Occupational safety and health
Case studies
SH32
7.1 Setting the standard - AngloGold contributes to Global Reporting Initiative
AngloGold Limited is a founding member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and has been a strong proponent of the ICMM's drive in support of sustainable development in this sector. An important part of the ICMM's recent initiatives has been the setting of reporting standards and, in particular, producing a mining and metals supplement in support of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Work initiated recently by Dr Dave Barnes of AngloGold Health Service, in conjunction with representatives from Anglo American plc and the South African Chamber of Mines, could have a significant impact on safety and health reporting in all industries in the future.
Says Dr Dave Barnes, "It was apparent that the GRI was rather non-specific with respect to occupational safety and health reporting, so in developing the new mining and metals supplement we have taken the lead, which may be followed by other industry-specific GRI supplements in the future.
"Of note is the introduction of modern concepts such as the use of leading and lagging indicators. Leading indicators are of particular importance in occupational health as long latent periods usually precede the development of occupational diseases. Therefore the emphasis on contributing risk (leading indicators) is more important than counting up disease cases (the lagging indicators) 10 to 15 years later.
"The idea of deriving specific leading indicators from a particular mine's set of lagging indicators (occupational disease) was adapted from certain safety management systems.
"We anticipate that our contributions to the GRI mining and metals supplement will assist in raising the importance of proactive occupational safety and health management in mining."
The supplement will be published for comment by GRI in mid-2004, after which it is expected to be adopted by industry.
LEADING INDICATORS
OHS Management system (GRI-LA14)
Specific (GRI-LA14)
Associated with: information on lagging safety and health indicators,
the findings of an audit, new information on a risk, the significance or
perceived significance of a risk, an organisation-wide campaign to address
a specific risk, promoting an OHS culture, etc.
SAFETY
Light vehicles
Surface Mobile Equipment
Underground Mobile Equipment
Underground Ground Control
Hazardous Materials Management
Molten Materials Management
Equipment Safeguarding
Isolation
Working at Heights
HEALTH
NIHL
Silicosis
Asbestosis
Silicotuberculosis Occupational Asthma
Hand/arm vibration syndrome
Musculoskeletal
An overview of the reporting process using both lagging and leading indicators
LAGGING INDICATORS
Recording and notification (GRI-LA5)
Data and statistics (GRI-LA7)
Safety - Fatalities and FFR; Injuries and IFR.
Health - Persons exposed; New cases.
SAFETY
Light vehicles
Surface Mobile Equipment
Underground Mobile Equipment
Underground Ground Control
Hazardous Materials Management
Molten Materials Management
Equipment Safeguarding
Isolation
Working at Heights
HEALTH
NIHL
Silicosis
Asbestosis
Silicotuberculosis Occupational Asthma
Hand/arm vibration syndrome
Musculoskeletal
Sub-set of specific
leading indicator
categories - linked
to information on
lagging indicators
Noise
1 Has a survey of noise levels
been undertaken?
2 Is the frequency/octave
profile of noise sources
available and used in the
treatment of this risk?
3 Have noise zones been
demarcated? (Areas where
the noise level is
85dBA)
4 Do you have a hearing
conservation programme (yes
or no)? If no score 0 and proceed to the next risk area, if yes score 3 and proceed with this section.
5 Are employees trained in the
risks due to noise exposures?
6 Are noise characteristics
requested for new machinery
in the procurement
documentation?
7 Is the approach to noise
reduction in line with the
order of priority in the "risk
management guideline" ie.
eliminate, control at source,
minimize exposure, PPE
8 If PPE is used, is the selection
based on the characteristics
of the noise source
and audiometric information?
9 Is the PPE issued certified by
the local (National) quality control authority (standards bureau)?
10 Is a PPE compliance
monitoring programme implemented?
11 What is the percentage
compliance with correct use of PPE? (1 - 30 = 1, 31 - 70 = 2, 71 - 100 = 3)
12 Are exposed employees
subjected to regular audiometric monitoring of their hearing? Typically, employees exposed to between 85 and 104 dBA are monitored annually and those exposed to 105 dBA or greater are monitored 6 monthly. However, this may be different according to local medical advice or legislation.
13 Are employees retrained if
they are found to show signs of noise-induced hearing loss?
14 Does information from the
medical surveillance programme feed back into hearing conservation programme?
Corrective actions: A - Management attention required (within 6 months) B - Attention required with time (within 12 months) C - Deviation noted (minor deviation only) Blank - This area is not applicable
%
A B C
Comment
Specific leading health indicators for NIHL