OREANDA-NEWS.July 25, 2013. Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company (subsidiary of MMC Norilsk Nickel) summarized preliminary results of industrial health and safety activities in the first half 2013. The scope of activities aims to protect employees’ health and create safe working conditions.

One of Kola MMC’s priorities with respect to industrial health and safety is to ensure availability of specialized clothing, boots and personal protective equipment (PPE). RUB 65.7 mil. was allocated towards this goal in the first half of 2013.

Industrial health and safety division of KMMC continuously searches for new PPE manufactures, whose products satisfy the strictest requirements. The division subsequently conducts testing and introduces such products into the company’s operations. This way, experimental universal miner waistbands have been successfully tested by relevant divisions and over RUB 2 mil. will be allocated towards their procurement. Works on improving the design on shaft self-rescuing unit (SRU) were conducted by company’s specialists together with equipment manufacturer. New lighter model with extended working life – SRU-TM was developed as a result of such works. The model will be procured by Kola MMC for its mining specialists starting from 2014.

RUB 14.7 mil. was allocated by KMMC in the first half of 2013 towards medical examinations of its employees. The Company provides health-care food for its employees in order to prevent diseases. Over RUB 54 mil. was allocated towards such purposes during the first six months.     

A number of activities were undertaken during the reporting period in order to ensure safe working conditions at Kola MMC’s branches. For instance, the works are being carried on switching from alkali to unattended head lamps at Kaula-Kotselvaara mine. The smelting shop wall fencing structure replacement works are nearing completion. The biggest part of program financing is scheduled for the second half of the year and currently estimated to be approximately RUB 76.2 mil.

The company conducts comprehensive examination of industrial health and safety conditions in accordance with the approved annual schedule. The monitoring is carried out every shift and on weekly basis. Additionally, 6 comprehensive examinations were conducted and over 700 workers and managers of Kola MMC and its subsidiaries have undergone industrial health and safety certification, starting from the beginning of the year.