The Journey to 5 million fatality free shifts
In December 2023, Mimosa Mine accomplished five million fatality-free shifts. This achievement follows increased performance monitoring of SHE mechanisms after a fatality occurred in March 2020.
The company reached its first milestone towards five million fatality free shifts, when the mine recorded 365 days without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) on April 2, 2021. This accomplishment was of the highest caliber and set a standard that was recognised at the individual level throughout the organisation.
Following the April 2021 Zero Harm achievement, the company escalated its efforts through an aggressive SHE culture change campaign with the goal of moving the organisation from the stance of “thriving to achieve” towards an outlook of “thriving to sustain Zero Harm”. This was underscored by a transition in theme from Zero Harm is Possible to Zero Harm is Sustainable.
The campaign's programme components included moving the company's focus, attitudes, beliefs, and practices away from mere compliance and towards personal ownership of the Zero Harm principles at an individual level. As a result, focus was placed on enhancing staff knowledge and education about potential hazards, as well as their features and consequences. This is because environmental stewardship and health consciousness are only practiced sustainably when they become embodied in the hearts and minds of people who comprehend their basics and consciously accept them for themselves.
As culture change is better adopted when leadership is at the forefront. Visible Felt Leadership (VFL) engagement sessions where leaders across the company actively role modelled the changes desired were introduced. Employees were encouraged to work safely and correct unsafe behaviors and ownership and accountability for workspaces, materials, tools, and equipment, was highlighted as a pivotal enabler of SHE practices. Additionally, capacity development initiatives, targeting all levels of the organisation’s structures, such as sessions on BSHEMC, trainings for SHE Representatives, leadership-focused courses including SHE Philosophy and Internal Auditing, the SHE Masterclass, SHE Coordinator, and Emergency Coordinator sessions closed any knowledge gaps employees had faced prior to the campaign.
With leaders at the frontlines of this initiative, employees were not only more motivated to adopt the culture change, but also inspired to share their own ideas and suggestions for ongoing improvement and maintenance of SHE practices, making the programme highly collaborative. Leaders in turn also coached and mentored employees on the culture change programme components. As such, all capacity development efforts ensured that SHE was prioritised through the line and BMS was rigorously implemented across all sections of the organisation.
While the momentous achievement of five million fatality-free shifts has been attained, this is only the beginning. Mimosa maintains that SHE is a process of continuous improvement and learning and remains committed to the long-term protection of the environment as well as the health and happiness of its employees.