Employees

Safety

Fresnillo places significant emphasis on the health and safety of its workforce. We are required to comply with a range of health and safety laws and regulations, and have a health, safety and risk management system for our underground and surface mining operations that integrates ISO 14001 norms.

Beyond compliance, however, we have a culture of safety that is embedded in our processes, with a zero tolerance approach as part of our operational discipline. This permits any employee or contractor to interrupt any operation or activity that endangers his or others' safety.

Programmes

In 2008 specifically, the following safety programmes and activities took place:

• Safety programmes: STOP (Du Pont™), Zero Tolerance, Operating Discipline, Accident Investigation, Management of Hazardous Materials and Take Two for Safety (DuPont™)
• Process of Behavioural Change in Safety Programme: this was initiated at Ciénega and will be expanded to cover all other mines personnel in 2009.
• Self-Managed Industrial Safety Program: Herradura presented its request for accreditation to the Mexican Secretary of Labour. Fresnillo and Ciénega will be in the programme in 2010.
• Comprehensive analyses of rock mechanics in the mining processes
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Procedures: there are 10 brigades and 17 mine refuges stations with capacity of 20 to 30 persons each in Fresnillo and Ciénega.
• In the area of health, where our objective is zero occupational illnesses, we undertook the following in 2008:
  • A programme to enforce smoke-free offices and plants; the objective has already been achieved in office areas
  • A programme to control obesity in order to prevent diabetes and hypertension
  • Promotion of sporting activities
  • Vaccination campaigns. In total, Fresnillo imparted 59,300 man-hours of health and safety training during the year. As a result of classroom and jobsite efforts, the Group's loss time injury rate and fatality rate have declined over the past four years.

Awards

2008 Health and safety awards and recognitions:

• For the fifth time, Herradura received first place in the National Silver Helmet Award for excellent safety results. This award was granted by the Mining Chamber of Mexico in the category of Open Pit Mines with more than 500 workers.
• In the IX National Meeting of Mine Safety Rescue Teams in the city of Parral, Chihuahua, Ciénega obtained the following awards: first place in Mine Rescue and second place in Treatment of Fractures. Herradura won first place in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and first place in Best Practices. Lastly, Fresnillo took first place in Individual BG4 Tests – self-contained breathing equipment.
• Ciénega received fifth place recognition among 13 teams that participated in the 6th International Mine Rescue Competition in Reno, Nevada, in which Mexico competed along with Australia, Poland, the United Sts, Canada, Peru, Ukraine, India, South Africa and Mongolia.