Our people
Our Zero Harm approach extends to our people. We actively support the health, safety and wellbeing of ourselves and our colleagues. No task is so important that we cannot take the time to do it safely.
Health and wellness
Our employees’ health and wellbeing is crucial. By promoting good health, we encourage a happier and more productive worker who typically enjoys a happy, healthy home life.
Our health programs promote the health and wellbeing of our employees and their families via a range of activities including information sessions, health checks and community events. Our current ‘Am I Fit For Work?’ program aims to address a holistic range of issues which may impact a person’s fitness for work, including:
- Mental health
- Physical fitness
- Illness
- Drugs and alcohol
- Fatigue
Our commitment to health and wellness was recognised with an award for Health Excellence at the 2016 NSW Mining Health, Safety Environment and Community awards.
Additionally, our monitoring and medical surveillance programs support a safe and healthy working environment. Monitoring assists in assessing occupational health risks and reviewing controls with a focus on dust, noise, diesel particulates and drinking water quality.
Safety
At Northparkes, safety is everybody’s responsibility, as we are all on the journey to achieve Zero Harm together.
We realise that safe work practices don’t stop when you leave work and we encourage employees to apply these standards at home and in the local community.
While safety is everybody’s job, we also have a Safety team at Northparkes who aim to make a difference through strong safety leadership and teamwork by proactively resolving safety issues.
The Northparkes Emergency Response team (ERT) respond to any emergency or incident onsite.
Members of the team are trained at various levels in first aid, road crash rescue, underground search and rescue, HAZMAT, CABA and fire-fighting.
The Northparkes ERT were overall winners at the national Victorian Mines Rescue competition in 2009, 2014 and 2015. In 2016 the team placed third overall, winning four of the eight challenges and coming first for safety.
An Emergency Response Officer is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, their contact number is 0408 138 500.
White Ribbon
We are committed to preventing family and domestic violence. In 2016 we became the first mine in Australia to become a White Ribbon Accredited Workplace.
We are committed to preventing family and domestic violence. In 2016 we became the first mine in Australia to become a White Ribbon Accredited Workplace.
Northparkes is now officially recognised by White Ribbon Australia as a pioneer in contributing to national cultural change to prevent and respond to violence against women.
This means we have implemented policies, practices, training and a workplace culture aligned to the values of White Ribbon.
The program is rigorous. Accredited workplaces must satisfy 15 assessment criteria under three separate standards.
We have supported the White Ribbon cause for many years. In 2015 approximately 90 employees attended the inaugural Parkes and Forbes White Ribbon marches, and 115 male employees and contractors had their photo taken and added to a “swear the oath” graphic shared on social media.
Employees also ran fundraisers for local domestic violence services. We are proud that our team is living and breathing the White Ribbon message.
