Health and safety

The health and safety of its employees are at the forefront of Diavik’s operations.

Diavik maintains a safe workplace by applying stringent standards, educating workers, measuring ongoing performance, reviewing systems and programs and setting continuous improvement targets.

Diavik monitors safety using the industry standards of all incident frequency rate and the lost time injury frequency rate. A lost time injury is considered to have occurred when a worker is unable to return to his or her normal work duties for their next shift as a result of a work related injury. The lost time injury frequency rate measures the number of lost time injuries per 200,000 hours worked. The all injury frequency rate includes medical treatments and lost time injuries.

The success of Diavik’s health and safety programs is evident in the very low lost time injury rate across Diavik’s operations.  Diavik’s goal is a zero lost time injury rating.  In 2007, Diavik's lost time injury frequency rate was 0.43. Also in 2007, the mine’s all incident rate was 1.01. Diavik’s safety milestone of 1.9 million hours without a lost time injury was reached in 2003.

In recognition of its safety performance, Diavik was awarded a prestigious John T. Ryan regional safety trophy for is excellent safety performance in 2007. In fact, Diavik has won three John T. Ryan regional trophies in its five years of operations.

Diavik’s commitment to health and safety extends beyond the workplace and into the lives of its employees and their community. Diavik has established an Employee and Family Assistance Program for its people. This broad-based counselling service supports employees and their families in resolving issues associated with their overall health and well-being. The program provider strives to provide these services in the employee's home community.