“Means certainty, reliability, free of all risk, hazard and damage. Means undertaking preventive protection measures in good time and continuously watching out for any work-related risks.”
“SAFETY MEANS DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY”
Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. is consistently aware of the fact that human life its is main asset. In this context, Buenaventura considers that it is its obligation to ensure the establishment of safe conditions in all of its work areas to provide adequate protection for its workers. It promotes ongoing training for its staff and makes its best efforts to provide all technological resources and materials required to control the risks inherent to its line of business. Moreover, the company seeks to engage its workers to commit to a form of work that complies with safety standards, safe practices and safe procedures on the job to prevent occupational accidents.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk Management is based on complying with NOSA standards. It is adjusted to suit the real-life situation of each of its mining operations, which implement Buenaventura’s Health, Safety and Environment System, otherwise known as SHEB.
This is a modern management tool or method designed to guide, educate, train and motivate the entire company work-force to voluntarily apply Accident Prevention, Occupational Health and Environmental protection principles at all times. This methodology seeks to attain a culture of Safety Awareness throughout the company, and implies educating workers to realize that:
Safety is an asset, for them and for those around them.
All decisions should be taken in relation to the value we give to Safety.
We should all have an attitude of responsibilty and be willing to work arm-in-arm for the benefit of our own personal Safety and the Safety of our co-workers.
ACTION WORK PLAN
A Safety and Environment policy
Ongoing training
Communication systems
Accident Reports
Designation of SHEB representatives
Risk Evaluation
Planned Inspections
Sumission of written work reports
Labor check-list
Rescue teams and brigades
Emergency situation response plans
Work permits
Personal protective equipment
HDS for chemical substances
Regular medical check-ups
First Aid
Monitoring of environmental conditions
Plan for Suggestions
Accident investigation
Safety Statistics
Areas of responsability
Internal and external auditing.
STATISTICS
The company’s safety results show a downward trend; the Frequency Index for all mining units and including contractor accidents, fell from 4.2 to 2.7. Severity and accident indeces reached values of 2,081 and 5.3 respectively, which represents a significant reduction from those of year 2003, which registered 3,172 and 13.22.
CERTIFICATIONS
Buenaventura’s Orcopampa and Uchucchacua operations have obtained 5 and 4 star- NOSA certification, respectively. This confirms that the company complies with implementing sound practices and responsibility in managing its SHEB.
