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XSTRATA COAL EMPLOYEE MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2009 ISSUE 2
HEALTH & SAFETY
ENVIRONMENT
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
OUR PEOPLE
The SafeCoal Issue:
Fighting for Life
What is SafeCoal?
Training for Tomorrow
XC’s New Wave
CONTENTS
EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to the final issue of Xstract
for 2009. As part of our commitment to
developing a strong safety culture, XC
has recently introduced an intervention
program called SafeCoal. In this issue
we explain what SafeCoal is and what
it means to all employees. Our cover
story profiles Scott Edwards, a former
underground miner at United Collieries
who was seriously injured in a longwall
accident last year. Scott’s rescue and
subsequent 18 month rehabilitation is
a powerful reminder of the need to
operate safely and responsibly in
everything we do. Thank you to all
contributors and we welcome your
feedback and suggestions via the reply
paid card enclosed or send to
[email protected]
06
SafeCoal means commencing
every task with the certainty
that it will not result in a
fatality or injury to yourself
or other people working in
or around our operations.
02
November 2009 Issue 2
Xstract is the global magazine
for Xstrata Coal employees.
Front cover
Scott Edwards, United Collieries
New South Wales
XCSA’s Group
Training Centre
recognises the
need to invest
in the next
generation.
10
Xstract Editor
James Rickards
Communications Manager
[email protected]
Design and Production
Martin Hopkins and Lindsay Yates Group
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this
publication do not necessarily represent
the views of Xstrata Coal Pty Ltd.
We make no representation or warranty
as to the reliability, accuracy or
completeness of the information
contained in this publication which
should not be relied upon for
commercial purposes.
01 CE Overview
Xstract is printed on HannoArt Silk,
an environmentally responsible
paper stock produced from FSC
(mixed source) certified pulp from
well-managed forests and is EMAS
and ISO 14 001 accredited.
12 Apprenticeship Programs
02 Global Business Update
04 Sustainable Development
06 SafeCoal
08 Employee Feature:
Scott Edwards
10 XCSA Training Centre
13 Newlands Simulator Program
12
CE OVERVIEW
”In the year ahead we must also
continue to focus on achieving
our sustainable development goals.
Our SafeCoal initiative is an
important part of this and focuses
on eliminating fatal incidents
and halving recordable injury
rates over the next two years.”
Throughout 2009 we continued to develop new opportunities to grow our business,
while facing significant challenges from the impacts of the global financial crisis.
The cut backs in global steel production and the collapse of industrial production and
demand for power in many of our markets, placed our business under tremendous
pressure, forcing us to reposition to ensure we remained viable.
Some of the decisions required were extremely tough and included shutting down
production capacity and cutting back employee numbers. While we believe we are
now through the worst of it, we remain cautious and aware that risks still remain.
At no stage during the recession did we compromise our ability or commitment to running an
industry leading and efficient coal business. We have come out of this downturn confident in
our long-term markets, well-positioned to survive the worst of cycles and poised for growth.
We have continued to invest in projects such as the new Blakefield South longwall operation
in NSW and the Goedgevonden project in South Africa, triggered the full construction
phase of the new Mangoola operation and achieved approval for the development of
ATCOM East. In 2010 we will advance a further 60 million tonnes per annum of growth
projects, a significant proportion of which are likely to be initiated in the next year.
We are embarking on these growth projects with confidence given that our recent work to
ensure rail and port capacity availability has started to yield significant results. These results
include recent industry rail and port agreements in NSW, the introduction of additional
dedicated trains in Queensland, the imminent commissioning of the Richards Bay Coal
Terminal Phase V expansion and the introduction of our own Xstrata Rail in Australia.
In the year ahead we must also continue to focus on achieving our sustainable development
goals. Our SafeCoal initiative is an important part of this and focuses on eliminating fatal
incidents and halving recordable injury rates over the next two years. This issue of Xstract
discusses SafeCoal, what it is, how we will achieve it and what it means to you.
