Pasminco`s safety standards were expanded during the year.

A mandatory procedure has been introduced for investigating potentially fatal accidents. Someone independent of the operation is now involved in such investigations.

The Pasminco Safety Policy was reviewed and enhanced, with the objective of achieving zero incidents becoming a fundamental principle.

A timetable of annual audits (by both internal and external parties) of sites` safety and health management systems was agreed, and all operations were audited during the year.

The focus of measurement to monitor safety performance was broadened from the traditional emphasis on lost time injuries to encompass any injuries that result in medical treatment or selected/restricted duties whether or not there is lost time (a measure called "serious injuries").

There were 615 serious injuries in 1997/8, of which 95 resulted in lost time. This compares with 835 serious injuries and 80 lost time injuries in 1996/7. Thus, the Serious Injury Frequency Rate (SIFR, the number of serious injuries per million hours worked) showed steady improvement during the report period, falling from 118 to 77. The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) decreased from 13 to 10 during the same period.

Employee blood lead levels
Worksafe Australia`s national standard for the control of inorganic lead at work sets a blood lead level of 50 ug/dL. In 1996, Pasminco established the goal, in advance of this Worksafe standard, to have no employees with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 40 ug/dL.

Although the target deadline of end calendar 1997 for realising this goal was not achieved, the number of employees with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 40 ug/dL continued to decline during the report period, falling from 80 at end June 1997 to 49 at end June 1998.

Following a progress review, the goal level has been reduced further. The focus is now on having no employees with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 35 ug/dL by end June 2002, which is well in advance of the Worksafe standard of 50 ug/dL.

Safety awards
Teams representing Pasminco`s three major sites in New South Wales achieved outstanding results in the NSW Minerals Council’s fifth annual First Aid and Rescue Competition held at Broken Hill on 8 November 1997. The Broken Hill team took out the Champion Team Cup along with each of the six individual first aid awards. Cockle Creek`s team was runner-up for the Cup while Elura won the Underground Mines Rescue Event.

Presented with the NSW Mining Industry’s Silver Award, Elura was also recognised by the NSW Minerals Council and Department of Mineral Resources for management`s and employees` efforts in improving occupational health and safety systems and performance.

Click here to download PDF files of:

- Operations at a Glance (excerpt from Annual Report 1998)
- Production 5-Year Summary (excerpt from Annual Report 1998)
- Performance 10-Year Summary (excerpt from Annual Report 1998)

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- Pasminco Annual Report 1998 (full report including the above excerpts)

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