Performance by Division

Codelco Norte Division, Antofagasta Region

 

  

 

EN9Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water.

 

Sustainability management in Codelco Norte Division combines environmental and community actions that contribute to maintaining operations in harmony with the harsh environment of the Great North.

 

1. Environmental Project Classification

 

New investments are developed in compliance with high standards that guarantee their sustainability, through environmental protection measures, strict safety regulatins and a close relationship with the surrounding communities. During 2010, three great projects were authorized by the environmental authority:

 

Modification to the Ministro Hales Mine.

The environmental asessment that sought environmental authorization in 2009 contained modifications to an initiative already approved in 2005, known as Mansa Mina. The project was developed together with the Project Vice- Presidency, and was approved in August 2010.

 

Chuquicamata Underground Mine.

Chuquicamata Subterránea is a very relevant project for the Chuquicamata Division’s Business Plan. As of 2018, it will enable the continued exploitation of the mine of the same name, through a method that will additionally contribute to the improvement of the quality of the air in the city of Calama. The project was developed with the Project Vice-Presidency of and was filed for environmental authorization in January 2010, being approved in October of the same year.

 

Calama Wind Farm.

This is the first divisional project to energy from renewable sources. It received environmental approval in February 2010, and consists in the construction and operation of 125 wind generators, two substations, and transmission lines enabling supply of an average annual production of 766,500 MWh to the Great North Interconnected System (SING).

 

2. Compliance with Environmental and Community Commitments

 

Cooperation Agreement with the Quechua Indigenous Community in Estación San Pedro.

The long-standing inhabitants of Estación San Pedro witnessed the disappearance of their water sources and of the flow of the San Pedro River due to water withdrawal for mining and urban uses, which began flourishing in Calama over 50 years ago. Due to this, the community migrated to the city. In 1998, in the context of the Radomiro Tomic Mine Expansion Project, Codelco committed to the recovery of the ecological flow of the San Pedro River, thus beginning with the mitigation of the adverse effects caused in past decades. In 2010, the Community and Codelco Norte Division subscribed a cooperation agreement ensuring the contribution of 6.5 liters of water per second, to improve biodiversity, social agricultural and livestock development of the community, thus stimulating the earnings of the families in the town.

 

Calama Air Quality Management Plan

A decree was published in May 2009, declaring Calama and its surroundings as a particulate matter, PM10, saturated zone with. This decree was complemented by a Ministry of the Environment resolution that determined the development of a plan to recover the levels stated in environmental quality regulations.

In July, 2010, authorities announced the interruption of the plan to recover air quality and determined an Air Quality Management Plan for Calama instead. This plan was to emphasize PM2.5 and would manage the improvement in air quality observed at the monitoring station located at Hospital del Cobre. This Management Plan is voluntary and will be subscribed through an agreement in 2011 by state organizations, community organizations and companies.

The Division has developed and carried out important environmental and community oriented initiatives to support each of the plans, thus contributing to the improvement of environmental quality in Calama. Some of these initiatives are described below:

 

 

3. Occupational Health and Safety

The commitment to the health and safety of workers has been strengthened in the division, which strongly supports the Value Statement, particularly regarding life as a fundamental and non-negotiable value, declaring that “safety is not an option, it is an obligation”.

In an effort to implement efficient management tools to advance towards a preventative culture, courses and meetings have been held with contractor companies and the joint health and safety committees.

In the same manner, the Safety Committees where Division executives participate are the place where, results, work program progress, and auditing requirements or requests, among others, are discussed. Furthermore, executives carry out inspection visits to the different areas of the Division.

The Codelco Norte Division has reinforced the Visible Leadership safety program. This program defines the different actions and responsibilities to be developed by each level of the organization.

The Division has also developed compliance standards for the Rules for Life, to reinforce the Value Statement and the Corporate Policy on Safety and Environmental Management. Other initiatives developed are evacuation drills, such as those carried out in the Del Cobre Hospital, involving more than 300 people and with the support of the Provincial of Office Civil Protection, the Fire Department and national Police. In this same sense, the new Divisional Emergencies Plan was developed providing organizational guidelines, the creation of a Divisional Operational Emergency Committee and the definition of roles and responsibilities.

Related to the management of occupational health and industrial hygiene, remarkable was the implementation of a program associated to the protection of workers against risk in load manual handling and manipulation.

Also, a Workshop on Professional Diseas Prevention was carried out, with the participation of national experts together with technical professionals of the division.