As an example of the personal impacts of a workplace accident, Scott Edwards of our
United Colliery has told his story of a terrible underground incident which nearly claimed
his life and significantly affected his family and friends. I would like to thank Scott and his
family for sharing their very personal story. It is a powerful message and reminds us all
of the importance of safety in everything we do.
I would also like to thank all of you for your contribution to the ongoing success of our
business and I look forward to working with you in 2010 as we continue to not only
grow the world’s premier coal export business, but to also make it the world’s safest.
XSTRACT 2/2009 1
Peter Freyberg
Chief Executive
Global Business
Update
Xstrata plc
Xstrata named
Mining Sector Leader
Xstrata plc has been named as the Mining
Sector Leader in the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index for the third consecutive
year for 2009/2010, achieving a score of
85% overall. The Sector Leader is identified
as the company best prepared to seize the
opportunities and manage the risks deriving
from economic, environmental and social
developments in each sector and is the
company with the best overall score of all
sector companies independently assessed.
Xstrata plc is included in the Dow Jones
STOXX and World Indices of sustainability
leaders. A total of 76 companies are
considered to be within the global mining
sector, of which nine are included in the
Dow Jones indices in 2009/2010. Only
Xstrata and Rio Tinto are considered to
have reached the `gold’ standard ranking
in the mining sector – Rio Tinto scored
84%, a close second.
Xstrata Coal (XC)
New South Wales
(XCN)
Ravensworth NSWMC
EXCELLENCE Award
Ravensworth Operations has received a
NSW Minerals Council (NSWMC) Excellence
Award for its innovative woodland
ecosystem restoration project.
The NSWMC awards recognise those
projects which make a real and positive
contribution to regional NSW and the
environment, while pushing `best practice
boundaries´ in mine rehabilitation.
The Ravensworth project is restoring an
endangered local ecological community
and establishing a habitat for a number
of threatened fauna species.
South Africa (XCSA)
Mining Charter review
The ‘transformation’ of South Africa is a Government initiative for the broad-based
economic empowerment (BEE) of black persons – a generic term, which means indigenous
Africans, Coloureds and Indians – in an effort to eradicate poverty, facilitate the country’s
economic growth and develop a stable, sustainable and equitable society.
As one of the nation’s major sectors, the mining industry continues to play a leading role
in this transformation, with SA Government’s Mining Charter setting a goal to ”create an
industry that will proudly reflect its promise of a non-racial South Africa.”
XSTRATA RAIL 2011 LAUNCH
Xstrata Coal is establishing its own rail
haulage capability, having purchased three
trains to service its Hunter Valley operations
from 2011, with coal to be exported via the
Port of Newcastle.
2 XSTRACT 2/2009
The trains, which will be owned and
operated by Freightliner are expected to haul
about 12 million tonnes of coal annually.
The newly procured rolling stock, to be
known as Xstrata Rail, is a direct investment
into the Hunter Valley coal chain and will
provide greater security of supply for
customers. The purchase also complements
the finalisation of port access arrangements
at Port Waratah Coal Services.
Xstrata’s Transformation Committee, chaired by CEO Mick Davis and founded in 2004,
seeks to ensure Xstrata’s South African business transforms in line with the spirit of the
Mining Charter and Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, and where
possible, in advance of legislative requirements.
A five-yearly review of the Mining Charter was recently held at XCSA, with the core
outcomes including:
• X strata understands the importance of transformation in South Africa and is committed
to embracing the spirit of empowerment;
• Good progress has been made against the Mining Charter, with all measurable targets
achieved;
• Increased industry and government collaboration necessary to drive sustainable
transformation as a strategic national imperative; and
• A transparent, fair and measurable Balanced Scorecard to be adopted in line with
national imperatives.
Above: Tavistock, South Africa.
Global Business UPDATE
Left: Cerrejón operation, recipient of 2009
Environmental Responsibility Award.
Mangoola approval
The Mangoola Coal project has received
approval to proceed to full construction
on site, with work set to commence in
January 2010. Work to date has included
the widening of local access roads and
establishing of minor infrastructure to
support the main construction phase.
