Intelex would like to congratulate Metso Minerals on their newly implemented, global safety program! The following article was featured in Mining News Magazine and discusses Metso's proactive approach to safety.
Safety Is No Accident
Metso Raises the Bar with Global Standards
Mention safety to most mining industry people and their first picture is of protective headgear and reflective vests. But according to Chris Adkins, global health and safety specialist for Metso Mining's Life Cycle Services (LCS) team, the future of safety is more in software than in hardhats. "There'll come a time," he says, "when we'll be able to remotely monitor what every single job site is doing from a safety point of view."
To achieve this goal, the LCS team has launched a Safety Management System using Intelex, a web-based safety software application, which is both completely configurable and globally accessible. Best of all, according to Adkins, is the way the system can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of the user.
Configurable System
"With the Safety Management System now operational," he says, "Metso supervisors and managers can manage safety documents, report employee incidents and draw upon continuously updated best practice guidelines from Metso operations worldwide." Furthermore, safety guidelines and information can be configured according to the legal or linguistic requirements of different countries.
Adkins explains that the new Metso system "can also be specified for various levels of management and education, including safety training for particular machines or service contracts." Training courses will be able to cover every aspect of mining safety or can be individualized for subjects as varied as mills, confined spaces and road safety. The Intelex program can also help to assess relevant conditions at a job site and to monitor local governmental or environmental standards.
Standard Practices
There are currently over 440 safety-related documents in a variety of languages in the system and running "live" in eight countries. The remaining countries where Metso operates service contracts should be "live" on Intelex by the end of 2008, by which time the management reports section of the system will also be operational.
Adkins sees Metso's Safety Management System as vital in establishing a uniform code of safety behaviors. "Part of my role is to create standard practices that are equal in every region," he says. "With verifiable results I can help protect and maximize the potential of Metso's greatest resource, our employees".
Adkins concludes, "People are realizing that safety is not a fad. We're here to stay."
"We'll be able to remotely monitor what every job site is doing from a safety point of view." – Chris Adkins
Photo left to right - Neil Hughes (Legal Services & Risk Manager, Australia), Chris Adkins (Global Health & Safety Specialist, Life Cycle Services), Howard Savage (SHEQ Manager, Australia) & Pieter Geldenhuys (SHE Manager, South Africa)
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© Metso Mining News 2008
Metso's safety program is powered by the Intelex Safety Management System. Speak with an Intelex Account Manager about how your business can benefit from an organization-wide safety program.
