Maintaining the highest standards of health and safety is critical for a business working in an inherently dangerous environment and we have continued our drive to raise standards and reduce risks throughout the year.
NWR has well-developed safety guidelines, processes and monitoring systems throughout our mines and coking plants. Every employee is encouraged to be aware of risks and to take personal responsibility for their own safety and that of their fellow workers.
Our safety record is comparable to worldwide standards and we strive to constantly improve it. Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (‘LTIFR’)* is an internationally used measure of safety, and our LTIFR demonstrates the significant progress we have made over the last seven years, falling by 66 per cent for our mining operations, and over the last six years, falling by 85 per cent for our coking operations. Despite this improved performance, five of our colleagues lost their lives in our mines during the year 2011. These incidents are taken extremely seriously and investigated by the Company, the labour unions and government representatives, with recommendations being made to the Company’s Safety, Health And Sustainability Committee (‘SHSC’) for action.
Our major capital investment programme, Productivity Optimisation Programme 2010 (‘POP 2010’) has contributed to the improvement in 2011.
As well as significantly raising productivity at our mining operations, the cutting edge technology installed as part of POP 2010 has a direct impact on health and safety, by providing better support for roofs and producing less dust.
Non financial key performance indicator - Safety
Mining LTIFR* 2008-2011 (incl. contractors)
* LTIFR = number of reportable injuries causing at least three days of absence per million hours worked. Includes contractors.