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6. In our drive to achieve zero fatalities, new Fatal Risk Control Protocols set minimum performance expectations for managing critical safety risks at sites
Following the BHP Billiton merger in June 2001, a review of safety performance over the previous ten years was conducted across the organisation. The study identified that, of the total fatalities that had occurred, 94 per cent were single fatality incidents. This finding has focused our attention on the key risk areas that have historically contributed to fatalities within the Company. Fatal Risk Control Protocols have now been developed as a key component of our Safety Strategy. We are committed to eliminating fatalities from our operations.
In implementing the Safety Strategy, it is vitally important that our people believe it is possible to work injury free - regardless of their role or location. Our strategies in working towards this goal have been in three main areas:
- leadership effectiveness
- behaviours and awareness
- rigorous standards and procedures for managing key risks.
All three strategies focus on our people and systems, with two key objectives:
- ensuring that our practices, procedures, conditions, equipment and behaviour all contribute towards creating a workplace where it is possible to work without adverse impact on people, the environment or the community
- developing our people to make the right decisions as they go about their day-to-day work.
Following the review of past fatal incidents, nine areas were identified that required more stringent controls. These are:
1. Light Vehicles
2. Surface Mobile Equipment
3. Underground Mobile Equipment
4. Underground Ground Control
5. Hazardous Materials Management
6. Molten Materials Management
7. Equipment Safeguarding
8. Isolation
9. Working at Heights.
Protocols have been developed for each of these risk categories. The requirements under each Protocol are classified into three broad focus areas - plant and equipment requirements, procedural requirements and people requirements.
People from across the Company worked in teams to help develop the Protocols. As part of the process, the teams looked at internal standards and reviewed those of peer companies.
The nine Fatal Risk Control Protocols are being implemented throughout the Company. Full implementation is planned for completion by June 2005.
Our Energy Coal CSG has developed a review process to monitor and drive the effective implementation of these Protocols. Known as the Fatal Risk Peer Review, it looks at the adequacy of fatal risk management processes and controls in place at a mine, including the Fatal Risk Control Protocols, as well as compliance with those controls. Opportunities for improvement are identified; and, at the end of the review, recommendations are presented to mine management for all identified hazards.
The Fatal Risk Peer Review process was successfully piloted at Ingwe's Middelburg mine last year. Since then, Khutala, Reitspruit, Koornfontein, Optimum, Douglas, Zululand Anthracite Colliery, Navajo and Mt Arthur Coal have participated in similar reviews.
