Major hazard management
Failure to reduce or control major hazards can result in fatalities, multiple serious injuries or severe long-term health impacts. As with other aspects of safety, we have adopted a management-led strategic approach to major hazard management. The Board HSEC Committee sits at the top of a well established and integrated system that closely monitors the actions taken at each of the commodity businesses to minimise the risk of an event. In addition, we regularly use external experts to check and advise us on our management of major hazards and, where necessary, commission research into hazards that are not well understood. Each commodity business executive SD Committee reviews the effectiveness of major hazard management plans on a regular basis (see Strategy and governance section).
During 2010, our operations continued to pay particular attention to the identification and control of major safety hazards. For example, senior safety experts from Xstrata have been directly involved in the development of the Basic Aviation Risk Standard. All Xstrata operations using aircraft for transporting employees or equipment supplies are adopting this new standard and are in the process of putting the necessary systems and procedures in place to meet it. At the Alumbrera mine operated by Xstrata Copper in Argentina, safety managers focused on refresher safety training during 2010, to address the fact that workers can become less attentive after they have been doing the same task over time. At Xstrata Nickel, the business unit brought in external expertise during 2010 to audit and review the effectiveness of load shifting management systems and risk mitigation measures at all of its operations.
For examples of innovative safety measures at Xstrata Coal, see the case study in the Strategy and governance section.