Health

Our approach

The health and wellbeing of our employees, contractors and the community is critical to the success of our business. Xstrata is committed to achieving zero work-related illnesses through identifying, assessing and controlling occupational health hazards and we believe all work-related illnesses are preventable.

We recognise that the health of our employees depends on more than freedom from occupational illnesses, but also encompasses broader well being issues inside and outside the workplace. These include obesity, smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, stress, sexually transmitted diseases and inactive lifestyles, addressed through health promotion campaigns, appropriate access to healthcare professionals and facilities and advice or counselling services. The benefits to our business of a healthy workforce, in the broadest sense, include reduced sickness leave and benefits, lower training and recruitment costs, less likelihood of a work-related injury, and improved productivity. To ensure improvements in health and wellbeing are sustainable, we also support health initiatives that benefit the communities in which we operate.

Xstrata's occupational health and hygiene programmes include the identification of health hazards, assessment of exposure with reference to internationally recognised monitoring standards, implementation of controls to eliminate or minimise exposure to the hazards, and the provision of personal protective equipment where controls do not effectively reduce the risk of exposure.

All employees complete medical examinations before they join the Group to assess fitness for their function and regular relevant medical examinations are undertaken during employment. The frequency of medical examinations varies from annually to once every four years depending on the nature of the role being undertaken, the age and general health of the employee, and the presence of pre-existing conditions. Medicals are also conducted when employees leave the business.

Health risk assessments are regularly carried out for each function and employees and contractors are regularly monitored in accordance with the risk assessment for their function.