Key challenges

Wellbeing

Xstrata runs a number of programmes across its operations aimed at promoting and enhancing the wellbeing of its employees and contractors.

These programmes address obesity, nutrition, sleep apnoea, shift work, fatigue management, alcohol abuse, smoking, mental health, literacy and numeracy, and we provide counselling for relationship problems, addictions, financial matters and depression. We also engage external specialists such as medical practitioners, occupational health nurses and counsellors to assist our people.

In particular, studies have shown that the levels of obesity in Australian working men are reaching crisis proportions. Obesity is one of the main risk factors of heart disease, diabetes and stroke as well as high blood pressure and musculoskeletal injuries. It is also clearly associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea and other debilitating illnesses. In particular fly-in, fly-out employees often find it harder to maintain healthy dietary habits and a healthy weight range while working extended shifts at remote sites and a range of programmes to promote healthy lifestyles and encourage exercise have been implemented at these sites. Xstrata's Australian operations have campaigns such as Corporate Bodies, Fat Busters, Working Bodies and Quit Smoking in place to help employees achieve a healthy lifestyle and health management plans for all medium and high-risk employees. Employee assistance programmes also offer counselling services across the Group and health promotion campaigns that link in with state and federal health initiatives such as Quit, 10,000 Steps, Diabetes Awareness Week, Beyond Blue Depression Campaign and Lifestyle Prescription. Similar campaigns are run in South Africa and Argentina, to help employees choose and maintain a healthy lifestyle and assist with any psychological and stress problems in addition to physical wellbeing.