Employee issues
Strategy of JSW including subsidiaries in the JSW Group 2018-2030 plays the most important role in defining the approach to human resources management. Approach employee issues was also defined and is included in the Strategy of sustainable development 2017-2020. Issues of occupational health and safety are of key importance due to the specific characteristics of industrial activity.
In the area of OHS the Strategy aims to:
- maintain certified management systems PN-N-18001 in: coal mining, processing and sale,
- engage the employees in the improvement of the OHS management system, including development of solutions oriented at specific characteristics of individual jobs,
- Maintain high quality of OHS training, with particular focus on the training topics being up-to-date and practical (zone of mine foreman and not only).
There are plans to implement technological solutions to enable mechanization and automation of work underground. In particular it concerns withdrawal of people from areas at risk or reduction of human involvement in works with particularly high accident risk. This will result in a reduction and possibly even elimination of specific OHS risk categories. Another factor contributing to improved safety will be the planned introduction of technical solutions for monitoring the work of machines and location of workers underground. In accordance with the Integrated Management System Policy, the management undertake to ensure the necessary means and resources to create safe attitudes of employees and to monitor risks and mitigate their impact on work environment. There is also focus on employee development. Key OHS procedures include: “Identification of risks and assessment of occupational hazard” (PZB-7.01), “Accidents at work, occupational diseases and events potentially resulting in accidents” (PZB-7.02), “Monitoring of occupational health and safety” (PZB-8.01), “Procedure in JSW S.A. during a mass accident or industrial disaster” (PZB-8.02). Other procedures defining rules of operational management from the perspective of employee matters: “Human resources management” (PSZ-6.01) and “Internal and external communication” (PSZ-5.02).
In 2017, in the analyzed area the focus was on:
- use of effective prevention sin the area of OHS adequate to risks,
- high level of training and increasing the awareness of safety issues,
- limiting the impact of human factor on accident rate.
In view of specific conditions of work in JSW mines, with regard to employee preventive health care an extended scope of preventive medical examinations in labor medicine was in place. The extended scope of examinations comprises obligatory, additional tests to prevent cardiovascular diseases in for employees of the company and of firms providing services in JSW mine operations.
To ensure high level of OHS knowledge and appropriate professional qualifications of the employees, all JSW plants implemented the plan of OHS training and of training and courses to improve professional qualifications. Strict connection between professional qualifications of the employees, headcount and work safety required that JSW plants continue to conduct specialist training and courses and to improve professional qualifications of the employees. All employee groups were trained, in particular persons employed in conditions of natural hazards.
JSW implemented the repeatedly award-winning online training and information platform “Zone of mine foreman and not only” aimed to provide employees with various tools and information to improve knowledge and professional qualifications.
The requirements to have undergone OHS training and appropriate preventive medical examinations, and to have the relevant authorizations and qualifications are the basis of operations in order to ensure safety and the desired quality of works, including those performed by third parties in the mining plant.
Fulfilment of the requirements was subject to constant inspection by mine personnel responsible for compliance with the rules of safe work in mines. Moreover, there was periodical assessment of quality and safety of work performance by third parties performing services in JSW mines. The scope of requirements set to service providers in the operations of mines was verified on an on-going basis in terms of safety and quality of provided services.
In coal mines, in connection with the specific characteristics of mining conditions, miners are exposed to noxious and onerous for health agents occurring in work environment. The most frequently diagnosed occupational disease in employees and former employees of JSW mines is pneumoconiosis. Other diseases such as: occupational damage of hearing, chronic diseases of locomotor system, vibration syndrome have been eliminated or limited to rare cases.
In 2017, occupational damage of hearing was diagnosed in 9 former employees, there was one case of occupational disease related to chronic diseases of locomotor system and once case of occupational disease – exogenous allergic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. 49 cases of pneumoconiosis were recorded, including 42 cases in former employees. To reduce the exposure of employees of JSW mines to factors causing occupational diseases, in cooperation with the Institute of Labor Medicine and Environmental Health in Sosnowiec, with the participation of the OHS personnel in mines and doctors providing labor medicine care, programs for prevention of occupational damage of hearing and pneumoconiosis function in the mines.
OHS activities in the other companies of the Group:
- In JSW KOKS Occupational Health and Safety Management System according to PN-N-18001 standard has functioned since 2002 as part of the Integrated Management System. IMS Policies also cover training activity. Moreover, a series of regulations and procedures have been developed to supervise OHS in the form of an order on occupational health and safety with instructions and procedures of risk identification and assessment of occupational hazards (RISC SCORE methodology), reporting events potentially resulting in accidents.
- JZR implemented, as part of the Integrated Management System, occupational health and safety management system according to PN-N-18001:2004 standard, ensuring maintenance of the highest diligence in this respect. There are also non-obligatory preventive actions. It is worth mentioning the OHS contest which builds the awareness of safety among employees.
In other companies employee related matters, including related to OHS, followed the applicable legal regulations and individually adopted regulations and internal procedures.