During 2009 – 2010 a Physiology of Work Laboratory was implemented, where several assessments of the capacity of physical effort and characteristics of workers have been performed. This initiative was jointly carried out with the Ergonomic Laboratory of the University of Concepción.

Within the framework of the National Plan for Eradicating Silicosis by 2030, the division increased awareness of the importance of this program in the processes where silica is present.

 

 

* Includes external, internal landfilling and transitory internal disposal of hazardous waste.
** Corresponds to internal transitory disposal of non hazardous waste and landfilling.
ND Information unavailable.

Salvador Division, Atacama Region

  

 

 

EN9Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water.

 

 

For the Salvador Division, the cultural heritage of the Atacama Region is part of its history, as well as the legacy of its ancestors, who, centuries ago, gave the region the mining character it still has today.

 

1. Environment

In 2010, the Salvador Division, through a campaign of patrimonial recovery, carried out activities aimed at recovering, protecting and raising consciousness about the existing archaeological patrimony in their direct and indirect area of influence. This initiative, developed between May and July 2010, sought to raise consciousness among the community of El Salvador of the importance of preserving the cultural heritage, in order to recover archaeological objects that were in the hands of the community and provide for their adequate protection and conservation. Furthermore, the Salvador Division has lead actions enabling the recording and study of several archaeological sites of hunter-gatherers from the Archaic Period that can be found around the Pampa sur tailings dam area, and also supported educational activities regarding patrimony for students and communities from the Chañaral province.

 

2. Community

During 2010, the Salvador Division carried out educational projects, with workshops complementing the curriculum for all primary schools of the Chañaral Province. At the same time, the Codelco Good Neighbor Preparatory School in Diego de Almagro and Chañaral continued its activities, preparing students from the Federico Varela and Manuel Magalhaes schools free of charge. Over 500 youths benefited from both initiatives.

Infrastructure and classification of samples in the Diego de Almagro and Chañaral museums was also improved through a patrimonial recovery project. Additionally local school field visits to meaningful archaeological sites, were carried out, and aimed at teaching on the respect and care for our country’s archaeological and historical heritage.

In other areas, Salvador Division also fostered the sustainable use of energy through workshops to teach self construction of solar devices. At the same time, and thanks to the utilization of Sence remnants, courses on heavy machinery, electricity and household solar energy processes were executed, providing a substantial contribution towards employability in the province, with over 300 people trained. Finally, the division continued working directly with base organizations, with handicraft workshops.

With regards to native peoples, the division continued working together with the Colla community in Diego de Almagro.

 

3. Occupational Health and Safety

The division is convinced that the occupational health and safety of all its workers is a nonnegotiable value, and therefore implements actions geared to the care of the life and integrity of people. The main areas of action are:

• Leadership. Leadership workshops were held to foster a culture of prevention. These workshops were driven towards own and contractor company supervisors. There were also work sessions on Sustainability to improve communication, analysis, and recognition of divisional management. These sessions were led by the general manager and the Divisional Executive Committee, with the participation of supervisors, contract managers and members of the Joint Committees. Field leadership activities were carried out to provide the organization with feedback on work practices and conditions.
• Behavioral Safety. The “Safestart” program was implemented to foster prevention through the management of worker behavior.
• Learning. The Technical Committee for Quality, Environment, Safety and Occupational Health held sessions to review results, guide actions and set guidelines and transfer best practices. Likewise, investigations of incidents were carried out and the corresponding accident diagrams were made available for their communication. > Raising awareness and promotion. Communicational actions were carried out using all means available, under the slogan of “safety + communication = – risks”.
• Control Standards. Checks on contractor company management were periodically carried out, to assess and improve their performance, in compliance with the stipulations contained in Law 20,123 on Subcontracting.
• Industrial Hygiene and occupational health. Ongoing measurements of risk agents present in the areas, preventive health checks and epidemiologic surveillance programs focused on arsenic, silica and noise were carried out.

• Raising awareness and promotion. Communicational actions were carried out using all means available, under the slogan of “safety + communication = – risks”.

 

ND: Information unavailable

Andina Division, Valparaíso Region

 

 

 

EN9Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water.

 

 

Mining activity in the Valparaiso Region coexists with agricultural and tourist activity, posing additional challenges to the division in the achievement of sustainable management. It is in this sense that care for natural resources and contributions to development become essential.

