47 apprentices are in the final phase of their theoretical induction before beginning their practical training inside the underground mine. They began their preparation process at the end of 2023. For the next, practical stage, which will begin in August, the group must already have all the tools and knowledge necessary to solve and know how to act in emergency situations.

Safety training and Karin Law

During the training sessions, the apprentices have been instructed on the different situations contemplated in the Karin Law on Workplace Harassment. Carolina Marín, consultant of the Integration Directorate and in charge of Diversity and Inclusion at El Teniente, emphasized the importance of knowing the regulations before carrying out their practical foray into the mine.

“With these training sessions, we aim to provide them with the tools and knowledge about security, and about SATEP and the Karin Law, to understand everything about harassment behavior, and to have clear information when they work in the upper level,” said Marín.

The apprentices are covered by the Social Security Law against Risks of Workplace Accidents and Occupational Diseases (SATEP), and during training they also ensure that the apprentices know the coverage and particularities of this insurance.

Carolina Ovies, a SATEP consultant, explained that “Codelco, being a company with delegated administration, has a system similar to the mutual funds of other companies. It is important to explain the particularities that we have with our workers, and mainly with the apprentices who are workers in training and future workers of the Division.”

Female inclusion in the workplace

Aprendizas is a Codelco training program that seeks to incorporate people from the region into the workforce without the need for prior experience, and has been directed towards the incorporation of women into the mining sector, promoting female inclusion in the labor market. With this initiative, El Teniente seeks to reach 15% female staff by 2024.

Pía Vargas, an apprentice from the health sector, highlights that “these training sessions are important in terms of safeguarding our lives because we have delved deeper into safety issues. We have also been trained in the use of machinery, but always with safety as a priority.”

Comprehensive training reflects the Division's commitment to safety and inclusion, preparing new workers to contribute significantly to the mining operation, under a framework of labor protection and equity.