Xstrata Coal is also continuing with its
exploration activities in the region, with the
site of the 2008 sample pit being used to
run rehabilitation trials and conduct other
geological studies.
Mangoola Coal is located 20 kilometres
west of Muswellbrook and will span
3,549 hectares. The proposed open cut
thermal coal mine is expected to produce
up to 10.5 million tonnes per annum
(mtpa) run of mine coal with a mine life
of approximately 18 years.
Approximately 400 people are expected
to be employed during the construction
phase and 300 for the ongoing operation
of the mine.
Oaky Creek No.1
Production at Oaky Creek No.1 underground
mine commenced in August, in response
to the securing of spot sales for prime hard
coking coal from the Oaky Creek Complex
in Central Queensland.
The high quality of Oaky Creek’s prime hard
coking coal enabled the business to sell its
Oaky No.1 tonnes despite the ongoing slow
down in the steel industry.
Wandoan update
Cerrejón, one of the world’s largest open
cut operations, has been recognised for its
unique and extensive land rehabilitation
program, receiving a national award from
the Foundation Siembra Colombia, the
British Embassy, the Ministry of Environment,
Housing and Territorial Development and
the United Nations Development Program
(UNDP), in the category of ‘Environmental
Responsibility in Research and Projects 2009’.
Prodeco river diversion
Following receipt of all necessary approvals
from the Colombian Government, civil
works for the diversion of the Calenturitas
river at the Prodeco operation are scheduled
to commence in early 2010.
OAKY NORTH PRODUCTION RECORD
The Oaky North underground mine has set a
new Australian monthly longwall production
record, producing a total Run of Mine (ROM)
of 1.2 million tonnes in August. Oaky North
takes the Australian record from the
Newlands Northern underground, which
recently produced 961,891 tonnes earlier
in the year. The Oaky team attributes their
success to teamwork and the optimal
performance of underground systems.
XSTRACT 2/2009 3
The Wandoan Joint Venture continues
to work with the Coordinator-General
to advance this important project and
is progressing with negotiations and
planning with the Western Downs
Regional Council for local infrastructure
re-development such as the water treatment
plant, sewerage systems and road upgrades.
CerrejÓn National Award for
Environmental Responsibility
The river diversion is an essential part of
the planned expansion of the Prodeco
operation and will allow mining operations
at Calenturitas to be undertaken from
both the current operational pit in Sector C
and the new mining area accessible
following the diversion of the river in Sector
A. Annual production from both mining
areas is forecast to be 11Mtpa by 2012.
The Wandoan Joint Venture will submit
its Supplementary Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) in late 2009, as part of the
next stage in the feasibility and approvals
process for the Wandoan Coal Project.
The Supplementary EIS provides further
information on the environmental and social
impacts of the Project for consideration by
the Queensland Government CoordinatorGeneral and responds to submissions
received in response to the initial EIS and
reports on any further studies.
ATCOM EAST APPROVED
The ATCOM East thermal coal project in
South Africa gained Xstrata plc Board
approval in October. The project will be
integrated into Xstrata Coal’s existing
ATCOM infrastructure and produce around
5.7 mtpa of run of mine production and 3.1
mtpa of saleable thermal coal for a capital
commitment of approximately $407M.
Americas (XCAm)
The increase demonstrated Xstrata Coal’s
flexibility to deploy its current workforce
and assets to meet opportunities in the
market, with the Development crew moved
across to manage the longwall.
Queensland (XCQ)
South Africa (XCSA)
Sustainable
Development
SD Framework
Strategy Material
A suite of new communication materials have
been distributed to each operation, outlining
Xstrata’s SD Framework (comprising of the
Business Principles, Policy and Standards)
and XC’s values and SD strategy.
XSTRATACOAL
AUGUST 2009
The materials include a booklet, brochure
and poster series to help develop a culture
within XC where Sustainable Development
is given the same priority as other key areas
of business performance. Copies are also
available through the XC intranet.
