Doe Run's SEMO Division Achieves Record 3M Consecutive Safe Hours
St. Louis (PRWEB) November 28, 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 3 million safe work hours without a lost-time injury on Oct. 27, 2013. Employees have worked diligently, and safely, to reach an unprecedented company milestone. Prior to this accomplishment, SEMO’s highest achievement on record was 1.25 million safe hours.
“We are proud to operate some of the safest mines in the country,” said Aaron Miller, vice president of operations and chief operating officer at Doe Run. “Our SEMO employees work in challenging conditions, some with heavy equipment and machinery more than 1,200 feet underground, and achieving 3 million safe hours is a true testament to their dedication to protecting one another and working safely every day.”
SEMO Safety by the Numbers:
•More than 870 people work within SEMO’s six mines and four mills in Missouri.
•These mines produce ore utilized to produce approximately 70 percent of the United States’ primary lead.
•SEMO employees clock approximately a total of 35,000 or more work hours each week.
•They also receive 40 hours of in-depth training on Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) guidelines upon hire, in addition to continued, extensive safety training throughout their careers.
•SEMO also reached 1 million safe hours in 1989, 1996 and 2012.
•In October, SEMO’s Buick Mine and #29 Mine earned the nation’s most prestigious mine safety award, the National Mining Association’s (NMA) Sentinels of Safety award, in the Large Underground Metal Mine and Small Underground Metal Mine categories. In total, Doe Run’s mines have earned 27 Sentinels of Safety awards since 1971.
•In addition, Doe Run’s Brushy Creek and Casteel mines were runners-up in their categories.
Companywide Safety:
•Doe Run’s track record of safety extends throughout the company. Another Doe Run division, the Buick Resource Recycling Division (BRRD) in Boss, Mo., reached 1.25 million safe hours in August 2012.
•Doe Run’s Fabricated Products Inc. facility in Casa Grande, Ariz., surpassed 14 years without a lost-time accident in 2013.
•In 2012, Doe Run employees completed more than 18,000 total health and safety training hours.
“Reaching 3 million hours without a lost-time incident requires every employee to prioritize their safety and the safety of their team above all else, so we’ve developed safety training programs that reinforce this idea,” said Steve Batts, general manager at SEMO. “Maintaining this level of safety is a testament to our employees’ adoption of proactive safety approaches.”
In addition to its safety preparedness programs, Doe Run employs award-winning mine rescue teams in the event of a real mine emergency at SEMO. 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.
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.
Doe Run has released its fourth sustainability report, entitled Our Commitment Runs Deep, available in print and online at sustainability.doerun.com. Readers are encouraged to complete an online response survey to help the company measure how well the report meets stakeholder interests and information needs.
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Editor’s Notes: Since achieving 3 million safe hours on Oct. 27, 2013, SEMO has experienced a lost-time incident in which two employees sustained injuries.
Maggie Donnelly (Brandt), Standing Partnership, +1 (314) 287-6356, [email protected]
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