Doe Run's SEMO Division Reaches Record 2.5M Safe Hours
St. Louis (PRWEB) August 14, 2013 -- For the first time in its 50 years of operation, The Doe Run Company’s (Doe Run) Southeast Missouri Mining & Milling Division (SEMO) in Viburnum, Mo., reached 2.5 million safe work hours without a lost-time injury. Prior to this accomplishment, SEMO’s highest achievement on record was 1.25 million safe hours.
More than 870 people work within SEMO’s six mines and four mills in Missouri, and are responsible for 70 percent of the United States’ primary lead supply.
“Achieving 2.5 million hours without a lost-time injury requires a full commitment from every member of our team to start each work shift with safety in mind,” said Steve Batts, general manager at SEMO. “Our employees take the extra time on the job to make sure we perform tasks correctly. We’re proud of our safety record because, at the end of the day, nothing matters more than the safety of our people.”
SEMO employees receive 40 hours of in-depth training on Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) guidelines upon hire with continued safety training throughout their careers. Companywide, Doe Run employees completed more than 18,000 hours of safety training in 2012.
“Every day, SEMO employees practice safe work procedures that protect themselves and their team members,” said Karonica Brice, safety manager at SEMO. “Inspecting our work areas for hazards and reporting them, inspecting our mobile equipment before operating them, watching out for our fellow co-workers, and never compromising safety for any reason are a few of our safety processes that help protect employees.”
In addition to its safety preparedness programs, Doe Run employs award-winning mine rescue teams in the event of a real mine emergency at the SEMO division. These volunteers train at least eight hours every month to handle potential mine emergencies, and test their skills at a number of regional and national mine rescue competitions each year. This diligence and commitment to safety has earned SEMO’s six underground lead mines the National Mining Association’s (NMA) prestigious Sentinels of Safety Award a combined 25 times since 1971.
Doe Run’s track record of safety extends throughout the company. Previously, SEMO reached the one million safe hour's milestone in 1989, 1996 and 2012. Another Doe Run division, the Buick Resource Recycling Division in Boss, Mo., reached 1.25 million safe hours in August 2012. In addition, Doe Run’s Fabricated Products Inc. facility in Casa Grande, Ariz., surpassed 13 years without a lost-time accident in 2012. The facility has received a “Perfect Record Award” from the National Safety Council each year from 2000 through 2012.
About The Doe Run Company
Based in St. Louis, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company and the largest integrated lead producer in the Western Hemisphere. Dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral and metal production, Doe Run operates one of the world’s largest, single-site lead recycling facilities, located in Boss, Mo. The Doe Run Company and its subsidiary deliver products and services necessary to provide power, protection and convenience. Doe Run has operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.doerun.com or sustainability.doerun.com.
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Maggie Brandt, Standing Partnership, 314-287-6356, [email protected]
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