00 X strata Coal Sustainable Development
HEALTH&SAFETY
ENVIRONMENT
SUSTAINABLECOMMUNITIES
OURPEOPLE
Sustainable
Development
Xstrata Business Principles & Ethics Line
Xstrata’s Statement of Business Principles states the ethical framework for how we work
globally. It includes our commitment to uphold human rights, support free enterprise and
operate with the maximum transparency commercially possible, as well as the prohibition
of political donations and any form of fraud, bribery or corruption.
Any potential breach of the Business Principles can be reported in confidence to the Xstrata
Ethics line. Operated independently by KPMG, the call line provides a free telephone number
for every country in which we operate and all calls are reported on an anonymous basis
to the Head of Internal Audit and Risk for appropriate action (Australia 1800 987 310,
South Africa 0800 20 43 07). There is also a dedicated email address: [email protected]
XC SD Committee
Visible Leadership Visits
The SD Committee recently toured the Rolleston open cut operation in Queensland and
the Bulga complex in New South Wales to review the sites’ general safety performances
and gain a greater understanding of current operational issues and sustainability initiatives.
At Rolleston, the Committee toured the workshop, coal-handling facility and mining areas
where recent safety incidents had occurred, so as to gain a better understanding of the
actions subsequently taken to prevent future incidents.
At the Bulga complex, the Committee toured the Beltana waste methane gas extraction
plant, the Bulga open cut pit and the new Blakefield South underground operation as it
prepares to take over production from the nearing completion Beltana underground mine.
Peter Freyberg said, “By taking the time to meet with individual site management teams
and personnel at their own operations, we have the opportunity to gain a valuable insight
to recent SD challenges and achievements.”
ChiefExecutive
SafetyAward
RevisedSustainable
DevelopmentPolicyStandards
EmergingIndigenous
ArtAward
4 XSTRACT 2/2009
High Potential Risk
Incidents (HPRI)
Committee
A sub-working group of the Xstrata Coal
board SD Committee, the HPRI Committee
chaired by Peter Freyberg, meets on a
monthly basis to review how and why
HPRIs have occurred in the past month
and to ensure similar events are prevented.
The group shares the learnings arising
from the incidents, including any outcomes
of subsequent investigations or actions.
HPRIs are events or near-misses with the
potential to result in a critical incident
such as a fatality or a Category 4 or 5
environmental incident.
Sustainable Development
Climate change is a global reality and
requires a global solution. As the world’s largest
exporter of thermal coal, XC has a responsibility
to reduce our greenhouse footprint and help
find a sustainable and financially viable solution
to the issue of climate change.
Climate Change Fastfacts
Climate change refers to the ongoing changes in our
modern climate caused by human activities such as the
burning of fossil fuels, agriculture and land clearing.
XC recognises climate change as a reality that presents
global social, economic and environmental risks that require
a global solution. We understand that the future will be a
carbon constrained world and emission reductions from the
use of fossil fuels for energy are necessary and achievable.
To meet the increasing demand for energy, XC recognises
a need and a role for all forms of power generation: coal,
oil, gas, renewables and nuclear.
•In 2008, XC avoided potential emissions of 1.47MtCO2e
at operations through methane destruction or utilisation
for power generation.
– Major contributor (approximately A$180M) to
$1Bn COAL21 Fund;
– Support for US Futuregen Project;
– Oxy-fuel demonstration ($1M commitment);
–Otway Basin CO2 storage project; and
– CCS alliance partner in the Wandoan Power Project.
•XC is an active participant in a range of climate change
and technology forums including:
– CO2CRC, CRC Mining (abatement);
– Foundation member of Global Carbon Capture and
Storage Institute (GCCSI); and
– Participant in the Centre for Carbon Capture Storage
(CCS) project in South Africa.
XSTRACT 2/2009 5
Xstrata Coal is taking action
XC is currently taking a leadership role in the research,
development and demonstration of a number of low emission
technologies and other initiatives to reduce the level of
greenhouse gas emissions associated with the combustion
of coal in power generation, including:
•XC is investing over A$250M in low emission technology
projects including:
“Since June 2008 there have been six fatalities at
our operations and our overall safety performance
has not improved. This is unacceptable. The safety
of our people is not negotiable.”
