Occupational Health and Safety
The health and safety of employees is the highest priority for Kazatomprom. The Company strives to comply with international best practices, adhere strictly to national and international requirements, and continuously enhance its health, safety, and environment (HSE) management system.
Kazatomprom has implemented occupational health and safety management systems accross all production entities based on international standards, in-line with ISO 45001.
The principal HSE document is the Kazatomprom policy on occupational health and safety, environmental protection, radiation, and nuclear safety. The Production Safety (HSE) Committee of the Board of Directors and the Risk Management Committee of Kazatomprom Management Board regularly review and analyse all health and safety measures, as well as the results of H&S performance monitoring.
Kazatomprom is ISO 14001:2015 и ISO 45001:2018 certified.
Efficiency of occupational health and safety measures
Production activities at Kazatomprom entities are carried out in compliance with occupational health and safety requirements. A wide range of measures are carried out on an ongoing basis to prevent accidents and injuries. The Company carries out systematic work to align the safety culture with international best practices and to increase the level of conscious compliance with production safety requirements by employees and managers at all levels.
100% of the Kazatomprom’s employees are covered by the occupational health and safety management system in 2020.
Supporting an International Social Security Association (ISSA) initiative to improve safety, health, and wellbeing at work, the Company is registered as a member of the Vision Zero international programme.
In order to preserve the lives and health of employees, and as part of implementing the Vision Zero concept, the Company has determined and adopted the Golden Safety Rules, which are binding on all Group employees and contractors:
- To become a leader – show commitment
- To identify threats – control risks
- To define goals – develop programmes
- To constantly improve the production safety system – achieve a high level of organisation
- To ensure production safety at workplaces when using equipment and handling hazardous substances
- To improve qualifications – develop professional skills
- To invest in staff – motivate through participation
In 2019 the Lock out/Tag out system (the locking of hazardous energy sources, with warning tags posted) was installed at all subsidiaries and affiliates, together with a procedure for recording hazardous actions, hazardous conditions, and potentially dangerous near-miss accidents.
The Company conducts daily health monitoring using the respective information systems at all subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, to protect the health of its staff and reduce the risk of exposure to infection. Kazatomprom introduced a special COVID-19 analytical platform to predict the incidence rate in areas where Kazatomprom subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures operate and to assess the effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures.
The Company implemented the following preventive measures to reduce the risk of exposure to infection: introducing contactless video thermometry, installing disinfection tunnels, introducing PCR testing for staff before coming to work, Introducing supply of disinfectants, PPE, and antiseptics for personnel, Ensuring social distancing at work, etc.
Kazatomprom actively involves its employees in health and safety management. In accordance with the Kazakh Labour Code, the Company entities have established production safety councils, which include, on a parity basis, representatives of the employer and employees, including technical inspectors. Production councils do not replace occupational safety services, but instead supplement their occupational health and safety activities, work-related injuries, and occupational diseases. In addition, production councils organise occupational health and safety inspections at workplaces by technical labour inspectors.
The Company has adopted the practice of holding regular meetings (in the form of video conferences) with the heads of occupational safety services, to analyse the root causes of accidents and to elaborate measures to prevent them.
Based on the analysis results of work-related injuries and accidents, information letters are prepared and sent to all subsidiaries and affiliates, containing a list of measures to prevent accidents. The circumstances and causes of the incidents are also discussed with employees in all Group divisions. In addition, ad-hoc safety briefings are held.
Accident reporting is regulated by the Order on public safety, the safeguarding of material assets, and emergency responses, which contains an instruction on alerting staff in the event of an accident. Actions that staff need to carry out in the event of an accident or an injury are also set out in instructions and accident response plans.
In its operations, Kazatomprom follows the principle of protecting worker’s life and health. To this end, the Company uses such tools as medical insurance, health improvement, and wellness programmes for employees. These benefits are included in the social benefit package. In addition, as part of a collective bargaining agreement between the Company and the trade union, the employees can enjoy additional programmes for health rehabilitation and treatment.
In order to ensure nuclear safety, the Company enterprises that carry out activities involving nuclear materials monitor compliance with technological regulations and requirements related to nuclear safety instructions.
Inventories of nuclear materials and nuclear safety inspections are carried out at the Company’s enterprises on a regular basis in order to ensure nuclear safety. The absence of any incidents and accidents during the reporting year demonstrates the effectiveness of the measures implemented.
Ensuring radiation safety at Kazatomprom's enterprises is based on the fulfillment of legal requirements in the field of atomic energy use and radiation safety of the population, as well as taking into account the best practices of the IAEA in the field of professional radiation protection.
To improve radiation safety and protect personnel, Kazatomprom takes the following measures:
- conducting repair work on the premises and modernising equipment
- replacing corroded or obsolete equipment
- repairing and upgrading ventilation systems
- moving low-level radioactive waste to disposal sites
- purchasing new sophisticated radiation monitoring devices
- providing radiation safety training for employees
- certification of personnel by the authorized body
Kazatomprom takes regular action to maintain a high level of emergency preparedness. The Company carries outs regular inspections of the fire safety systems in its buildings. The Company’s office was ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certified following the results of an international fire safety audit.
