Merafe Resources Integrated Annual Report 2018

MERAFE RESOURCES INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2018 32 KEY POINTS – 2018 Nil noise-induced hearing loss cases (2017: two) Employees who test positive for HIV are encouraged to register for treatment Employees receive HIV and Aids counseling, care and support free of charge Health programmes at the Venture aim to eliminate occupational illness Human capital: health and wellness PERFORMANCE Human capital includes health, knowledge, skills, intellectual outputs, motivation and the capacity for relationships of individuals. Organisations depend on individuals to function. They need a healthy, motivated and skilled workforce. Intellectual capital and knowledge management is also recognised as a key intangible creator of wealth. Damaging human capital by abuse of human rights or labour rights or compromising health and safety has direct, as well as reputational costs. We enhance our human capital by providing healthcare and training and education in health matters. Our policy and approach A business needs a healthy workforce that is able to work at its full potential. The health programmes provided by the Venture, aim to eliminate and address occupational illnesses, public health issues and the overall wellbeing of its employees and contractors. Typically, occupational illnesses such as noise induced hearing loss ("NIHL") are only diagnosed some time after the event that caused them. As a result, the occupational illnesses currently occurring in the Venture’s operations are usually the result of historic mining and smelting practices. The Venture has identified NIHL as a major occupational health risk for its employees and has employed a full time Audiologist to counteract this risk. Any of its workers exposed to the internationally accepted noise level limit of 85 decibels or above were issued with personalised noise clippers hearing protection. The equipment it provides includes variphones/noise clippers, which are custom-made for comfort and are 100% leak tight. Employees are trained in the use, maintenance and storage and care of this equipment. Any employees or contractors at risk of being exposed to noise that could damage their hearing are personally monitored and regularly tested as part of our hearing conservation programmes. Wherever possible the Venture reduces the noise from the equipment it uses in its operations to levels below the internationally recommended standards using design modifications, exclusive zones and ‘buy quiet’ programmes for new or upgraded equipment. The Venture’s operations have reduced machinery noise to less than 110 decibels. There were no noise induced hearing losses or occupational disease cases in 2018. All the Venture’s operations undergo an annual risk assessment of their baseline risks on ISOmetrix.net and legal audits are conducted by an external legal company accompanied by subject matter specialists every three years. HIV and Aids HIV and Aids is a human rights issue, which Merafe and the Venture address through their policies and programmes. To ensure these policies are accessible to the Venture’s employees and contractors, they are available in all the languages spoken by its employees. Employees can choose to receive HIV and Aids counseling, care and support. Any HIV-positive employees of the Venture can receive treatment they need free of charge, together with the support and education that will make it possible for them to maintain their antiretroviral treatment programme through the membership of a medical aid. All the Venture’s occupational health nurses have been trained in the management of HIV and TB and the impact of HIV and TB. All employees who visit its occupational health clinics are screened for TB. Those whose screening tests indicate they may have TB are referred to healthcare facilities for TB investigation and treatment. The Venture’s wellness programme has been incorporated into the annual/periodic medicals conducted at each operation. Medical records remain on site and are only seen by the Occupational Medical Practitioner and the nurses. All Venture employees who are HIV positive are encouraged to receive antiretroviral treatment. The Venture's HIV and Aids policies commit to: • providing employees and contractors with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their families from HIV and Aids through workplace education programmes that explain clearly how HIV can be contracted, what can be done to prevent contracting and transferring HIV, and what should be done to enhance the quality and length of life of those who are HIV-positive; • encouraging employees and contractors to know their HIV status and providing counselling and testing facilities for them; • running HIV and Aids campaigns that involve employees at every level of the organisation; • ensuring that every employee attends an HIV and Aids education session during working hours, followed by an individual wellness counselling session with a healthcare provider; • ensuring that testing for HIV is voluntary and that employees are only tested for HIV and Aids after giving their informed consent; • guaranteeing the confidentiality of employees' medical information; • providing pre- and post-test counselling for employees or contractors wishing to be tested for HIV and Aids; • forming public-private partnerships with local, provincial and national government structures in joint projects to fight HIV and Aids in the communities in which the Venture operates; and • facilitating the training of peer educators and establishing and training home-based care workers through the Venture's corporate social investment programme.