Peter Freyberg
Our people are our most important
asset and to help ensure the safety
of every person on every site, we are
implementing a new intervention
program called SafeCoal.
What is SafeCoal?
SafeCoal means commencing every task
with the certainty that it will not result in a
fatality or injury to yourself or other people
working in or around our operations.
What does SafeCoal mean to you?
The SafeCoal initiative requires every
individual to identify the fatal risks
associated with their work and ensure the
appropriate defences, procedures, and
systems for eliminating and/or managing
those risks are in place. 
Any situation found to be placing our
people or the operation at risk will
immediately be stopped. If we cannot
produce coal safely, then we will stop the
operation. There is no room for compromise.
Divisions will be required to implement
immediate intervention plans for all poor
performing operations / teams and the
plans will be reviewed and action taken
if improvements are not achieved.
•identify the fatal hazards at your work
area;
Each day at every site, there will also be
a review of the previous day’s safety
performance. Prior to commencing work,
each operating team will be required to
identify their tasks and the potential risks
or fatal hazards that may be present.
•ensure you and those working alongside
you understand the fatal hazards
associated with your workplace, as well as
the procedures to manage these hazards;
and
Management teams at each operation
will also implement a leadership model to
ensure every level of management of the
site is communicating the core principles
of SafeCoal.
•ensure appropriate planned task
observations are conducted around the
fatal hazards.
Are we improving any existing
processes?
You are personally responsible for your own
safety and those working alongside you.
Under SafeCoal you are required to:
Who will determine the fatal
hazards of your role?
All of our people will be trained to identify
and understand the fatal hazards associated
with their specific role and learn how to
manage them.
Each business Division (XCN, XCQ, XCSA
and XCA) will be required to define the fatal
hazard management responsibilities of every
person, understanding that each role is
different.
What are our SafeCoal goals?
6 XSTRACT 2/2009
How will we achieve this goal?
The fatal hazards that are common across
Xstrata Coal world wide will have minimum
protocols developed. These protocols are
to ensure that the appropriate controls are
in place, that these are well understood
through training and all of our people are
focused on adhering to these every day.
Our goal is to provide a fatality free
workplace and reduce our Total Recordable
Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) by 50% by
the end of 2011.
Yes. We will be conducting a thorough
review of all procedures at every level of
the organisation to assess the relevance
and duplication of existing corporate and
site systems.
We will remove any existing unnecessary
systems, while still ensuring we have the
required processes in place to meet our
governance requirements/activities.
We never compromise our position on safety
We don’t take short cuts
We are constantly aware of the fatal hazards
in our work area
We provide the right safety skills and training
We look out for each other
We intervene when someone is at risk
We take personal responsibility to identify
and control hazards
We provide safety leadership
SAFECOAL
The SafeCoal Approach
XSTRACT 2/2009 7
Having slipped from the longwall walkway,
Scott was left helpless on the ground as an
automated roof support moved forward,
pinning him to the Armoured Face Conveyor
(AFC) and crushing the bones on one side
of his body.
“Whilst I was pinned there I had flashbacks
of my father who had been killed in a mining
accident in 1998. I had flashbacks also of
my wife and five children and I wondered if
I was ever going to see them again.
“It was that increased pressure and the force
[of the roof support] that had me pinned
that was so intense. I was very concerned
about the crush syndrome. I knew I was in
big trouble because I could hear the [bones]
break and feel it inside… Then I said to
myself, I have to get out of this really quickly.
“The roof support operator who was at the
tailgate came to my aid straight away and
I could see fear in his eyes. I could see he
was struggling with it and by that stage
the maingate operator had come up and
he was in awe as well.
“We didn’t have any room for errors and we
really needed to get the job done to get out,
just to release that pressure. Hearing the
[bones] break made it real… your body just
goes into survival mode and you’re just
going to fight tooth and nail to get through.”
