With hundreds of people living and working in close proximity, mines – and the camps that house their workers – seemed like fertile territory for the coronavirus to spread.
So far, the global mining sector has yet to face the kind of outbreaks that paralyzed U.S. meat plants and wreaked havoc on the cruise industry. But, as lockdowns ease and mines start ramping up output, there’s reason to be cautious.
Vladimir Putin dispatched the army to Russia’s biggest gold operation last month after it reported hundreds of cases, and a couple of South African mines were temporarily halted as employees tested positive. In Chile, tensions are rising as miners in the biggest copper-producing nation seek to maintain output, while unions call for operational curbs as more workers fall ill.
From Quebec to Queensland, the industry is on high alert. Screening, quarantining and social distancing have become standard, and workers in remote mining camps are faced with new rules governing everything from canteen meals to vacation schedules. New apps are also helping to educate employees on virus risks.
Here are five mining and metals companies that have changed their work practices as a consequence of the pandemic:
– Sibanye Stillwater, South Africa. About 40,000 employees – almost half of Sibanye Stillwater’s South African workforce – are using the company’s WeAre1 app. The app allows staff to self-screen, speeding their return to work as the world’s largest platinum miner boosts production following a national coronavirus lockdown.
To maintain social distancing, the company has cut the number of workers entering the cages that are lowered to mining areas more than two miles (3.2 kilometers) underground. Workers wear masks and other protective equipment and are also been given food parcels to ensure proper nutrition.
– Norilsk Nickel, Russia. MMC Norilsk Nickel’s airline NordStar has recently resumed some services to the remote Arctic city of Norilsk, after cutting most flights in late March as the virus spread. Everyone traveling to Norilsk is being quarantined for 14 days by the city’s authorities.
To minimize downtime, the world’s largest palladium and nickel miner is recommending employees take their 41-day annual vacation in one go. However, the company has also shut its Black…
Read More: Screening apps and 41-day vacations: Keeping miners covid-free
