Diversified miner Exxaro Resources this month launched its Khetha Ukuphepha safety campaign across all its business units and operations, as part of its journey towards zero harm.

The campaign aims to improve the company’s lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) to 0.11 and to establish a firm foundation and culture of further improvements beyond this target to achieve zero harm.

Speaking to Mining Weekly on the sidelines of one of the launch events at its conneXXion head office, in Centurion, Exxaro Resources group manager for safety and health Dr Joseph Matjila explained that the launch formed part of Exxaro’s safety strategy, which encompassed five pillars.

The campaign falls under the ‘talking safety every day’ pillar.

One of the strategic measures under this pillar is communicating the importance of, as well as pursuing, individual safety. It is aimed at educating employees and reinforcing the safety message of the organisation.

As part of the campaign launch, simulations and activations were used to make employees aware of some of the hazards that can compromise their safety, such as the effects of intoxication and fatigue on the body.

Matjila noted that the campaign was being undertaken at a time of the year commonly known as the “silly season” – during which a high number of incidents occur in the mining industry – to ensure employees were reminded of the risks they faced during this period at work and during the festive season break.

The campaign formed part of Exxaro’s journey towards zero harm, and Matjila enthused that the group was on track to achieve its safety targets.

Firstly, it is on track to ending 2019 as another fatality-free year, and eagerly anticipates reaching the three-year fatality-free milestone by March 2.

Secondly, it is targeting zero high- potential incidents, and has thus far in 2019 achieved this, an improvement on the five recorded for the same period in 2018.

Thirdly, the group is targeting 0.11, and is currently marginally above the LTIFR of 0.13. However, Matjila noted that, if no further incidents occurred this year, the group would likely reach the target rate.

Matjila acclaimed these rates as “exceptional achievements”, given the industry in which the group operates, as well as the considerable size of the workforce: 26 000 employees.