Newfoundland & Labrador

Supporting Our Employees

Throughout 2004, we have been working diligently to ensure that our operation at Voisey's Bay is work-ready when operations commence next year. “Our goal was not only to begin building a team with the skills and commitment to make our operation successful but also to ensure that qualified residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, including aboriginal peoples, would have access to new employment opportunities,” says Wayne Scott, VBNC's Manager of Human Resources. According to Scott, making sure that as many jobs as possible go to local residents is particularly important given that there will be far fewer jobs available during the operational phase of the project. While more than 2,900 people worked on all facets of the project in Newfoundland and Labrador, we expect that our operational workforce at the mine and concentrator site will be approximately 400 employees and another 150 people will be employed supporting hydromet research and development in Argentia, Newfoundland.

PREPARING FOR OPERATIONS

Operation of the hydromet demonstration plant in Argentia, Newfoundland is scheduled to begin in November 2005. Construction is in progress at the plant.

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As part of our efforts, a detailed process was put in place to identify potential candidates for both the mine and concentrator site and the hydromet demonstration plant at Argentia. For the mine and concentrator, our human resources team worked with VBNC's Aboriginal Employment Coordinators and Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs team as well as representatives of the LIA and Innu Nation to begin the process of identifying potential employees. We also made use of the Labrador Skills Inventory, a database of resumés of residents of Labrador, as well as VBNC's master database that includes every resumé VBNC has ever received. The master database contains over 12,000 resumés.

VBNC has also been holding job information workshops, attending career fairs and developing supporting material to increase awareness of the types of positions that will be needed when the project moves into operations. To ensure that the public is aware of all opportunities that are available, we additionally supported the recruitment effort by advertising all positions on our web site and in local newspapers.

FOCUSING ON WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT

As part of our human resources planning efforts, we are implementing a variety of innovative initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of women on the Voisey's Bay project. Our Women's Employment Plan has established specific employment targets for women in both Labrador and Argentia.

In 2004, we partnered with a number of organizations to encourage the participation of women in non-traditional occupations. For example, we funded a program provided by the non-profit group, Techsploration, which encouraged Grade 9 students, particularly young women, to explore careers in science and technology. We are also building a women's mentoring network, ensuring that a number of the scholarships we provide go to women and that women have representation on our workplace committees.

“I'm a perfect example of Inco's commitment to women employees,” says Lela Evans, an Inuit woman from Labrador who was hired as an Environmental Monitor and is now Environment, Health and Safety Coordinator at VBNC. “Inco isn't just saying it welcomes women, it's proving it.”

As well, we continue to insist upon a workplace that is respectful of both genders and all cultures. As part of that initiative, every employee participates in gender sensitivity training. We additionally have developed a zero tolerance program regarding the harassment of women, which applies to both VBNC and contractor employees. Last year, two employees working for contractors had their site privileges revoked for violating this policy.

DEVELOPING HEALTHY AND SAFE WORKSITES

A major challenge for any remote site during the development and construction phase is to develop a healthy and safe workplace. At Voisey's Bay, we are meeting that challenge. “We have a very good safety record overall,” says Earl Dwyer, Manager, Environment, Health and Safety at VBNC. “With a peak construction workforce, our lost-time injury frequency rate of 0.4 continues to trend well below the construction industry average in Newfoundland and Labrador. We experienced zero lost-time incidents at the construction site for our demonstration plant in Argentia, Newfoundland in 2004.”

We have achieved this sound safety record by working collaboratively with the Resource Development Council, its member unions, and all contractors hired to support construction of the project. We share a common goal of eliminating injury and at-risk behaviour from our workplace and partnering is key to achieving this goal. Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees are in place with representatives from contractors working at the Voisey's Bay project site and at the demonstration plant.

According to Dwyer, VBNC's superior safety record also reflects the company's strong safety program. “All workers receive a site orientation that enforces health and safety,” he says. “We also have a goal of zero harm and a philosophy of workers looking out for workers. We don't want anyone to take risks – not for cost savings, not for production gains, not for any reason. Our goal is that once the project becomes operational, we'll leave behind well-trained workers with a positive safety culture.”

To augment our safety program at Voisey's Bay, VBNC operates an on-site medical centre that provides round-the-clock emergency care and walk-in services. Four registered nurses work in the centre and two are on duty at all times.

Note: On January 11, 2005 a fatality occurred at the Voisey's Bay construction site. This unfortunate accident occurred when a contractor superintendent was fatally struck by a front-end loader during snow clearing operations.