BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
Visiting a London-based mining company that operates in Runruno village in Quezon town in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, one finds billboards reminding their employees of the company’s Eight Golden Rules of Safety.
James Carmichael, FCF Minerals Corporation country manager, said the company’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) department posted those billboards in the mining area to ensure their employees’ safety and remind them that it is everyone’s responsibility.
Earlier, FCF Minerals led by the OSH Department launched a training program entitled “8 Golden Rules of Safety: An Empowered Safety Program” to make employees feel empowered to take action and decide for themselves that their safety is in their own hands.
In the field of worker safety, the mining industry presents unique challenges. FCF safety officers said mine safety is achieved through the identification and minimization of hazards that include environmental and equipment-based factors.
Nowadays, they said, miners rely on a combination of safety practices and equipment to improve caution, provide warning and ensure protection from harm.
For FCF, mine safety is an ever-present concern and according to Carmichael, as mines increase in size and depth and mining companies become larger operations that include more workers, safety becomes a new challenge that has been met by the development of specialized practices and equipment.
He said these were designed specifically to provide miners with the warning and protection they need to prevent or minimize accidents.
FCF Minerals has adopted the following Eight Golden Rules of Safety:
Golden Rule 1: Fit for Duty—Do Not Carry Out a Task Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs and unless Fit and Able for Duty
Alcohol, drugs and medications, the impact of personal problems, and extreme fatigue can limit the ability of employees to perform their work safely and productively and can have a serious negative impact on the health and safety of the employee and others.
Employees should be in a physical, mental and emotional state which enables them to perform the essential tasks of their work assignment in a manner that is predictable and does not threaten the safety or health of oneself and a colleague.
FCF Golden Rule 2: Mobile Equipment—Do Not Operate Mobile Equipment Without Being Trained and Authorized
The use of heavy equipment on a job site is vital and necessary to the overall success of the project. However, unauthorized or unwise use of heavy equipment can result in personal injury, loss of life, or severe loss to materials needed to complete the project. Thus, in FCF Minerals, driving and operating of equipment and units must undergo first a competency assessment from our mining trainer before being allowed to drive or operate any equipment.
FCF Golden Rule 3: Working at Height—Never Work Over 1.8 meters without being Trained and Certified
Working at height refers to any work where a person could potentially fall and injure themselves. It could be from a ladder, a roof’s edge, through an opening on the floor, even a loading dock can be working at height. In the general industry, fall protection is required by DOLE-OSHC (Department of Labor and Employment- Occupational Safety and Health Center) for any height change of 6 feet or 1.8 meters.
With this, before any working at heights activity, a permit and certification must be accomplished first. This ensures that all controls are in place and that the person working at heights is fully trained and aware of the potential dangers of working at heights.
FCF Golden Rule 4: Isolation—All Equipment Shall Be Isolated Correctly with Lock and Tag Before Being Worked On
Energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other sources in machines and equipment can be hazardous to workers. During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy can result in serious injury or death to workers. Proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases. At FCF, all workers who are handling servicing, repairs and maintenance were being trained on how to conduct proper lock-out and tag-out and they are required to always bring with them their locks and tags.
FCF Golden Rule 5: Safety Devices—Do Not Disable Any Safety Protection System or Safety Device
Safety Protection System or Safety Device provides additional workplace protection to employees when all other safety measures are applied. Training in the use of safety equipment is essential, to ensure that equipment provides as much protection as possible. When a safety protection system or devices such as fire extinguishers, emergency eyewashes and machine guarding are tampered with, modified or disabled, the risk of an accident occurrence increases.
FCF Golden Rule 6: Lifting Operations—Never Place Any Part of Your Body Under a Suspended Load
Lifting operations pose many hazards, and unsafe working practices can result in injuries, fatalities and costly damage to buildings and materials. A falling load can result in several injuries, fatalities and significant structural damage to buildings and property. Additionally, it will also lead to significant time and money costs. In FCF Minerals, walking or entering barricaded areas where lifting operations are ongoing is greatly prohibited.
FCF Golden Rule 7: Confined Spaces—Do Not Enter a Confined Space Unless Trained and Authorized
Many workers are injured and killed each year while working in confined spaces. An estimated 60 percent of the fatalities have been among the would-be rescuers. A confined space can be more hazardous than regular workspaces for many reasons. To effectively control the risks associated with working in a confined space, FCF Minerals requires that all personnel who shall be conducting confined space activities are well-trained and authorized. A gas testing is also conducted first before entering any confined spaces.
FCF Golden Rule 8: Explosives—Never Handle Explosives Unless Authorized.
Explosives are used in several industries and locations in the Philippines. In mining, explosives are the most obvious form of explosion hazard. Blasts and shots are controlled releases of chemical energy. However, the potential for the uncontrolled release of (stored) energy is also present and can be unrecognized. Unwanted events can damage equipment and infrastructure, release shrapnel and cause injury or, in the worst-case scenario, be fatal. Thus, In FCF Minerals, it is greatly important that the storage, handling and use of these explosives are strictly monitored. Employees who can only handle explosives are those authorized by our regulatory bodies such as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Philippine National Police.