 

1. Protection of Water Resources

Andina Division’s environmental performance in the last few years has focused on management of water resources. The work has consisted not only in planning the use as a function of availability and with strict compliance with all associated legal requirements, but also in improving the current standard for infrastructure and information and in strengthening a culture of efficient usage.

For these effects, there is a Committee for Water Resources made up of representatives of the different areas of the division. This committee, among its functions, has created instances for dialogue with the main stakeholders associated to the use of the Aconcagua river water resources, achieving agreements aimed at the development of all sectors involved. Additionally, progress has been made in the generation and recording of water resource indicators relevant to the industry that can be monitored remotely and in real time from the Division’s Operational Information Center (CIO), created in May 2010, and consisting of an information platform that integrates all the productive information systems, enabling a view of the processes as an integrated business.

Another relevant management aspect refers to the improvement in water quality of the Blanco River, through the handling of acid drainage. The “delivery of drainage for external use” program is already in operation, allowing the gathering and delivery to external treatment facilities of drainages to discharge clean water into the river, thus improving water quality. Regarding the future, works are already underway for the construction of a treatment plant that takes care of the totality of drainages.

 

2. Improvements in land management

The need to manage territorial organization with respect to superficial and mining property has led the division to work with state of the art technology.

Lately, the division has implemented an on-line system that enables the integration of all geospatial information of the division into one database, allowing the analysis of interference and opportunities for the use of the territory in operations and projects.

The systems allow for the assessment of decisions regarding land use, thus enabling planned usage, in alignment with the projects under construction and in operation, and with the external organization, so as to concentrate activity, and take advantage of synergies and the organization of the district’s territory, resulting in a sustainable use of the territory, and in a balance between economic, environmental and social effects of projects and operations.

 

3. Contribution to local development

The division interacts with stakeholder groups belonging to an extensive area that comprises the Metropolitan and Valparaiso Regions. This area has different characteristics, ranging from the cold and height of the Andes, to the sea, passing through agricultural valleys and densely industrialized and inhabited zones. The disparities of each zone demand an important activity to maintain good relationships with each of the social organizations and the authorities. Likewise, this activity considers projects that may contribute to the development of each of the aforementioned, taking their peculiarities into account.

• Social integration and prevention of drug addiction : One of the courses of action taken by the division consists in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the fight against drugs and different addictions. This initiative is shared with the workers and also reaches out to the community. For example, during 2010 and thanks to the help of the Social Investment Fund, FIS, belonging to Corporate Headquarters, the division supported the Los Andes Alcohol and Drugs Rehabilitation Center, CREHAD, through the implementation of a multipurpose hall to strengthen therapeutic work and to carry out prevention activities, such as training of Codelco and partner company workers, their families and the community at large.
• FOSILA, Consolidation of the project during 2010: consolidation of the Los Andes Children’s Symphonic Orchestra Foundation, FOSILA, was achieved becoming one of the most important children’s symphonic orchestras at a national level. With a new branch on 1215 Santa Teresa Avenve. in Los Andes and the participation of 120 children and youngsters at-risk, FOSILA had emblematic presentations in activities commemorating our country’s Bicentennial in the city of Valparaiso, at the inauguration of the Los Andes Feria del Libro (Book Market) and through a regional tour with concerts in Villa Alemana, La Cruz, Limache, Los Andes and Calle Larga, where they received nothing but praise from over 4 thousand attendants who witnessed the enthusiasm and ability of the orchestra members, who played classical pieces. On its part, Coldeco Corporate Headquarters is replicating this model in the Mejillones district.

 

4. Occupational Health and Safety

The division strongly appeals to its commitment with its workers regarding life as a fundamental and nonnegotiable value. To this effect, it has focused its efforts in the progressive implementation of management tools aimed at protecting the life and health of each one of its workers. Andina has implemented the Behavior Improvement program, focused on perfecting behavioral aspects of the workers, through peer observation and Leadership Workshops aimed at fostering the formation of positive leaders within the organization.

In the same manner, the division has intensified managerial monitoring geared to displaying on-site leadership by the divisional Executive Committee, instructions regarding the proper use of the Green Card, informing quasiaccidents that enables the execution of actions before there are losses to regret, management of high-potential quasi-accidents that enable managing the lessons learned from high-impact events, among other instruments used to maximize safety among division executives, supervisors, and workers.

Also in 2010, a new Superintendence was created to handle natural vulnerabilities and divisional emergencies. This structure took on the 2010 Winter Plan that included the implementation of preventive measures to face weather conditions and their consequences on productive processes in the open pit mine and on traffic in the industrial area.

