Occupational injury prevention

The health and safety of employees is one of our most important measures of performance. EVRAZ continues to monitor occupational health and safety issues, alongside other parameters, including the lost time injury frequency rate and number of fatalities, in order to ascertain and implement required mitigation strategies and responses.

LTIFR

EVRAZ uses a number of different tools to assess safety performance. One of the most important KPIs in this regard is the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR). Target KPIs are cascaded down throughout the Group in individual management performance scorecards. In 2019, the LTIFR stood at 2.04 per 1 million hours. And although the Group implemented various initiatives to improve workplace safety and the safety culture in general, some fatalities were recorded, including a tragic car accident at the Raspadskiy Open Pit.

However, EVRAZ made significant progress in reducing injuries caused by dropped objects, rockslides, and trips and falls. We managed to save the absence of exposure to smoke, fire, flame and harmful substances. We expect to improve future LTIFR rates by enhancing our focus on learning from previous incidents, integrating associated best practices across the Group, and implementing HSE initiatives and programmes.

EVRAZ strives continuously to improve our reporting system and in this regard implements new standard operating procedures, improves the corporate safety behaviour of employees and contractors, and constantly develops the occupational safety risk assessment methodology. In 2019, we were successful in getting employees to report injuries (including minor ones) using the EVRAZ Hotline and other communication channels. This was also why a higher number of injuries was recorded in 2019 than in 2018.

GRI 403-9

Fatalities

Although much was done in 2019 to ensure the safety of our employees, there were a number of tragic incidents at different EVRAZ entities. We are deeply saddened to report that 16 fatalities were recorded – ​12 among EVRAZ employees and four among contractors. To ensure that we learned everything we could from these incidents, and to help prevent reoccurrences, the Management investigated each incident and appropriate measures were taken. EVRAZ also provided all necessary assistance to the families of the victims.

In 2019, the main identified risk categories were working at heights, electrical safety, car accidents, dropped objects, and fallen roof rock. For each risk category EVRAZ organised and implemented a number of HSE initiatives.

GRI 403-9

Case study