Doe Run’s SEMO Division Achieves 2 Million Safe Hours
15 May 2013
ST. LOUIS (May 15, 2013) – The Doe Run Company’s (Doe Run) Southeast Missouri Mining & Milling Division (SEMO) in Viburnum, Mo., surpassed 2 million safe work hours without a lost-time injury – a first in its 50 years. The division officially marked this exciting milestone in April.
SEMO’s six mines and four mills in Missouri employ more than 870 people who are responsible for 70 percent of the United States’ primary lead supply. 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, employees completed more than 18,000 health and safety training hours in 2012.
“Our employees uphold Doe Run’s culture of safety through their commitment to protecting one another every day,” said Mark Yingling, vice president of environmental, health and safety at Doe Run. “Creating an environment where safety is always top-of-mind is necessary to meet these impressive milestones. Thanks to these collective efforts, Doe Run operates some of the safest mines in the industry.”
SEMO’s six underground lead mines have earned the National Mining Association’s (NMA) prestigious Sentinels of Safety Award a combined 25 times since 1971.
Doe Run’s safety processes reinforce that safety starts with preparation. Employees use safety programs, like Job Safety Analysis and Behavior Based Safety, to identify potential job hazards in their work areas, document tools and training to help co-workers perform the job safely, and then monitor each other for safe and unsafe behaviors.
“Many of our employees work in challenging conditions underground, so it’s essential that we prepare them with the proper training and tools to do their jobs as safely as possible,” said Steve Batts, general manager at SEMO.
SEMO also employs award-winning mine rescue teams in the event of a real mine emergency. Doe Run holds the reigning MSHA Metal/Nonmetal National Mine Rescue championship title. In 2012, Doe Run’s Maroon Team captured first place at the 42nd Southern Regional Mine Rescue Classic in New Iberia, La., while the Gray Team captured third in the Carlsbad, N.M., Southwestern Regional Mine Rescue Contest. Doe Run’s mine rescue team also received first place overall at Missouri University of Science and Technology’s annual Mine Rescue Competition.
SEMO previously achieved 1 million consecutive safe hours 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. Doe Run’s Fabricated Products Inc. (FPI) facility in Casa Grande, Ariz., also achieved 1 million safe hours in 2011.
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 www.doerun.com or sustainability.doerun.com.
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