QED CELEBRATES SAFETY MILESTONE IN MASBATE

By Abe Almirol

For the past six years of operations as a drilling contractor at the Masbate Gold Project (MGP), Quest Exploration Drilling (Philippines), Inc. has reached its goal of 1,000,152 safe manhours with 2,141 days without lost time injury (LTI) as of the day shift of November 12, 2021.

The team has drilled over one million meters during this period.

With an excellent commitment to safety and productive performance, QED started its RC in-pit grade control operations at the

mine site in Aroroy, Masbate with a contract signed with MGP’s owner, Filminera Resources Corporation, in 2013.

QED’s achievement is the result of obeying established safety management systems and guiding principles.

In an interview with the Philippine Resources Journal, Wayne Smith, QED’s contract manager at the site, revealed detailed insights behind their safety performance.

Smith explained that the team in Masbate has been working together for the past nine years.

“Our Masbate operations is basically run by a close team. We train and grow our employee’s knowledge on safety at work and at home to prevent incidents at all times. This process starts from Day 1 of their employment with QED,” Smith said.

Describing QED’s Safety Culture

At QED, everyone understands that a safe operation comes with hard work. Having the need to create a safe work culture requires effort from all team members. Through the commitment of the

management, supervisors, and site safety personnel, coaching and mentoring became an integral part of daily routine for the Masbate team.

“We have to refresh and remind employee’s all the time to continue with our safety culture to make sure we all go home safely each day from work. The same mindset applies with safety outside of work as well,” Smith explained.

The pandemic has extended safety protocols to the households of each member of the Masbate team. Like in the past, the management has constantly reminded employees to practice what they learned from their training when they are at home, especially during occasions like Christmas breaks where people tend to lower their guard against unsafe practices.

This part of the QED team’s “safety culture” has made dealing with COVID-19 easier. To prevent virus contamination, the movement of people from their homes to the workplace must be regulated. Getting used to safety discipline while at home contributed well to the adaptation process.

Systems-based Approach

Safety as a science is basically a system of establishing control measures. To implement such controls, the team uses a systems-based approach to manage training and to effectively run safety meetings and pre-task risk assessments. The system also includes communicating safe working procedures, inspections, and auditing processes.

“Without these systems being in place, which gives a structure to the relationship between us (as

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the employer to the employees. Employees with no surface/ underground mining experience shall experience shall receive no less than twenty-four (24) hours of training. And the, all employees shall receive no less than eight (8) hours of refresher training no less than once each twelve (12) months.

Another requirement is the Emergency Response and Preparedness Program. The employer shall ensure the preparation of an emergency response preparedness program prior to commencement of any mining operation which covers the identification of hazards that might cause emergency at the mine, assessment of every perceivable risk that may lead to a medical emergency, and to have controlling measures that will prevent or deal with the emergency. An emergency drill should be conducted quarterly for effectiveness of the program. Employers is required to submit to MGB a copy furnished to the Regional Office, a report on the conduct of the emergency drill.

Reference:

https://pmsea.ph/67thanmsec/