Each one of these tools has led to the improvement of accident frequency rates for the division, with a drop to nearly 1.0. This is proof of the consolidation of the preventative culture, the main goal of the organization to fulfill the ethical duty that all workers return home safely, thus reaffirming at all times that in Andina Division My Life is Worth More.

 

Ventanas Division, Valparaíso Region

  

 

EN9Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water.

 

 

Ventanas Division was built between 1950 and 1964 in the Puchuncaví district, 164 km from Santiago in the northern area of the Valparaíso district. This site was chosen due to water availability and proximity to the Quinteros and Valparaíso ports, and its relative equidistance to mining centers and projects of the time.

 

1. Community Management

As a part of its annual management, this division is in constant close contact with the community, in order to know the needs and determine criteria for joint work. In this way, the division seeks to transform physical proximity into a relationship based on good neighboring focused on local development.

Standing out among the activities developed in 2010, is the training of social leaders, formulated at the request of the community representatives themselves. Through this space, implemented in previous years, we aimed at deepening both theoretical and practical knowledge for the formulation of social projects, as well as providing communication and effective leadership tools to the leaders. Over 120 leaders from Quintero and Puchuncaví attended the workshops, held in May in the Rosa Agustina Resort, district of Olmué.

Likewise, the division carried out an open houseprogram for the community. The goals of this program were not only to share characteristics of the processes and operations, but also teach around 130 people about the importance of copper production for our country and also the level of professionalism maintained at the Ventanas Division.

With regards to contributions to community organizations, this was implemented through the execution of project grant resources. The best social initiatives for the Quinteros and Puchuncaví counties were awarded 2 million pesos. Over 140 organizations accessed the bases and forms to participate and 81 projects entered the contest. A jury made up of regional and local authorities and company executives chose the 12 winners from Puchuncaví and Quintero, generating initiatives with a high impact for the community.

At the same time, two projects were implemented through the Corporate Investment Fund. In Quintero, and after evaluating that it was an important gathering place for neighbors, closure and embellishment of the external space of the seat of the Communal Union of Neighbor Committees was carried out. The other project was the Educational Container, belonging to youth groups of the Ventanas locality, in Puchuncaví. This project consisted in a space where young people can gather with their peers, with access to connectivity, training and knowledge, through a physical and virtual library.

Regarding actions tending to improve the timely release of information to the community, a summer campaign was carried out during January and February, so that vacationers would take on the responsibility of keeping recreational spaces in Quinteros and Puchuncaví clean. The “Deja tu Huella” (Leave your Trace) campaign was carried out with advertising support such as banners in the main beaches, and distribution of calendars and recyclable bags through trained monitors.

TV microprograms were also recorded and broadcasted through the Canal de la Costa TV channel. These spaces were born due to the people’s interest in knowing more about the work the division carries out with the community, its scope and benefits. These microprograms starred the community leaders themselves, who described their relationship to the company, their concerns and requirements, and highlighted the work of Ventanas Division in environmental and social responsibility issues.

 

2. Environmental Management

Given Ventanas Division’s geographical location, every year this industrial complex focuses its efforts on excelling beyond what is demanded by regulation. Since 1992, it is part of a demanding Air quality improvement plan in the Ventanas area, in the Valparaíso region, with results that have, for several years already, gone far beyond the goals set by the authorities.

Concepts such as respect for life, responsibility, teamwork and sustainable development characterize the focal action points that have methodically narrowed the environmental gaps and marked the identity of the newest of Codelco’s divisions.

A clear example of this is the project to increase gases uptake from the acid plant. Although this division is 72% below the of sulphur emission levels demanded by the Air Quality Improvement plan, it recently started an improvement project that now places emissions 82% below the regulation.

 

3. Increase in the gas uptake capacity at the acid plant.

The project consists in the elimination of the bottlenecks restricting gas flows. With a total US$ 9.3 million investment , treatment of gas was improved, increasing flows from 125,000 m3N/h to 140.000 m3N/h. That is, an additional 12%. In this manner, an uptake level of nearly 92% is expected. This represents a significant effort considering the technology involved in all these processes.

Although the above implies a 10,000 t/ year increase in the production of sulphuric acid, what is relevant about this project is that it contributes with a 3,000 t/year reduction in sulphur emissions to the atmosphere, capturing fugitive gases from the El Teniente and Peirce-Smith Converters.

