By JOHN SAKALA
Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) has retained its British Safety Institute (BSI) certification for sound management of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment following an independent audit.
KCM Acting General Manager Corporate Affairs Shapi Shachinda said KCM was pleased to retain its BSI certification of the ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015, OHSAS18001:2007 and PAS99:2012.
Mr Sgachinda said the retention of the BSI certificate confirms that KCM is operating within required standards in the areas of quality control, environment, occupational health and safety to ensure global best practice even as it focuses on ramping up production.
“The British Safety Institute conducted the audit within two weeks and focused on various parameters on the management and implementation of safety, health and environment standards within KCM’s operation areas.
“The audit probed KCM’s management systems on the safety of employees, business partners and other stakeholders, the company’s health systems in promoting the health of employees and its partners such as communities,” he said.
He said the BSI also looked at KCM’s strategic plans and its policies and procedures to identify potential areas for improvement of the health, safety and environment management systems.
Mr Shachinda said the auditors indicated that no major non-conformity was recorded across KCM and that there was overall understanding and consistent implementation of the management system requirements.
“Good root-cause analysis processes and practices were acknowledged. They also noted good housekeeping in the areas they visited as well as transparency in sharing of information and data.
“This achievement is a true demonstration of the company’s commitment to zero harm, zero discharge, zero waste and it is an independent confirmation of KCM’s competence and performance capability,” he said.
