Community safety
We actively look for ways to transfer our commitment to health and safety and knowledge of creating a safe and healthy workplace to the communities in which we operate. Employees are also encouraged to apply workplace health and safety values at home.
We are involved in a number of community safety initiatives. Safe driving is a key focus for these initiatives, due to our locations in rural areas and the fact that most of our employees drive to and from work each day.
Our approach to implementing these initiatives focuses on promotion within our workforce and externally through community organisations, the police and government agencies.
Where existing programmes exist, we provide support, funding and expertise.
Some of the initiatives in 2008 were:
- Kestrel Mine investing $40,000 in road safety, sponsoring defensive driver training for all Emerald Year 12 students. Professional driving instructors gave the students theoretical and practical lessons in driver behaviour, car handling and emergency situations
- The 'Road Safe September' programme at Hail Creek Mine, which focused on promoting safe driving behaviour on the road travelled by Hail Creek Mine employees and families. This programme was awarded the 2008 Queensland Road Safety Award, which recognises outstanding initiatives, inventions and innovations designed to improve road safety in Queensland
- In New South Wales, the Singleton Driver Reviver programme conducted during the Christmas holiday period was financially supported by Coal & Allied. No driving fatalities or serious injuries were recorded in the area during the operation of the programme.
Another community safety initiative in 2008 was the support provided following the severe flooding in Emerald. The Kestrel Mine Disaster Management Team worked with local emergency services to protect property and help residents relocate to safer housing.
This included door-knocking, evacuating residents, providing medical support, setting up and supporting evacuation centres and sandbagging to protect property and public infrastructure. As the waters receded, the Kestrel Mine team also assisted in the recovery and rebuilding process.
Kestrel Mine also provided financial and recovery support to the community, including offering vacant company housing for those whose homes were not liveable. Kestrel Mine employees were also directly involved in the Emerald Council Flood Recovery project.
Blair Athol Mine funded an emergency coordinator to assist the Belyando Shire Community Recovery Committee following the floods in Central Queensland in February 2008.
