Our sustainability strategy includes an objective to become a leader in the protection and improvement of our people’s and communities’ wellbeing. Although challenges vary widely across the Group, we are developing a consistent approach across our assets.
Occupational health management strategy
During 2015, we developed a formal Group health management strategy. This addresses the health risks facing our workforce, their families and the communities inside and outside our gates. The strategy has three pillars, which build on what we have already accomplished at individual assets.
We aim to systematise the work already done and support our assets in understanding and managing the health-related risks they face. We also aim to capture and promote leading practice throughout the Group. We will roll out the strategy in 2016.
Examples of current programmes
- We are currently reviewing our metrics and definitions to ensure full alignment with the ICMM definitions, and that they are used consistently across the Group; this has been a particular priority at two of our focus assets, Mopani and Kazzinc.
- We are reviewing assets with particularly high levels of new cases, focusing on the use and maintenance of PPE and local medical record-keeping: Kazzinc is an example where it was necessary to completely overhaul occupational disease management practice, which has already yielded significant results.
- At our South African operations, our efforts to combat HIV/AIDS through a combination of education, testing, counselling and treatment have allowed those of our workforce who are HIV+ to maintain productive lives. We continue to work with NGOs and local government to strengthen our outreach efforts to schoolchildren and other community members to educate them about this disease.