Glencore’s fatality rate across its’ global operations has soared with 16 fatalities recorded year to date an investor group has heard. Amidst concerns from investors, the organisation has pledged to improve mining safety across its’ business.
The climb in fatalities has reportedly caused Glencore to refocus efforts to improve mining safety, particularly across its’ African operations where the largest number of fatalities occurred in copper mining.
Peter Freyberg, Head of Industrial Assets across the Glencore Group told investors that Glencore is “still in a bad place” on safety.
“We know it’s something we have to deal with, and we’re dealing with it,” Freyberg told investors.
Glencore’s pledge to improve mining safety has come following the death of 36 illegal miners at its’ Congo operation, 20 people following a collision that occurred between a truck carrying sulphuric acid to Glencore’s Mutanda Mine, three workers in an equipment fire at Mindola North Shaft and two workers were killed in a South Ore Body Shaft in Zambia
Glencore says it will improve Glencore fatality rate and safety in its’ operations through additional resourcing to its’ African operations. It said 30 additional staff in its zinc business had been added.
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Freyberg said “Our African operations have seen very significant interventions. I’ve been six times this year, and senior management will continue to focus on those [operations] until they’re absolutely right.”
A fact-finding mission into Glencore’s Congo Cobalt operations from the IndustriALL Union in 2018 found systemic human and workers’ rights abuses ranging from constant threats of dismissal, poor health and safety practices, occupational diseases, racism and discrimination, unfair and unjust job classifications, low remuneration, and inferior salaries for local workers compared to foreign workers.
Glencore workers also complained that they were rationed to 750 ml of water per day at an underground mining operation.
Glencore says that the “Management of safety risks is at the heart of our approach to safety. To manage, mitigate and eliminate safety risks, we have built a framework that is comprehensive, robust and well tested”
“We expect every individual – employee or contractor – to take responsibility for their own safety, and for that of their colleagues”
Glencore reported 13 fatalities to the ICMM in 2018 with a fatality frequency rate of 0.036.
Read below Glencore’s position statement on safety.
Safety
Management of safety risks is at the heart of our approach to safety. To manage, mitigate and eliminate safety risks, we have built a framework that is comprehensive, robust and well tested. We expect every individual – employee or contractor – to take responsibility for their own safety, and for that of their colleagues.
Read more Mining Safety News
