Health and hygiene

Exxaro is committed to reducing employee exposure to health risks in the workplace. We have also committed resources in responding to the major challenge of HIV/Aids.

Key risks

As a mining group, our major health and hygiene risks are noise, dust and thermal stress. Other risks include gases and illumination. These vary by commodity and by type of operation.

In a systematic process that includes a hygiene surveillance programme, business units identify, rank and quantify their risks. Workplace exposures are linked to individuals, and this informs the medical surveillance programme.

To improve our management of identified workplace risks in the enlarged group more effectively, standards for hazardous chemicals and tuberculosis will be implemented in 2009.

A group-wide awareness campaign that focused on the key risks (noise, dust and thermal stress) was introduced at all business units, emphasising the importance of employees caring for their own health today, to live a quality life in future – even after retirement. Creating awareness of the importance of individuals taking responsibility for their own health and that of their colleagues in the workplace is central to employees understanding the need to comply with procedures aimed at reducing adverse health effects.

ZINCOR WORKPLACE WELLNESS

Meeting mining sector targets

One of the targets set by the mining sector on noise and silicosis was to ensure that employees entering the industry after December 2008 would not develop noise-induced hearing loss or silicosis.

Following the baseline audit we conducted in 2007 to assess Exxaro’s units began to implement appropriate corrective actions to enable them to meet these goals.

Occupational diseases In 2008, Exxaro had 22 occupational disease cases accepted for compensation. These included five cases of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), two cases of pneumoconiosis, and 15 cases of occupational tuberculosis (TB). The increase in occupational TB cases from two in 2007 to 15 in the review period can be explained by the fact that in 53% of the cases, there were co-existing medical conditions which may have contributed to increased susceptibility to occupational TB.

We will continue to focus on implementing hearing conservation and dust control programmes to reduce employee exposure to aggravating risks in the workplace.

ARNOT TAKES ACTION

Cumulative occupational diseases

HIV/Aids
HIV/Aids remains a challenging disease in South Africa, with one out of every six people living with HIV/Aids in the world found in South Africa.

Exxaro HIV prevalence is currently estimated at 14%. At the end of 2008, 64% of our employees had participated in voluntary counselling and testing. However, at some sites less than half the employees have tested. Our target for 2009 is to get at least 50% of all employees at each site to test for HIV.

The group’s revised to address identified implementation gaps.

• Reduce risk of infection. This includes providing a workplace programme focused on prevention, early detection, treatment and support
• Reduce the cost of intervention by quantifying and reducing direct, indirect and systemic costs
• Minimise impact on financial returns by reducing absenteeism, retaining skills and increasing productivity
• Improve the health of employees and business sustainability (by improving employee wellness and prolonging lives).

• Telephonic support through a call centre
• Lifestyle and nutrition counselling
• Anti-retroviral readiness and adherence counselling
• Anti-retroviral treatment
• Monitoring of side effects and adverse drug reactions
• Post exposure prophylaxis.

One of our challenges has been ensuring adherence to treatment and this will be an area of focus in 2009. Training will be provided to encourage employees to be more supportive to HIV positive employees and peer educators will be equipped with skills to help colleagues adhere to treatment.

Progress on achieving Exxaro's strategic objectives will be tracked over time by introducing targets on training, testing enrolments and adherence to treatment.

COMBATING HIV THROUGH EDUCATION