Despite the pain coursing through his side,
Scott took control of the first stages of his
own rescue, continuing to operate the
longwall’s shearer himself to provide
enough room for the nightshift crew to
extract him from the roof support.
“I still had the remote control in my hand
and I’d stopped the shearer. When the
chock operator arrived I just said to him
calmly, “I am pinned here big time and
we’ve got one chop to get out of this.”
“Your body goes into a survival mode and
it sort of overcomes all the pain. I guess it’s
similar to if you’ve trapped an animal in a
corner and they want that one last chance
to get out. With all these things going
through my head, with dad’s accident
and my wife and children, it was certainly
worth fighting for.
8 XSTRACT 2/2009
“Once I was released, I tried to put my right
leg to the ground and it just flapped in the
breeze because there was no core stability
from the breaks in the pelvis and the hip.
I just collapsed on the ground and I knew
then that something major was wrong.”
Scott’s rescue required the combined efforts
of his nightshift crew mates, ambulance
officers and paramedics from the Hunter
Valley Helicopter Rescue Service to stretcher
him above ground.
“The crew on night shift was fantastic, the
rescue by the boys was phenomenal and
I can’t thank them enough, I have thanked
them individually, for really saving my life.”
The damage to his body was extensive,
taking almost 18 months of intensive
therapy and rehabilitation to repair.
“I received seven fractures – five to the pelvis,
two to the right hip, a crack in the sacrum
and a ruptured bladder through all this.
It’s been a long hard process, the intensity
of learning to walk again was something
out of this world. In the first couple of
weeks, I was on 25 tablets a day and an
injection every day which is pretty hard to
do. Not only physically, but it is mentally
draining as well.”
The accident also had major ramifications
upon his family.
“My wife has been phenomenal. She’s not
only been a wife, she’s been a mother, a
father and a dad and had to run the house.
There wasn’t a day when she never made it
to the hospital. We’ve got five children and
that’s not an easy task on its own. It was
very tough and draining on both of us and
not just on us, but on the children.
“That’s where it hits home. It’s not just the
individual that it affects, it affects everyone
down the chain – wife, children, mother,
brother, your friends, those poor buggers
that carted me off in the stretchers. I
couldn’t help them and they just busted
a gut to get me out. I mean I’m not a
small guy I’m 110 kilos, and I could just see
it in their eyes that they really worked hard
to get me up there and I’ve thanked them
individually more than once.“
Having returned to work fulltime at United
Collieries’ washplant, Scott believes the
accident was preventable and is telling his
story to other Xstrata Coal employees as
a terrible lesson about fatal hazards in the
workplace.
“We come to work to do the best of our
ability, to get the coal and to come out in
the same style as you go down… Be
mindful of these mine machines we operate
on a day to day basis. Just the power and
the force is phenomenal and life is so
precious. When it is nearly taken away from
you it really nails it home that life is great
and you should cherish it.”
Fighting
for Life
Scott Edwards and family
After celebrating Mother’s Day with
his wife and five children, experienced
shearer operator Scott Edwards stepped
underground at 6.30pm to begin his
nightshift at United Collieries. Three
hours later he was fighting for his life.
SAFECOAL
“It’s not just the individual that
it affects, it affects everyone
down the chain – wife, children,
mother, brother, your friends,
those poor buggers that carted
me off in the stretchers…”
XSTRACT 2/2009 9
XCSA’s Group Training Centre
(GTC) has been recognised
as South Africa’s coal sector
leader for training and
education, recently winning
the prestigious national
Mining Qualifications
Authority’s Sectoral Good
Practice in Skills Development
Award for 2009.
10 XSTRACT 2/2009
Award-winning
Training for
Tomorrow
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Responsible for the training and
development of all employees and full-time
contractors, XCSA’s Group Training Centre
(GTC) is playing a critical role in ensuring
safety remains a core competency across
every level of the XCSA business.
Providing courses for underground and
open cut operators, the GTC has also
recently implemented an innovative three
year learner course for new Safety Officers.
