, HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are major public health challenges. As the biggest employer in many of these areas, we work in partnership with local authorities and NGOs to improve access to healthcare and support, not only for our employees but their families and the wider community.
