In 2011, the key operations, projects and exploration managers of Pan American Silver Corp. attended a four-day safety training course. Instruction and material was provided by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a company who have been specialists in this field for many years. The primary goal of the course was to provide the group with fundamental tools for safety leadership as all have critical roles in the continual improvement of safety at our operations.
The principles learnt in the course have allowed for a better understanding of risk evaluations, the daily application of risk evaluation technology, leadership in the creation of a safety-oriented culture, tailored safety procedures, and the practical application of risk control tools and techniques.
The advantages of the course were readily apparent to senior management as was the need to provide the same training to the front line supervisors who have direct impact on how work is performed at our operations every day. During 2012, DNV instructors taught a total of 18 four-day courses exclusively for Pan American Silver with a total of 346 employees attending the courses.
These training courses along with other initiatives and the hard work of all Pan American Silver Corp. employees contributed to a 38% reduction in the total company wide number of lost time injuries and a 44% reduction in lost time injury frequency in 2012 versus 2011. (LTIF of 1.11 in 2012 and 1.99 in 2011, Pan American Silver Corp. reports LTIF on a 1 million hour basis – LTIF on a 200,000 hour basis would calculate to 0.22 and 0.40 for 2012 and 2011 respectively).