Safety

Safety is the foundation for all of KGHM’s activities. In 2014, a uniform health and workplace safety policy was implemented called „Program to improve workplace safety in KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. to the year 2020”.

It optimizes the already implemented H&S practices in KGHM and augments the undertaking with locally designed good practices, as well as parameterizes actions at the level of individual initiatives. The document was adopted by the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Safety at Work Council, which consists of representatives of the Employers’ Union - the signatories of the collective bargaining agreement - as well as social inspectors from individual divisions.

General aims of the program:

  • Improvement of the safety culture, to reach a state in which safety always has a top place
  • Enhance H&S training quality
  • Greater contribution of employees to maintaining safety at work
  • Implementation of a consistent package of incentives motivating safe conduct
  • Implementation of safety philosophy: safety as a value, not a cost
  • Campaign to promote teamwork as a basis for work
  • Focus on prevention – recording of incidents and elimination of potentially dangerous situations at the source
  • Implementation of a consistent program of preventive health care for the employees of KGHM
  • Introduction of new personal protective equipment and minimizing risks in the working environment
  • Optimization of costs for health and safety at work

One of the greatest threats to the life and health of workers in KGHM’s mines are the natural hazards associated with underground mining of copper orelexicon.png, in particular, the dangers associated with the occurrence of seismic events and their potential effects, in the form of rockbursts and cave-ins. As a result, accidents may happen, with serious or fatal consequences, and damage to underground machinery and equipment / infrastructure, which leads to operational downtimes.

For several years, funds used to protect health and safety in KGHM have been at a constant, high level - to ensure the full financing of specific needs and to meet the highest safety standards existing in the mining industry.

LTIRF indicator for KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

Expenditures for H&S in KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. in the years 2012-2014 (PLN)

PerformanceTotal H&S
201220132014
External services 2 329 371 2 454 834 2 566 134 7 350 339
Training 510 086 509 536 358 769 1 378 391
Meals included as H&S 19 953 497 19 850 465 20 091 472 59 895 434
H&S materials 39 314 881 43 298 065 42 899 638 125 512 584
Compensatory pensions 8 411 461 8 163 545 8 122 035 24 697 041
Health care (excluding medical care package and medical centre at the Head Office) 13 748 204 14 739 432 14 528 082 43 015 718
Total KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. 84 267 499 89 015 877 88 566 131 261 849 507

Amount of injuries, professional diseases, lost days, and absences at work; and number of fatal accidents connected with work, by region and gender

20142013
WomenManWomenMan
Total number of accidents (incidents) at work 2 302 6 382
Number of fatal accidents (incidents) 0 3 0 3
Number of serious accidents (incidents) 0 4 0 1
Number of minor accidents (incidents) 2 295 6 378
Total number of persons injured in accidents 304 388

KGHM conducts systematic seismological observations, using an extensive network of surface and underground seismic stations, spanning all mining regions and fields. Steps are also taken to limit the risk of rock bursts and roof collapses. An example of this are the operating plans, which define the size and shape of the chambers as well as interchamber pillars, the most favourable direction of mine advance, and the optimal order of depositlexicon.png selection. The Company systematically performs so-called rock mass destressings, applying group blasting and stress relieving blasting techniques.

Each accident in KGHM-owned plants is carefully investigated and analysed by specialists. In post- accident protocols the reason for the accident is indicated, as well as the responsible persons (if applicable) and – just as importantly – recommendations aimed at minimizing the risk of repetition of the accident. The circumstances of the events are presented and discussed with the employees of the Company. An example of this are the actions taken after the fatal accident which took place in September, in the Rudna mine. Analysis of the situation showed that one of the miners - despite the provided training and repeated warnings - was under an unprotected excavation ceiling, where entry is strictly forbidden. His death was caused by a patch of rock that broke off from the roof. The sole reason for the accident was the violation of the safety regulations by the fatally injured worker.

After the incident, all underground workers were acquainted with the circumstances of the accident. Special attention was paid to the specifics of work and movement underground. Additional training sessions were scheduled, dealing in particular with the prohibition of entering and staying in unsecured areas.

Accidents indicators

Indicators of accidents frequency (IR, calculated as the total number of persons injured in accidents/ employment x 1000)
20142013
Woman Men In total Woman Men In total
0,109 16,53 16,64 4,42 22,18 20,9
Total number of days of incapacity for work due to accidents at work (LDR, calculated as the total number of lost days to the number of planned working hours of the employees in the reported period *200000)
20142013
Woman Men In total Woman Men In total
0,93 115,46 116,4 1,38 145,94 147,32
Indicator of the seriousness of accidents (calculated as the number of days of incapacity for work due to accident/ number of accidents)
20142013
Woman Men In total Woman Men In total
69 55,78 56,8 18 58,52 57,61
Indicator of identified occupational diseases (ODR, calculated as * 200.000)
20142013
Woman Men In total Woman Men In total
0 0,045 0,045 0 0,106 0,106

Employees with a heightened risk of contacting diseases associated with the workplace

#Identified risks, by factors harmful and dangerous to healthInformation on which types of positions (group of employees) present a heightened risk of contracting certain diseases in connection with professional activities.The number of employees working in hazardous conditions / at risk.Information as to why there is a particular vulnerability of occupational diseases.Description of mitigating actions taken by the organization (including pro- health programs, health and safety programs, etc.)Percentage of workers exposed to a high risk of occupational disease for which preventive measures were taken - including professional risk assessment
1Industrial fibrogenic dust Miners, metallurgists, processing line workers 2 299 Technologies and systems Personal protective equipment 100%
2Carcinogenic chemicals Metallurgists 1103 Pyrometallurgy process Ventilation and personal protection 100%
3Noise Miners, metallurgists, processing line workers 6787 Equipment Personal protection 100%
4Vibration Miners, metallurgists, processing line workers 727 Machinery and equipment Higher quality of equipment 30%
5Hot microclimate Miners, metallurgists, processing line workers 3650 Depth of the mine Central air cooling, ventilation 100%
6Excessive physical exertion Miners, metallurgists, processing line workers 2115 Working conditions Mechanization of operation 60%

Collective bargaining agreements with the employees include health and safety regulations. Among the requirements are the providing of personal protective equipment to employees, health and safety training, and periodic inspections. Employees also have the right to refuse performing work in unsafe conditions, and employee representatives supervise the health and safety audits as well as accident investigations. The Agreement also involves periodic inspections and establishes a procedure for filing complaints. Health and safety issues are also included in one of the three agreements that the Company has entered into with the unions.