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- Governance & Sustainability
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Managing risk, issues & opportunities |
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SHE performance |
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HEALTH AND HYGIENE
Exxaro is committed to reducing employee exposures to workplace
health risks. Our group also continues to respond to the
major challenge of HIV/Aids and has committed additional
resources for managing this pandemic in the workplace.
Key risks
The major occupational hygiene risks are noise, dust and
thermal stress. Other risks include gases and illumination.
The risks vary according to the different commodities and
by type of operation such as underground mine, opencast pit,
or plant.
Business units identify and rank their risks; and have a
hygiene surveillance programme to quantify risks. Workplace
exposures are linked to individuals, and medical surveillance
is conducted on the basis of these exposures. For HIV/Aids,
a disease management programme is in place.
During 2007, we began a process to revise our corporate
standards to manage identified risks better. These include
the hearing-conservation and dust-control programmes. We
are also improving management standards for emergency response;
hazardous chemicals; tuberculosis and reporting. The review
of ourmanagement standard on reporting for the group includes
the planned roll-out of an electronic system for ensuring
the timely reporting of health and hygiene incidents; tracking
outdated and outstanding medical certificates as well as
referrals. |
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Occupational diseases
Figure D shows the number of occupational diseases accepted
for compensation over the last five years: 125 cases
of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), 65 cases of occupational
tuberculosis (TB) and 17 of pneumoconiosis. In 2007,
there were seven cases of occupational diseases accepted
for compensation: three cases of NIHL; two of pneumoconiosis
and two of occupational TB. This was a decrease on the
total number of accepted occupational diseases from 2006.
The most significant decrease was in NIHL from 21 accepted
cases in 2006 to three in 2007, suggesting that the implementation
of the hearing conservation programme is beginning to
have a positive impact.
Monitoring the reporting process to ensure that all
incidents have been dealt with will be the major focus
during 2008. |
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Meeting mining sector targets
Exxaro is a signatory to a letter of commitment for meeting
industry health and safety targets by 2013. The targets for
occupational health and hygiene are to eliminate NIHL and
silicosis by 2013, and Exxaro is committed to achieving these
goals.
Noise areas have been identified and zoned as have the nature
of operations and activities that pose the greatest exposure
to noise. Baseline audiograms of employees were conducted
by 2005 as per legislative requirements and training and
awareness programmes are in place. Control measures include
substitution, engineering, administration, the use of personal
protective equipment (PPE), and personal exposure monitoring.
Similarly, areas where there is dust exposure have been demarcated;
dust suppression measures put in place; PPE provided; dust
levels and employee exposure monitored. In addition, employees
undergo periodic medical examinations to monitor their health.
During 2007, an initial assessment to determine health and
hygiene performance against mining sector targets was undertaken.
This was a company-wide review of the implementation of the
hearing-conservation and dust-control programmes to identify
any areas of non-compliance. A company strategy to meet sector
targets was developed. This includes correction of identified
gaps; compliance monitoring of business units’ noise
and dust control programmes; and communicating awareness
messages to employees on the importance of complying with
these targets. Each business unit has developed its own implementation
commitments and these will be tracked within the group to
ensure Exxaro meets these targets.
HIV/Aids
Exxaro has allocated specific resources aimed at minimising
the impact of HIV/Aids on its workforce. The programme includes:
- Confidential testing and voluntary counselling
- Access to a 24-hour helpline for information
- Prophylactic treatment for employees who suspect they
may have been exposed to HIV/Aids
- Information for HIV/Aids patients on remaining healthy
for as long as possible
- Access to antiretroviral medication
- Fair treatment and no discrimination
- Peer educators at business units to inform and educate
colleagues.
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During 2007, 1 889 individuals in the
group were trained at awareness sessions. Of these, 1
784 people participated in voluntary counselling and
testing (VCT) and the 145 individuals who tested positive
were enrolled on the disease management programme.
The cumulative number of individuals tested through
the VCT programme since inception is 3 542 or 30% of
our employees. Of these, 498 are on the disease management
programme. Figure E shows the number of people on ART
and those who have not yet started treatment as well
as those who have left the programme due to retirement,
incapacitation or death.
During 2008, the focus will be to:
- Encourage employees who have never tested for HIV
to test; and those who have already tested to continue
participating in VCT.
- Focus on employee knowledge of HIV/Aids and destigmatisation.
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