Safety is a core value at New Gold and Peak Gold Mines is committed to preventing workplace injuries or illness. We maintain a dedicated Health, Safety and Training Department that provides advice, services and support across the operation.
Our safety performance during 2008 improved marginally. Whilst the number of Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) was the same as the previous year, the severity of each incident was reduced and the LTI frequency rate improved from 1.17 in 2007 to 1.01 in 2008. This is a positive trend which we aim to continue in 2009 through a strong focus on all safety issues.
During 2008 we initiated a comprehensive upgrade of our Health and Safety management systems to align with the new legislation and recognized standards, including OHSAS 18001. This upgrade is underpinned by a dedicated intranet and document control support, along with a full on-line event reporting, investigation and action tracking system.
The OHS Committee that was convened in 2007 continued strongly during 2008 and plays a key role in reducing workplace hazards and injuries.
A broad range of specialist training programs continued to be coordinated and facilitated for employees and contractors throughout 2008. These programs included hazard identification, basic fire fighting, industrial and occupational first aid, computer skills, confined spaces management, safe use of explosives and workplace training and assessing. Training highlights during 2008 included:
- 7 people graduated from the mining school.
- 5 people completed the OH&S committee consultation training.
- 15 people graduated with Certificate III qualifications in Metalliferous Mining Underground.
- 3 people obtained their Certificate III qualification in Mine Emergency Response.
- 2 people completed their Certificate IV qualification in Occupational Health and Safety
Peak Gold Mines continued to develop the capability of the rescue team and recruit new members. With the Peak Decline providing improved access to the underground operations, a number of risk factors changed. These included the number and frequency of light and heavy vehicles travelling within the mine. As part of a risk review, several equipment items were upgraded or renewed to cater for changes in our risk profile.
Peak Gold Mines also co-hosted the 2008 Mines Rescue Challenge in Cobar during March with nine teams from across the state of NSW attending. The Challenge was a great success and planning will commence in early 2009 for the next event in 2010.