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GEO ENERGY RESOURCES LIMITED | Annual Report 2012 29
We conduct internal safety checks on a regular basis to
ensure compliance by our staff. We have safety officers
stationed on-site at each of our mining sites to oversee
the safety aspect of our coal production operations. Work
habits are closely monitored by the safety officers who are
tasked with identifying shortfalls in the practice of health
and safety procedures. Where shortfalls arise, counter-
measures are undertaken or new policies are introduced to
remove the resultant risk.
We believe our emphasis on worker health and safety has
resulted in the relatively low level of accidents at our mines.
All our employees have a mandate to target zero injuries
and fatalities amongst our workforce. Based on our internal
safety and health records to date, we are pleased to report
that our staff has not encountered any severe injuries or
fatalities for FY2012.
Environment and Natural Resources Stewardship
Since the commencement of our operations, Geo Energy
has been steadfastly committed to achieving high standards
of environmental management of the mines where we
operate. We approach environmental management as
another aspect of good governance which must be
addressed well in order to improve our overall performance.
Pursuant to the government’s regulatory requirements, we
have formulated comprehensive post-mining reclamation
and rehabilitation plans to manage the environment in which
we carry out our mining operations. Our strategies take into
account the geological characteristics of our mining sites in
order to better manage the environment. It is our Group’s
intent to rehabilitate ex-mine land as soon as it is no longer
mined rather than wait until the end of its mine life. Our land
reclamation activities require the deposit of the overburden
onto mined out areas. Our rehabilitation activities require
the spreading of topsoil over the surface of the overburden
deposited and the planting of native plants to restore and
enhance the environment.
Our environmental management strategies and objectives
also include effective air and water pollution control
measures, proper handling and disposal of hazardous
and poisonous waste and continuous improvement of our
resource efficiency. Waste water is treated to remove oil
and other pollutants and tested for its acidity level before
being disposed. Other waste such as used oil, scrap metal
and worn tyres are brought to designated dump site(s) at
the mine site to be collected and removed by third party
contractors periodically. Water trucks are deployed to
spray sections of coal haulage roads (which are largely
dirt roads or earth roads) located near the homes of
the local communities in the dry season to reduce dust
pollution. Face masks are also distributed to local residents
to help reduce exposure to dust. We are also in the midst
of implementing a fleet management system to reduce
downtime and achieve efficient energy use.
Nursery for Rehabilitation