Rosh Pinah – Skorpion Zinc last week scooped the coveted Anglo American Plc Chief Executive Officer’s Safety Award for Best in Class – Large Business Units at a gala event held in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wed-nesday, 2 May 2007. This is the second safety award presented to the compa-ny in a space of two weeks. Last week, the company was awarded the Chamber of Mines Safety Award.
The Chief Executive’s Safety Award recognizes excellence in safety and health at managed businesses within the Anglo American family. It focuses on the presence of appropriate safety systems and places emphasis on the extent to which these are embedded and “lived” within the workplace.
Skorpion Zinc has to date operated more than 560 days without a Lost Time Injury (LTI -An LTI is an injury on duty which leads to an employee being booked off work).
Upon returning from the Award ceremony in Johannesburg, a visibly proud General Manager of Skorpion Zinc, Gerald Boting said that this is indeed a proud honour for Skorpion Zinc and dedicated the award to all the Skorpion Zinc employees. “Mining is inherently a hazardous operation which presents numerous safety challenges. This award is testimony to the Skorpion Zinc family’s positive attitudes of ‘living our safety values’ to ensure that no harm comes to any employee during the course of their duties.”
Boting added that the award is particularly special taking into consideration that Skorpion has only been operation for three years now. “It shows we have effective systems in place and live by our slogan launched last year – ONE INJURY IS ONE TOO MANY!”
He did, however, sound a word of warning to all staff “Now is not the time to be complacent. Safety is a continuous challenge and we should ensure that we continue to operate without causing any harm to ourselves, our colleagues and our families.”
The abovementioned award is the second presented to the company during the past two weeks. Just two weeks ago the company received the Chamber of Mines Safety Award for the lowest Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of all mining companies in Namibia. Skorpion Zinc has maintained a zero Lost Time Injury frequency rate for the past seven months.

Skorpion Zinc’s General Manager, Gerald Boting receiving the CEO’s Safety Award - Best in Class - Large Business from Anglo American’s Chief Executive Officer, Cynthia Carroll.