Xstrata Copper’s CEO Steve de Kruijff has been awarded the AusIMM (Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy) Jim Torlach Health and Safety Award.
AusIMM Chief Executive Michael Catchpole said the award recognised best practice and raised awareness of what could be done in the mining industry.
“Steve de Kruijff is a man who is passionate about the safety of his people, and has applied that passion to ensure that organisational safety goals are implemented consistently and successfully at the operational level,” he said.
As general manager of Xstrata’s Mount Isa copper operations in 2005, de Kruijff implemented innovations such as the re-organisation of the safety and health functions and increases in the resources committed to training; an inclusive safety communication and improvement system; and a two year study focused on ‘over period of time’ injuries in key underground mining roles, identifying opportunities to make improvements to equipment and task design.
Catchpole said it is innovations such as these that make de Kruijff such a worthy recipient of the Jim Torlach Award.
“The leadership and passion Steve de Kruijff applies to the health and safety of workers in the industry continues to deliver results,” Catchpole said.
According to AusIMM, Xstrata Copper’s North Queensland division achieved more than 3.3 million hours lost time injury free between October 2008 and February 2009.