Safety

SMI strives to create and sustain injury-free, safe work environments for everybody in our workplaces. Zero harm is our goal. To achieve this we make our management accountable for safety performance, train our employees to improve their safety knowledge and skills, make them aware that they have a responsibility to themselves, their family and friends to work and behave safely.

We also ensure that every task undertaken in our workplace has a safe system of work identified and our people have tools and equipment that are fit for purpose and well maintained to complete tasks safely and productively.

In 2007, SMI introduced a risk-management system to identify, assess and eliminate or control safety risk. Safety audits are also conducted across our business to improve safety standards and practices and our safety performance, safety initiatives and issues are regularly communicated to all of our people.

Promoting a safety culture

SMI has forged a partnership with the Tampakan Department of Social Welfare Local Government Unit (LGU) to promote safety awareness to all Tampakan barangays. The objective of this program is to educate community members on the importance of safety as part of their daily routines. It is part of SMI’s long-term program to increase safety awareness among employees, their families and their communities.

As well as providing financial support, SMI prepares presentation material on safety in-and-around the home and trains LGU representatives to deliver community training seminars on the issue. To date the program has been rolled out across 14 barangays in Tampakan, reaching 200 local families. Eventually it will reach around 850 families in the area through monthly seminars. There are also plans to extend the program to communities in Kiblawan and Davao del Sur.

Health

We value the health and wellbeing of our workforce and we encourage our employees and their families to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In 2007, SMI introduced a ‘Safe For Work’ program to increase employees’ awareness of the safety risks associated with drug and alcohol use in the work environment. In developing the program, the Community Relations team consulted closely with the local barangay leaders to determine the best way to tackle this culturally sensitive issue. An extensive community-based educational program is planned for 2008.

SMI also conducts health awareness seminars covering topics including sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria and dengue fever for all employees. Annual medical examinations and free clinic consultations for all employees will be established in 2008.