Managing our impact on the environment
The Metorex Group acknowledges that the process of mining and metallurgy has a direct impact on the mining site and its surrounds. It is therefore incumbent on the operating companies to anticipate, prevent and, as far as possible, mitigate the effects of its actions. Three critical areas in this regard are air, water and land management.

The Group aims to effectively manage its safety, health and environmental relationship through an integrated approach to its stakeholders and the environment in which it operates.

• Compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and standards.
• Pollution control and prevention.
• Continual improvements in its safety, health and environmental performance.

Environmental management programmes, which are regularly audited and updated, are in place at all the operations. water management initiatives are in place to conserve water by recycling and eliminating wastage. In the DRC a project has been completed to provide the inhabitants of the local town with a water system so that they are no longer reliant on water from abandoned workings and perennial streams.

A closure programme has been prepared and implemented for the O’Okiep this property have been involved in the rehabilitation of the site. It is the Group’s operations during their lives to minimise the impact on the surroundings and reduce the funds required to finally close the operations at the end of their lives.

Enhancing the wellbeing of our people
The Metorex Group aims to maintain the health and wellness of its employees and their dependants by managing the exposure to health risks while simultaneously providing access to comprehensive occupational, preventative and curative health care facilities. The Group has responded proactively to the HIV/Aids epidemic by implementing a number of programmes to minimise the incidence of infection within the organisation and the communities in which it operates; as well as providing comprehensive care and treatment for those individuals who are infected with the virus. Refer to notes on the Group’s HIV/Aids policy under the Group’s Social Responsibility Report.

Employees who are exposed to occupational health hazards undergo annual medical examinations in order to determine whether they are fit to perform the work that they are employed to do and to ensure that any occupational ill health is diagnosed early and treated as soon as possible. The three main occupational health challenges are noise (underground and surface operations), heat and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Airborne pollutants (especially above ground) and exposure to heavy metals and other chemicals pose occupational hygiene risks within specific work environments.

The Group is committed to skills development and has training facilities at its operations with a centralised centre, for more advanced training at Barberton. It also makes use of outside facilities for specialist training.

Tuberculosis
The diagnosis, treatment and reporting of TB receives the highest health priority within the Group. An employee diagnosed with TB receives free treatment in accordance with the world Health Organisation (wHO), directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) guidelines and all cases are reported to the Medical Bureau of Occupational Diseases (MBOD) for assessment and possible compensation.

Noise
A hearing conservation programme is in place, at all operations, that aims to reduce the risk of employees developing hearing loss in keeping with the legally required code of practice. All employees (including permanent contractors) who are at high risk to noise exposure are provided with personal hearing protection devices, known as noise clippers.

Heat
Underground employees undergo annual screening for heat intolerance. No cases of heat stroke were diagnosed during the review period.