Safety trainees are exposed to all areas of
mining and provided with the necessary
technical and practical on-site skills required
to identify hazards and implement
preventative measures.
Other courses include a two-year
underground program providing practical
on-the-job training to enhance theoretical
classroom sessions and a new stream of
open cut courses recently introduced in
response to XCSA’s continued growth.
Further to the simulator training scenarios,
operators also develop their skills through
hands-on practical machinery experience
on-site, a process that can take up to six
months depending on the trainee’s aptitude.
In addition to providing courses across
mining disciplines, the GTC also offers a
range of adult basic education and training
(ABET) programs to address the national
illiteracy rate and assist both employees
and members of the surrounding local
communities.
Nominated from their respective operations,
selected employees (both illiterate and semiliterate) are trained across basic oral, English
and numeracy areas. Once a set literacy
level has been attained, selected students
can then pursue further development within
the fields of Industrial Communication,
Mathematics and Engineering.
In addition to developing the current
workforce, the centre recognises the need
to invest in the next generation and remains
focused on shaping a capable future skills
base through a broad based bursary scheme
and practical traineeships.
GTC’s state-of-the-art simulators train
and test the efficiency and responses of
operators under a variety of weather
conditions on a range of vehicles including
shovel excavators, dozers and draglines,
to ensure they have the necessary skills to
conduct their day-to-day tasks safely and
can respond quickly and decisively in the
event of an incident.
Commencing in 2005, the centre’s bursary
scheme began with only 19 students and
has since grown to over 42 students in
2009. Studying across a diversity of fields
including finance, metallurgy and
environmental engineering, students have
the opportunity upon completion of their
studies to take up graduate trainee positions
across XCSA operations.
The centre has trained over 300 employees
and people from surrounding communities
to date.
XSTRACT 2/2009 11
Specific open cut courses include high
wall safety and surface blasting, in addition
to advanced simulator training to improve
the competency and safety of operators
of open cut vehicles.
“In addition to developing
the current workforce,
the centre recognises the
need to invest in the next
generation and remains
focused on shaping a
capable future skills base
through a broad based
bursary scheme and
practical traineeships.”
HUMAN RESOURCES
The New Wave
Shaping the future of the industry’s electricians,
fitters and mechanics, Xstrata Coal continues
to invest in leading apprenticeship programs.
Above: Matthew Shaw, Chris Illguth,
apprentices at Queensland’s
Newlands operation.
With our priority to attract and retain the
right people, XC is committed to developing
this new wave of talent through an intensive
and broad education at both open cut and
underground operations.
“Not many people have the opportunity to
work on trucks this size or on a shearer right
at the face. The uniqueness of the job and
the diversity of the training helps make me
a lot more employable at the end of my
apprenticeship,” said Queensland fourth
year mechanical apprentice Chris Illguth.
“From day one there’s a very strict priority
on safety and you learn not to take risks.
As the older tradesmen will tell you, it’s not
worth losing an arm over.”
Safety training remains at the forefront of
every apprenticeship program, with Xstrata
Coal now employing 78 apprentices in
New South Wales, 59 in Queensland and
73 in South Africa.
12 XSTRACT 2/2009
“By investing in intensive education and
training programs for the next generation
of tradespeople, we are ensuring we do not
lose the specialist skills and safety standards
we have instilled and value throughout our
operations,” said Peter Freyberg.
“When our apprentices finish their studies,
they are without question some of the most
skilled and well rounded tradespeople in
the marketplace.”
Further to those currently rising through
the ranks of XCN, Xstrata Coal also supports
the training of apprentices and trainees at
the Hunter Valley Training Company (HVTC),
via an annual financial commitment for
innovative practical-based courses.
According to the Chairman of HVTC, XCN’s
funding is helping establish a new standard
of quality among apprentices throughout
the Hunter Valley. “It’s been great to train
young people and give them a job that
will take them right through life’s journey,”
said Milton Morris, Chairman Hunter Valley
Training Company.
In Queensland, XCQ’s unique apprenticeship
program continues to win significant praise
from the Australian Government with
its focus on developing practical technical
skills training alongside the development
of necessary life skills such as wealth
management.