Another important aspect is waste management, where multidisciplinary work has enabled efficient solutions for the problems posed by the process.

 

 

4. Hazardous Waste Management

Five transitory storage facilities have been built in compliance with the highest standards and at strategic locations, so that material is stored near their source, thus avoiding unnecessary internal transport.

On the same note, we can highlight the managerial efforts carried out to achieve the sale of these products to companies certified for their processing. This has generated an important source of income for the division, and what was traditionally a cost is now becoming a source of income. Six commercial agreements were reached in 2010, with the objective of beginning the removal of materials during 2011, and parallel to this, exploratory processes were begun for the sale of the remaining material.

Thus, Ventanas Division privileges processing its waste in order to minimize untreated final disposal, heading towards solving environmental liabilities once and for all.

 

5. Occupational Health and Safety

Together with the commitment to protect the life, physical integrity and health of all its workers as well as that of the people surrounding operations, Ventanas Division has chosen Life, Always. Protection of workers from work risks demands more than formal compliance. It requires prevention planning and periodical updating of the basic elements of the preventative approach. The division permanently promotes I Take Care of Myself, to foster a behavior of self-care and care for fellow co-workers.

The implementation of a Behavior Improvement System for own and contractor company workers, aimed at decreasing worrisome behaviors and fostering safe behaviors, has been led by a team with a high level of responsibility and commitment, with representatives from the joint committee, directives, supervisors and operators. It has achieved a considerable increase in safe behaviors in areas such as operations and maintenance.

The development of the Occupational Health and Safety Assurance System, for all critical tasks in the organization, has enabled a systematic identification of risks, the assessment and control of associated risks and the application of control hierarchies, to guarantee the health and safety of all our workers.

The visible leadership by executives and directives is a relevant activity in the Division, with a permanent presence in different areas and planned periodical inspections aimed at increasing face to face relationships and communication to foster the prevention and self-care culture.

Regarding Occupational Health, the division aspires to position the issue as a strategic focus in the fundamental support of the value chain. For this purpose, it has implemented a system to identify and control risks, agents and conditions that could cause or predispose to the occurrence of an accident or professional disease. The final goal is to have healthy and ergonomic work environments.

Likewise, the division has implemented an Integrated Surveillance program to monitor the health of workers, through analysis of variables relating to work and personal environments, thus enabling the anticipation of diseases and/or situations that could affect workers.

Additionally, the following programs have been implemented:

• Preservation of Hearing. Identification, follow-up and control of workers exposed to noise.
• Pneumoconiogenic Agents. Check up of workers exposed to potential agents that could permanently affect the respiratory system.
• Heavy Metals. Identification and follow- up of workers exposed to metallic agents specifically associated to the smelting and refining processes.
• Psychosensometric Assessments. To verify that skills are compatible to a specific job.
• Preventative medical check-ups for adults. This considers non-workrelated variables that could directly or indirectly affect normal performance at work.

 

ND: Information unavailable

 

El Teniente Division, Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins Region

 

 

EN9Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water.

 

 

 

Located in the Region of O’Higgins, El Teniente Division operates the largest copper underground mine in the world and one of the oldest in the country, with exploitation dating back to 1904. This forces the division to maintain permanent leadership in safety and use of new technology to make the operation sustainable.

 

1. Environmental assessment of projects

During 2010, two projects that will enable an extended life of the operation were authoriized by the environmental authority and one was filed for Environmental Assessment:

• Rajo Sur (Southern Open Pit): for over a century, the division has exploited its deposit in an underground manner. In the future, and for the first time in its history, this shall be in open pit format. The project, to operate at a maximum rate of 20 thousand tons a day, obtained environmental authorization in May 2010, and start of exploitation is estimated for 2012.
• Exploration and prospection for 2010 – 2015: Exploration and prospection are an essential part of the mining business, as they enable knowing the possibilities for expansion at each operation. In November 2010, environmental authorization was obtained for the exploration and prospection plan for the division for the 2010 – 2015 period.
• New Mine Level Project: it consists in the development and exploitation of a new sector of the El Teniente deposit, in order to maintain average annual mineral processing capacities around 131 thousand tons per day and ensure the operational continuity of the El Teniente Division until 2064. The project deepens the current underground mine to 1,880 meters of altitude, creating new support infrastructure for production. The project was filed for Environmental Assessment and authorization is expected for the first few months of 2011.

 

2. Studies and New Technologies

The continuity of the division’s operations also requires studies and the application of new technologies enabling not only a better use of resources but also to do so in a sustainable manner.

