Safety and health protection policy

Safety first!

OKD policy in the field of safety and health protection

Tons of extracted coal or economic results cannot compare with the value of health and human life. We are aware of all the risks related to the demanding work under the ground, where each seemingly unimportant detail is important. To the OKD company, safety and health of its employees come first.

Since 2007, the development of the monitored key indicators of safety and accident rate in OKD (including the employees of contractor firms) exhibits positive figures. A significant decline in the number of recorded occupational accidents is observed, amounting to as much as 20% year-on-year.

As regards the causes of occupational accidents, misestimated or underestimated risks, violation of work discipline by the person involved, unpredictable risk at work or human factor failure prevail.

At the same time, the company developed and implemented the “Safety 2010“ programme. Among other things, it includes regular monthly meetings prepared in collaboration with trade union bodies that are also attended by the members of the company’s top management.

Working conditions are significantly improving, in particular as a result of the on-going introduction of new technologies with world-class parameters under the ground, as well as of the introduction of new and modern protective workwear, and of measurement and indicator technology.

In order to improve staff education, a new and modern OKD Central Training Centre in the premises of the Darkov Mine was opened within the scope of the “Safety 2010“ programme, that would serve all the mines of the Karvina Region, as well as the staff of the contractor firms working for OKD.

In 2008 and 2009, the so-called vitaminisation programme was carried out in selected mining professions. It brought about a decrease in sickness-related absence. In the CSM Mine, the construction of a ground central air-conditioning unit is under completion in order to improve microclimatic conditions in the mines.

In the field of work and operation safety, each mining business unit (VOJ) set its specific objectives in order to reduce the accident rate and the number of emergencies. For example, a regular daily ten-minute staff training before each shift was introduced, safety-related “slogans of the week“ are declared, “safe workplace“ contests are held, as well as other activities to enhance the interest of all the employees in the fulfilment of the defined targets. We believe that every activity in the field of occupational safety represents a benefit to our company.

Awareness and prevention are important

Hence, it is necessary to focus, even more consistently, on the level of awareness of our staff at all OKD workplaces as regards the development and principles of occupational safety in each mining enterprise and in the entire company.

Open communication, based on a verified supply of the required information related to the issue of occupational safety and hygiene, as well as the awareness of the causes of serious accidents are important. Together, we must ensure a higher level of awareness of the principles of health protection as well as of safety and accident prevention of each individual. This means that everybody must work safely in his or her workplace.

We believe that, as a result, the number of occupational accidents both entailing absence from work or not, and that of emergencies will decline, and that microclimatic conditions in the mines will improve.