Accidents in open pit mining have a high cost in lost time of person- nel, damage to equipment and installations, and lost production. The realities of export competition require that Mine Management sig- nificantly reduce the costs associated with accidents and workplace ill-health. Newer management approaches are proving effective in reducing the Total Cost of Risk through a strucured Occupational Health and Safety Programme exhibiting the following features:_x000D_
Formal Company Policy_x000D_
Accountability for OH&S performance clearly designated to each level of management and supervision_x000D_
Effective utilisation of a Mine Occupational Health and Safety Co- Ordinator and a Mine Occupational Health and Safety Adviser_x000D_
Development of realistic OH&S Objectives_x000D_
Training of Management, Supervision and Workforce in Occupa- tional Health and Safety_x000D_
Development and adoption of Safe Work Practices and Procedures_x000D_
Effective employee selection procedures, control of Contractors_x000D_
Monitoring of the health of the workforce_x000D_
Collection, recording and distributing information on all Mine inci- dents, accidents, injuries and damage_x000D_
Ensuring that the Mine environment is healthy and safe_x000D_
Effective Emergency Procedures to deal with injury, fire, rescue and other situations of risk_x000D_
Controlling those Mine hazards which cannot be removed_x000D_
Adopting a high standard of Occupational Rehabilitation_x000D_
On-going visible Management participation in the programme to ensure that momentum is developed and maintained. This approach requires that Occupational Health and Safety be given equal status with product quality, maintenance of plant and output per- formance; its implementation is rewarded with improved morale and major cost reductions.