Mr. Carlos Hernandez is a Training and Education Advisor at the Chamber of Mines of Peru.
Value-based safety focuses on promoting increased awareness among all company members, in order to become aware of consequences that can cause the way they carry out tasks included in the mining process. That is why, the Chamber of Mines of Peru, provides a presentation on the introduction to mining safety, oriented to students and professionals in the sector.
The Chamber of Mines of Peru, continuing with constant innovation in training programs, has introduced the identification and implementation of values to obtain a safety degree that optimizes the reduction of accidents in the development of projects.
Within organizations, there are different safety levels. The most basic is the called “dependent stage”, where safety is completely dependent; workers perceive care of their safety and health as responsibility of the area supervisor. The next step is that of independent safety, in which each member becomes aware that his safety depends on himself, as well as on the use of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) he uses, such as goggles, ear protectors, gloves, safety boots, etc.
For consultant of the Chamber of Mines of Peru, Carlos Hernandez, “Company managers should seek a much higher level, called interdependent. Where everyone takes care of each other. In this aspect, worker not only becomes aware that he is responsible for taking care of his own safety, but also for the well-being and physical integrity of co-workers”.
“The spark that ignites behavioral change in companies is the modification of leaders’ beliefs, values and behaviors. Therefore, it is necessary for them to understand that search for a work environment with zero accidents should not be a goal, but a consequence of a job well done”, said Hernandez.
Companies should encourage the training of workers, to turn them into leaders within the company. This also helps to develop a state of proactive safety, where employees are fully aware of their strengths and weaknesses. For example, if they are exposed to toxic substances and perform their duties without the necessary PPE, they are at high risk of illness.
Decisions or actions taken by workers are based on four main values. In the first place, we can mention the love of life. This is manifested when a worker decides to make use of PPE, or to follow the recommendations established in the Written Procedures for Safe Work (PETS).
The second great value on which safety is based is love for the workplace. This means that miners practice safe behaviors to avoid accidents while performing tasks, so as not to compromise productivity of the project.
In third place is love for work colleagues. Seeking to create a fraternity climate among workers. Finally, the fourth great value is love for the family, this refers to the fact that the workers have assimilated that it is important to work with the highest possible degree of safety, so that their families do not suffer consequences such as the spread of diseases, etc.
It is also important to mention that when a company reaches the level of interdependent safety, the presence of safety managers is not necessary. Therefore, the degree of awareness achieved allows them to recognize consequences that their actions may have for their own integrity, for their colleagues and the welfare of the company.
As part of the program to be presented at the “GeoMet International Mining Congress 2016”, a series of 8 technical courses are scheduled to be presented, for example: “Value Based Safety Applied to Accident Reduction in Mining”.
Mr. Carlos Hernandez, who holds the position of Training and Education Advisor at the Chamber of Mines of Peru, and has 10 years of professional experience in various Latin American countries, will be in charge of the presentation of this vitally important topic.
