Health and safety

The health and safety of our people is our highest priority. Our goal is to ensure that every one of our employees and contractors returns safely to their families at the end of each shift.

We implement a wide range of measures to safeguard the health and safety of employees, contractors and visitors alike. All visitors undergo a formal induction that includes an alcohol breath test, and rigorous health and safety processes depending on their work responsibility and length of stay.

SafeWork program

Glencore's SafeWork program is the cornerstone of our approach to safety – it identifies nine life-saving behaviours designed to keep our people safe and is underpinned by 24 fatal hazard protocols.

Together they help shape people's attitudes to safety in the workplace.

Learn more about Glencore's SafeWork program.

Emergency response preparation

In support of our safety systems, our Emergency Response Team is highly trained and responsive. 

As well as addressing any incidents onsite, the team regularly responds to emergencies in the community, including fires and vehicle accidents.

The team is drawn from employees across site who are trained in first aid, fire and rescue. They work closely with local police, fire and emergency services to share skills and knowledge.

Occupational health

Our occupational health program at McArthur River Mine focuses firstly on preventing injuries and health issues, then on effectively treating any that might arise.

We promote healthy work practices to ensure a healthy work environment.

Monitoring and minimising lead levels is a priority, along with mining health safeguards, such as noise, slips, trip and fall hazards, heat stress, dust exposure and fatigue.

Prevention and treatment

We monitor our workers’ health and encourage them to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their working life. Our health and hygiene initiatives include:

• identifying, monitoring and controlling hazards
• keeping exposure to any hazards below relevant Australian standards
• safe work practices including workplace design, equipment maintenance and materials handling
• information, education, training and guidance on occupational health and hygiene
• rehabilitation and optimised return to work processes, including onsite physiotherapy
• well-equipped cardio and weights gym and sporting facilities
• weekly core strengthening classes, and individual exercise and wellness programs
• first aid and emergency treatment with onsite paramedics.

Blood lead monitoring

We take the monitoring of blood lead levels very seriously and enforce strict protocols to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in the workplace.

Standards we adhere to as a guide for the control of blood lead levels in our people are:

• National Standard for the Control of Inorganic Lead at Work (NOHSC:1012)
• National Code of Practice for the Control and Safe Use of Inorganic Lead at Work (NOHSC:2015).

Glencore goes above and beyond on ensuring the health and safety of our workers. We set our medical removal limit below the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission standard of 50 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL):

• any men with blood-lead concentration levels of 30µg/dL or greater are removed from the workplace until concentrations fall below 20µg/dL
• women should not have a blood-lead concentration that exceeds 10µg/dL, and pregnant or breastfeeding females are excluded from medium and high-risk work areas.