Health and Hygiene
Protecting the health of our people is as vital as their safety.
In the SSHE Performance Standard, MMG defines what is required for managing exposure to harmful agents, endemic disease, fatigue management and employee health and wellbeing. Health and hygiene management includes health surveillance and hygiene monitoring.
The key processes for the planning and management of Health Exposure Risk is the annual review and update of each operation’s Exposure Assessment (Health Risk Assessment).
Following the annual Exposure Assessment, Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs) are reviewed and the annual Occupational Hygiene Monitoring Plan is developed and executed. In addition, health surveillance requirements are reviewed and updated.
Our operations are also required to develop and maintain site-specific Endemic Disease and Pandemic management plans, as well ongoing induction, training and education for employees and contractors regarding health and hygiene site factors.
We concentrate on higher-level controls with the view to eliminating, controlling or mitigating the hazard source as well as our people’s potential exposure to carcinogens.
Some examples include:
- Sulphuric acid mist: polypropylene balls added to chemical tanks to breakdown bubbles, reducing likelihood of being released into the air
- Diesel particulate matter: low sulphur fuels, engine selection and ongoing preventative maintenance, exhaust filtration systems
- Respirable crystalline silica: ongoing site dust suppression via watering or sprayings, enclosed cabin plant and equipment, exhaust ventilation systems, vacuum usage instead of blowing compressed air
- Welding fumes: mandatory respiratory protection including training
We operate in countries where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, typhoid, dengue fever and other tropical diseases is high. All of our workplaces are required to maintain and implement risk-based Exposure Management Plans.
Our Kinsevere operation continues to manage our employees’ occupational health exposures, key among them is exposure to radiation and malaria. All projects have dedicated medics on site to help the workforce manage health-related issues. Radiation exposure surveillance is undertaken regularly according to strict government guidelines and monitored results are submitted to relevant Congolese regulatory bodies.
Examples of our initiatives can be found in our Sustainability Reports and on wemineforprogress.com.