Creating a safe work environment is the most important aspect of the commitment and pledge we make to each and every employee. Yamana has rigorous procedures in place to manage health and safety protocols and is continually investing time and resources to enhance health and safety at all operations. We strive to go beyond compliance and ensure the prevention of accidents at our sites through the implementation of best practices. At Yamana, safety is part of our culture.

Key Milestones Achieved in 2011: 

• All operations, except Gualcamayo, are OHSAS 18001 certified. Gualcamayo has already been independently audited and recommended for certification

• Out of the six operations that use sodium cyanide, five are certified and/or have been recommended for certification under the International Cyanide Management Code (ICMC)

• El Peñón and Minera Florida have expanded their air rescue programs

• A quarterly geo-mechanical inspection was completed at each operation

• More than 99,000 safety behavior checks were performed

• Forty-five health campaigns were conducted for employees, contractors and the community

• New employees and contractors each undergo an average of 27 hours of training to learn about the hazards they might face, and the means of preventing accidents. This training is in addition to the standard ongoing safety, corporate and operating procedures that are already in place at each operation to ensure all current employees work safely

Yamana's Commitment to Safety

Yamana has rigorous procedures in place to manage health and safety protocols and continues to make investments to enhance safety at all operations. We strive to go beyond compliance and ensure the prevention of accidents at our sites through the implementation of best practices in health and safety management. The overall health and safety of our employees is vital to our success and we actively assign resources to effect improvements in this regard.

As part of the Yamana Management System, Yamana has created health and safety committees, risk management tools, safety inspections, safety interactions and daily safety dialogues with workers that help the Company to prevent accidents. All incidents, whether resulting in work leave or not, are registered by the Company. Each mine has a SHEC committee comprised of the operation’s management team. The committees receive input from the president of Internal Commission for Accident Prevention (CIPA) on how to improve health and safety programs. 

Yamana's safety programs include:

Safety Interactions (Safety Behavior Audits)

This program encourages management to approach employees to reinforce safety measures. The objective is to gain each employee’s commitment to conduct all operating activities safely.

Daily Safety Dialogue

Prior to the start of a day’s work, safety dialogues are conducted at all operations and cover specific topics related to health, safety and environmental guidelines.

Registration of Safety Occurrence

This program requires employees at all operations to register potentially dangerous situations with management. Each report is reviewed and solutions are implemented to avoid any future safety issues.

P.E.A.C.E.

Which stands for Think, Study, Analyze, Correct and Execute in Portuguese, is a safety program that ensures each employee analyzes a task in order to execute it safely. This program reinforces the five key actions employees should take when assessing a potential risky situation.  

Planned Work Observation

In 2011, Yamana began at Planned Work Observation pilot project  at our Chapada operation to ensure that all routine activities, changes, and process alterations are based on formal procedures for safer operations, through the identification of potential hazards and risks in the short, medium and long-term so that each potential problem can be controlled or mitigated. A review process plan has been established to evaluate risks and schedule operator training. In 2012, the project will be expanded to all of Yamana’s operations.