Keeping people healthy at work: Occupational hygiene at Mount Isa Mines
At Mount Isa Mines, the health and safety of our workforce is a top priority. While visible injuries capture immediate attention, other health risks such as dust, noise and lead exposure, require just as much focus. This is where occupational hygiene plays a vital role, helping to protect our people and create a safe working environment across all operations.
What is occupational hygiene?
Occupational hygiene is the science and practice of identifying, evaluating and controlling workplace hazards that could impact long-term health. Unlike immediate safety risks, hazards such as airborne dust, excessive noise and chemical exposures may not be immediately noticeable but can have health consequences over time.
At Mount Isa Mines, our occupational hygiene team works proactively to detect these risks, assess their potential impact and implement effective control measures. This ensures that our workers can perform their jobs safely without being exposed to harmful substances or conditions.
How we protect our workers
Our occupational hygiene approach is grounded in practical, risk-based solutions. We partner with operational teams across underground operations, processing plants, smelters, workshops and other support areas to ensure our strategies are both effective and sustainable.
Key focus areas include:
- Controlling exposures at the source
The most effective way to protect workers is by addressing hazards before they reach them. Our team identifies high-risk areas and implements low-cost, practical control measures that reduce exposure at its origin. This approach minimises reliance on personal protective equipment (PPE) and creates a safer environment for everyone. - Verifying the effectiveness of controls
Implementing controls is only part of the solution. We regularly conduct checks, follow-ups and collect feedback to verify that measures are working as intended. This commitment ensures that our health and safety initiatives have a real, measurable impact on reducing risks for our workforce. - Promoting “lead-smart” behaviours
Lead exposure is a significant health concern in mining operations. To mitigate this, we foster safe habits through easy-to-follow, practical routines. By embedding “lead-smart” behaviours into daily work practices, we make it simple for employees to maintain safety while performing their tasks. - Using data to drive continuous improvement
We leverage data and trend analysis to identify emerging risks, track progress, and guide our decisions. By understanding patterns of exposure and incidents over time, we can continuously refine our control measures and enhance workplace safety.
A commitment to health for the long term
Occupational hygiene at Mount Isa Mines is more than compliance, it’s a proactive, data-driven approach to keeping our workforce healthy for the long term. By combining practical hazard controls, inclusive safety measures and continuous improvement, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.
From underground tunnels to smelting operations, our team’s goal is clear: protect people, prevent harm and promote healthy work practices every day.