Encuentro wins industry safety performance award

Thiess’ Encuentro open pit mine operation in Northern Chile has been awarded the National Mining Service Safety Award – Category B by the Chilean government for best overall safety performance in 2017.

 
The annual award, run by the National Geology and Mining Service Agency, singles out mine owners and service providers who excel in meeting industry safety standards in eight categories.
The categories reflect company size and the number of man hours worked with safety data collected over a calendar year to assess the best performing companies.
Thiess’ General Manager South America, Matthew Little, accepted the award on behalf of Thiess saying the award reflected Thiess’ unwavering focus on safety.
“We are humbled by this award. It recognises the team’s hard work behind the scenes to ensure our lag indicators are as low as possible,” Matthew explained.
“We’re also extremely proud to be one of the only organisations recognised for our safety performance at an operational site level.
Thiess’ Executive General Manager for the Americas, Cluny Randell, said the award reinforced the team’s ability to embed critical controls and a strong HSE culture.
“The team live our safety vision of ‘everyone safe, every day,” Cluny said.
“They are committed to completing tasks safely by following critical controls and procedures, demonstrating how safety underpins everything we do at Thiess, and governs our behaviours.”
The award ceremony was held on Thursday 23 August 2018 at the Casino Enjoy Auditorium, Coquimbo and attended by the Mining Agency Director Mr Mario Pereira and the 4th Region Government Intendant Lucia Pinto.
Thiess has operated in Chile since 2015, employing over 350 people and working more than 50,000 man hours per month.
Thiess currently provides mining services at Encuentro for Antofagasta Minerals (AMSA) with a scope of works comprising of drilling, load and haul, mobile equipment and mine services.
Thiess’ long-term plan is to grow its service offering in the region.