In this context, and as a consequence of the First Workshop on Glaciers, organized by Corporate Headquarters in March 2009, a request was made to the Center for Scientific Studies to draft a preliminary inventory of the glaciers located in the divisional surroundings in order to have an initial updated base to elaborate a strategy. This strategy is based on an increased knowledge through expert studies, the presence and behavior of glaciers identified in the vicinities of the division, and consideration of their state of conservation.

Regarding new technologies, the division currently processes slag from the Caletones Smelter at a rate of 6 million tons of mineral per day, enabling a greater profitability and environmental advantages, such as the creation of a business opportunity out of a waste and the minimization of final slag deposits.

On the other hand, to obtain the corresponding permits, electrolyte processing was started in the Ventanas refinery in 2010. Electrolyte is a liquid containing copper and sulphuric acid, reused to leach smelter dust. In its processing, a solution rich in copper is obtained, which feeds the extraction process through solvents and electrowinning, yielding copper cathodes as a final commercial product at rates of 2 to 4 tons daily.

 

3. Contribution to the community

This region of the country, part of the El Teniente Division area of influence, was harshly struck by the earthquake on February 27 2010. Therefore, and after an appraisal of the situation, an action plan to provide assistance focused on the six most affected districts was set in motion at Rancagua, Machalí, Doñihue, Graneros, El Olivar and Alhué (the later in the Metropolitan Region). Help consisted in professional staff and machinery enabling a medical operation to be carried out, transporting water to areas where it was scarce, organizing a soccer tournament, and, among other works, reestablishing the railway, support of the La Merced church monument, demolition of a fire department, demolition of the Graneros church and support for safety in the Machali School. Remarkable was the contribution of $ 177 million from workers, supervisors, unions and sport clubs of the Division.

On the other hand, and as part of the commitment with the Coya community, a joint effort was carried out between January and April 2010 to improve the facade of 120 buildings located in the center of the community. This initiative lead by El Teniente Division, neighbor committees belonging to the district, and the Municipality of Machali, was intended to nominate Coya as a typical and scenic zone. Prior work consisted of the definition of colors and ensuing training for paint suppliers, together with sensibilization and promotional work with the neighbors.

Once the facades were embellished, it was possible to file an application for the declaration of the zone as typical and scenic by the National Monuments Council. The declaration was issued on July 14th, 2010.

The declaration of Coya as a typical and scenic zone strengthened the participation of the division in the Tourism Board of the locality, where the Communal Union of Neighbor Committees of Alto Cachapoal, the Neighbor Committees of the Errazuriz Projects, the Alturas de Coya Cultural Organization and artisans from the locality are also members.

 

4. Occupational Health and Safety

The Division permanently stresses all issues regarding occupational health and safety, with the goal of achieving 0 accidents at El Teniente. To achieve this, the Division has implemented leadership standards in all supervision activities, worked with the Joint Committees, expert advice, communication and contact with the workers, an ongoing recognition of achievements and compliance, promotion of self-care and an ongoing relationship with contractor companies.

Safety Management focused on people considered the methodology they used, the management of psychosocial risks and people suffering from multiple accidents.

The Vivo la Seguridad (I Live Safety) program was also developed, with monthly meetings where executives, supervisors, workers, Joint Committees, Union leaders and contractor companies took part.

A communicational plan was developed including two mass communicational campaigns to foster awareness among workers: the “Yes, I Learnt” and the “No, Don’t Risk Yourself” campaigns.

A Green Card system was implemented for all own and contractor company personnel. In terms of education and training, an orientation program was implemented and incorporated for internship and graduate students.

In the context of the National Plan for the Eradication of Silicosis, El Teniente Division was a part, together with regional health authorities, administration entities and entities representing employers and workers, of the program’s commission for the O’Higgins Region.

Occupational exposure to solar radiation risk was incorporated to the El Teniente occupational health and safety system, and effective preventative measures were incorporated in evaluation and risk control activities.

Significant improvements were consolidated in a number of preventative health, cardiovascular, nutritional and metabolic indicators during 2010 for the El Teniente Division personnel.

A plan to revert accidents was generated for occupational safety and health: a breaking point has been reached in the global frequency rate, but severe and fatal accidents are still present, as well as new cases of professional diseases.

 

* Since 2003, Caletones Smelter has discontinued measurements due to compliance with quality regulations for Particulate Matter.
ND: Information unavailable