Health and safety
Kenmare is committed to conduct its business without risk to the health and safety of its employees, contractors and the general public. Kenmare applies a strategy of zero tolerance with the objective of zero fatalities or major injuries.
Zero tolerance means that:- no one observes an unsafe situation without taking appropriate action;
- no one observes someone behaving in an unsafe manner without requiring the individual to stop;
- no one allows a colleague to work in unsafe conditions; and
- health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Senior managers are responsible for ensuring that appropriate organisational arrangements and resources are made available for the fulfilment of this policy and for monitoring its implementation and effectiveness.
Kenmare's health and safety objectives are to:
- meet, and where possible exceed, all applicable legal requirements and standards for health, safety and welfare of employees;
- demonstrate visible commitment by all line managers showing positive leadership in all matters relating to health and safety;
- seek to eliminate at-risk behaviour;
- achieve and maintain healthy and safe work conditions;
- provide adequate welfare facilities for our employees;
- carry out appropriate health screening of employees;
- provide effective instruction, training and supervision for all employees;
- identify hazards, assess risks and eliminate these where practicable;
- involve employees at all levels by establishing local health and safety committees;
- provide and maintain safe plant and equipment;
- regularly review and, as necessary, revise Group policy and guidance notes; and
- ensure that all contractors and consultants adhere to site procedures.
Health and safety
2021 was a record year for safety performance, with Kenmare achieving its lowest ever LTIFR of 0.03 incidents per 200,000 hours worked. This represents an 88% reduction compared to 2021 (0.25). Kenmare continues to strengthen its focus on empowering employees and developing a culture of personal accountability for safety.
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man-hours worked | 6,959,858 | 7,334,804 | 5,240,163 | 4,888,574 |
| Lost time injuries (LTIs) | 1 | 9 | 7 | 3 |
| Fatalities (included in LTIs) | - | - | - | - |
| Medical treatment injuries (MTIs) | 10 | 12 | 6 | 4 |
| First aid injuries (FAIs) | 51 | 38 | 51 | 49 |
| All injuries (AIs) | 62 | 59 | 64 | 56 |
| Days lost to injuries | 473 | 717 | 343 | 236 |
| Al frequency rate (AIFR) per 200,000 hours | 1.78 | 1.61 | 2.44 | 2.26 |
| AI frequency rate (AIFR) per 1 million hours | 0.14 | 1.23 | 1.38 | 0.61 |
| LTI frequency rate (LTIFR) per 200,000 hours | 0.03 | 0.25 | 0.27 | 0.12 |
| LTI frequency rate (LTIFR) per 1 million hours | 0.14 | 1.23 | 1.38 | 0.61 |
In addition to keeping our employees safe, we also encourage and support a healthy workforce, considering prevalent local health issues. All mine employees are provided with appropriate personal protective equipment and we implement employee health and wellbeing programmes on topics such as HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention. We also provide access to primary medical care and we build partnerships with external health service providers to strengthen our health systems. In 2021, Kenmare launched a new health education programme, called THRIVE, aimed at the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases and raising awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles.
During 2021, communication programmes continued to build understanding of HIV/AIDS and malaria, given the prevalence of these diseases in our region. Over 90 employees volunteered as Wellness Champions, whose role it is to promote awareness of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and other acute diseases. The COVID-19 global pandemic brought additional focus to health screening and response activities.
The occupational health centre operates on site on a 24-hour basis. The professional staff assess and treat any injury that occurs on site and are equipped to respond to any medical emergency situation that may arise. Annual medical examinations are carried out on all Kenmare employees. These are conducted by the Occupational Practitioner situated on site. No cases of occupational diseases were identified since operation of the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine commenced in 2007. In addition to occupational health management, the clinic also assesses and treats malaria cases amongst employees and contractors on site.
Kenmare is committed to seeking and supporting the most effective prevention methods that will reduce the risk to our workforce and host communities. The overall incidence rate of malaria amongst our workforce reduced in 2021, with 1,314 cases throughout the year, compared to a five-year average of 1,492. The number of workdays lost to malaria cases was 3,942, which compared to 4,476 for the yearly average between 2015-2020.
Malaria management programmes implemented on-site
targeted bite prevention and vector control through
indoor residual spraying and larvae control and were
complemented by awareness and education campaigns.
A community-agreed programme to spray the inside of
every house led to a reduction in malaria cases within wider
community. While the number of people getting tested
for malaria symptoms increased by 27%, the prevalence of
malaria among community members being treated at the
health clinic reduced by 21%.
In 2022, Kenmare will conduct an epidemiological survey
in partnership with an academic partner, to develop new
tools and control and management strategies to strengthen
malaria control and management programmes. This
programme was delayed in 2021 by the impacts of
COVID-19 on travel and liaison with government.
Internal HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives have been conducted through a range of communication methods including toolbox talks, newsletter articles, posters, etc. Shirts printed with the HIV/AIDS awareness slogans have been distributed to all employees along with booklets and leaflets providing general awareness information on prevention and positive living. Condom dispensers are placed throughout the site, with condoms freely available. Free HIV/AIDS testing is also available on site including counselling by HIV peer educators.
