Debswana says its Jwaneng mine has been awarded re-certification in ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 by a German based international accreditation body called TuvSud.
Debswana Jwaneng mine Corporate Affairs ManagerMontlenyaneBaaitse said that the accrediting body states that the recertification audits are planned and conducted to evaluate the continued fulfillment of all of the international requirements of ISO14001:2004 and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 management systems. The statement further states that the Jwaneng Mine has passed a recertification audit of the environmental management system as well as their Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
Debswana said that while the ISO 14001 recertification confirms that the company is effectively managing and mitigating its operational impact on the environment. Baaitse also stated that the (OHSAS) 18001re-certification affirms that the mine effectively adheres to a safe and healthy workplace, particularly the zero harm principle which espouses the safety of all employees and contractors working within the mine.
“The company with more than 150 years of existence conducts safety, health, and environmental risk audits in the mining, automotive, rail and aeroscope industries,” said Baaitse.
The Jwaneng mine General Manager Albert Milton, said that the mine management and employees are delighted and encouraged by the recertification because it attest that the mine has not only met initial review requirements. He added that it is continuing to implement best practices and procedures to achieve zero harm of people and the environment. Milton believes that this has been possible through the mine visionary.
“The leadership vigorously inculcates a culture of safety across all employees of the company, emphasizing that all employee engagement forums starts with a safety moment to ensure that individual employees are conscious of possible hazards in their work area and are ready to apply appropriate remedies when need arises,” he said.
Milton said their commitment helps to ensure that the mine consistently manages the environmental, health, and safety risks through comprehensive systems in compliance with ISO and OHSAS standards.
He added that the recertification is valid for three years while the surveillance audit is conducted annually to ensure continued realignment and adherence to international safety standards.
