In line with Xstrata Copper’s policies, Energía Austral is committed to the safety of its projects and the people who work in them in both their design stage and their future construction and operation and, in this area, applies the strictest standards.

In this sense, the company seeks to operate safe workplaces and to ensure that its employees have appropriate tools and equipment with which to complete their tasks safely and productively.

To this end, it has drawn up a series of protocols and norms that are implemented and monitored by its Health and Safety Superintendency in coordination with the Operations Superintendency. Among its employees and contractors, Energía Austral seeks to foster a culture of responsibility towards their own safety as well as that of their families and the community in general.

In addition, it provides other training such as workshops on survival at sea and, for supervisors, risk administration and management as well as courses on pre-hospital medical attention, fire fighting and the handling of hazardous substances. 

Through a medical screening programme, it also monitors the health of its employees, their wellbeing and fitness for work. 

Specific safety measures

The Emergency Response Plan, approved in June 2009, is one of the most important safety initiatives implemented by Energía Austral. It is designed to ensure timely and appropriate response to any emergency related to incidents in the company’s operations. 

This is complemented by the risk management system that Energía Austral uses to identify, assess, eliminate or control risks related to safety. 

Other initiatives that seek to ensure safety at Energía Austral’s work sites include the Joint Employer-Worker Order, Health and Safety Committee, the implementation of the Positive Attitude Safety System (PASS), which seeks to foster a culture of safety among workers, and the Emergency Simulation carried out annually.