Lucky Friday | health & safety
Hecla tracks a variety of safety performance indicators: injuries, near misses, and equipment damage. Each year, our goal is to reduce safety incidents and improve upon the previous year’s performance. The choice for all employees is clear: when a conflict arises between production and safety, safety should always come first.
extensive and effective training: protecting our workforce
All mine employees receive training that complies with Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations. This training includes an initial 40-hour training program for underground employees, 24 hours for surface employees, and 8 hours of annual refresher training for both. Employees receive ongoing training that is designed to develop skills in performing their assigned tasks in a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible manner. Safety meetings are held regularly to identify risks and promote a culture of safety in the workplace. Employees are expected to actively participate in identifying and alerting management to potential hazards and unsafe practices. Until the recent tragic accident, Hecla’s Lucky Friday operation had gone 25 years without a fatality. Our top priority remains protecting our workforce and mitigating risks, and we’re committed to the continuous improvement of our health and safety practices.
minimizing exposure risks
In mining and milling metallic ore, exposure to substances which may have an adverse impact on human health is possible. Over the past seven years, Hecla has made significant progress in protecting underground workers from exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM). Lucky Friday upgraded underground ventilation and converted to biodiesel to fuel its equipment, reducing DPM emissions by 78%. Controlling lead exposure in the mill is also a priority. Annual blood tests measure employee exposure, which is minimized through personal hygiene training and state-of-the-art respirators.
mine rescue and emergency response
While we work hard to prevent our mine rescue personnel from being called into action, we’re grateful for their dedication and service. Lucky Friday’s competition team is trained to perform under the stress of an emergency. The Lucky Friday mine has 25 team members who train at least five times a year in first aid, rope rescue, and firefighting. Competing against teams from companies across the country, the competition team placed third in the district competition and first in the team technician competition. At nationals in 2010, the team placed seventh overall out of 38, setting a new record for the district.
promoting healthy lifestyles
Our responsibility to ensure a safe workplace extends to providing opportunities for employee wellness. Financial assistance toward membership to a local fitness club is available to all employees. Health screenings are also provided, and employees at all sites are provided with free flu shots, as well as on-site mammograms that are available to employees and spouses.
community health and wellness
Hecla recognizes that we are part of the local community in which we operate. A number of our employees are involved with community health and safety programs. They use skills and training received in the workplace to assist their neighbors in the local community. Eight employees from Lucky Friday are volunteer firemen in the town of Mullan, Idaho. Annually, we support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation golf tournament through participation and donations. In October 2010, over 75 “Team Hecla” participants and their families took part in the 2010 Walk to Defeat ALS in Coeur d’Alene, raising a total of $26,323 in support of 270 local ALS patients.
