By ETimes
Mining firm RioZim revealed that there was a notable decline in Lost Time Injuries (LTI) across the group, totalling 9 in 2022 compared to 14 recorded in 2021.
While the mining sector is prone to disasters and accidents, RioZim remains committed to its strategic pillar of zero harm.
The group has invested significantly in improving the health and safety of employees at the workplace.
However, the group recorded 2 fatalities.
“Earlier in the year, one employee was involved in a road traffic accident whilst on duty at Cam & Motor Mine. The employee sustained injuries which resulted in the first fatality of the period.
“The second fatality occurred at the Dalny pit when an employee slipped and drowned whilst working on a dewatering pump,” the miner said in its 2022 annual report.
Analysts say companies with high LTIs risk damaging their reputation, leading to a loss of trust among customers, investors and other stakeholders.
RioZim gold production declined 17% to 929kg in 2022 from 1122kg produced in the prior year.
Despite the drop in gold output, which was mostly caused by the local currency’s devaluation versus the US dollar, the group’s income for the year was $20.6 billion, an exponential growth over $5.8 billion the year before.