The Queensland program received the
Deputy Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence
in 2008 for its commitment to ensuring
diversity and experience remained at the
forefront of every apprentice’s education.
“I do a lot of stuff town electricians would
never see. Tomorrow I could be working on
a truck, then wiring a building, it’s never the
same thing. I love it and I wouldn’t trade it
for anything,” said Sarah Ireland, a second
year electrical apprentice at Queensland’s
Newlands operation.
For South Africa, the key challenge remains
offering structured training courses which
specifically meet the needs of young people
from diverse cultural and educational
backgrounds.
With the XCSA Training Centre providing
targeted programs designed to develop
every aspect of an apprentice’s necessary
skill base, XC is leading the way in
producing a new generation of safety
focused highly skilled tradesmen ready to
take on the SA resources sector. XCSA is
currently training more than 70 Learnerships
through the Training Centre initiatives.
“A well-trained, specialised workforce is
essential to the future growth of the
industry,” said Peter Freyberg.
“By investing in new apprentices today across
South Africa, Colombia and Australia, we
can ensure we are helping set the highest
standards of operational efficiency and
safety for tomorrow.”
Teaching haul truck operators to respond in
a major incident, the driver simulator at the
Newlands open cut operation in Central
Queensland is helping save lives.
“Putting them into an emergency situation
is what it is all about,” said Ross Murray,
one of several specialist trainers on site,
responsible for putting new and seasoned
drivers through a variety of scenarios.
“We can bring up 64 possible faults and
these can vary from loss of engine oil
pressure, up to slippery conditions in rain
and engine fires.”
“Probably about 90 per cent of people the
first time they come in here aren’t quite sure
of a fire procedure, but by the time they
walk out, they know 100 per cent how to
put a fire out. They are a lot more confident
and feel safe about what they are doing.”
The simulator continues to play a key role
in training new starters with no prior mining
experience, otherwise known as industry
‘cleanskins’.
Leanne Drew commenced as a cleanskin
with the simulator and now trains other
operators in the pit.
“The beauty of this machine is that we can
practice all this in here without damaging
equipment or people. It is that realistic that
when people go out there they find there is
very little difference between the simulator
and actually doing it.”
“The real benefit is that you get the idea of
the cab, where everything is, as well as your
emergencies, and practising going around
the cones, looking in the mirrors and all
those basic things that come naturally once
you’re in the truck.”
Three high resolution video screens
surround the driver, recreating the view
from inside a truck’s cabin. The hydraulic
chair then replicates the truck’s movements
while surround sound fills the fake cabin.
Leanne described her first emergency
training scenario as, “Very scary, very scary.
But you do it over and over and it comes
naturally. The more that you practice it,
it stays in there. In a real event, you know
what’s going to happen.“
“When a digital fire breaks out across the
truck’s deck, each step in the response
procedures is electronically timed and
logged, providing immediate feedback
to the trainer of the driver’s capabilities
and progress.”
“Until now we’ve only been able to tell
people how to apply a step process to
deal with a fire. There’s a huge difference
between telling and doing,” said Ross.
TRAINING
“It is that realistic
that when people
go out there they
find there is very
little difference
between the
simulator and
actually doing it.”
For Ross, the investment made into the
simulator is worth every cent, “These trucks
are worth four million dollars each, this
(simulator) machine is worth one million
dollars, this is the Rolls Royce of the systems.
However, all you have to do is save one life
or one machine and this (simulator) has paid
for itself. You can’t put a monetary value
on a life.”
Below: Leanne Drew, haul truck operator,
Newlands Queensland.
XSTRACT 2/2009 13
A Real Lifesaver
Newlands Training
Simulator
Enquiries
If you would like further information
or have any suggestions for articles
appearing in Xstract please contact:
James Rickards
Communications Manager
Telephone +61 2 9253 6789
[email protected]
Songezo Zibi
Communications Manager
Xstrata Coal South Africa
Telephone +27 1 1250 0064
[email protected]