Minergy strives to become a leader in the protection of our employee’s health and the community’s well-being. Minergy has implemented a COVID-19 Action Plan, which can be found on the Company’s website. In the year under review, Minergy continued to deal proactively with the pandemic to ensure the safety and health of all employees, ensuring employees had the necessary information and protective gear and that they operated in an environment that was safe and consistently sanitised.
COVID-19 remains a challenge, with a total of 138 cases reported since the pandemic’s start, 78 of which were recorded during the full year. Thankfully, all staff have fully recovered. Minergy has spent ~P354 000 on COVID related costs since the inception of the pandemic. Our goal regarding safety: To be a leader in workplace safety by creating a safe working environment for our employees which will result in eliminating injuries and fatalities.
Although, towards the end of the financial year end, COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted, during the majority of the year, COVID-19 protocols were adhered to with all employees and visitors undergoing temperature screening at the mine gate, washing or sanitising their hands and maintaining social distancing. Educational materials were circulated at the mine to educate employees on COVID-19 prevention measures and to be aware of the virus. Minergy also ensured that it could isolate certain sections, shifts or groupings at the mine should a COVID-19 infection be detected. This ensured that the mine did not come to a complete shutdown but that only the affected area was closed and appropriately sanitised.
Employees in that area went through all the necessary medical checks and protocols. Employees at the Masama Coal Mine have access to a First Aid office, ablutions with dressing areas, through the COVID-19 Management Plan, access to screening, hand soaps, sanitisers, wash basins, an isolation room and a COVID-19 vaccination site, periodic medical examinations, the provision of personal protective equipment and the provision of potable water. To ensure a high level of safety, employees have access to continual training. During the year, the following training for employees was undertaken:
- Firefighting training
- First aid training
- SHE representative training
- Working at heights training
- Drilling operations training for drill operators
- Transportation of dangerous goods training
- Defensive driving training
- Machine operator’s training
Daily Toolbox Talks are held by each operating section or per shift before the start of work or the shifts. All employees in their respective areas or shifts attend these Toolbox Talks. There is the ongoing implementation of the SHE Management Plan, as well as continuing development and implementation of the Site Procedures and Policies; SHE Inspections take place, as well as weekly SHE meetings and Visible Felt Leadership Inspections. Furthermore, safety awareness is raised through the “Near Miss/Hit” Campaigns.
To ensure risks to personnel health and safety and the environment are reduced and controlled at a level as low as reasonably practicable, our goals are simply as follows: Zero injuries, zero property damages and no damage to the environment. Comprehensive SHE Statistics are kept in a SHE register, and Minergy is pleased to indicate that there has been no absenteeism since mining operations began.
External organisations are invited to assist in HIV/AIDS testing and counselling at the mine. Condoms are distributed to the employees. Periodic medical exams, including chest x-rays for tuberculosis (“TB”) and high blood pressure, are available on site. There is a plan in place for employees to test for diabetes and cholesterol. There is also a plan for future accreditation of ISO 45001 — Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.