TVIRD Canatuan’s safety role models share the spotlight
Balili, a Mine Department senior foreman; Pinero, a Mill Department filter press operator; and Pepito, a Maintenance Department welder achieved their feat after serving as safety role models for over 700 fellow TVIRD employees at this ancestral domain of the Subanon indigenous people in the mountainous eastern portion of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, Southern Philippines.
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Above, Jonard Pinero (middle) receives his Safety Heroes award from TVIRD Canatuan General Manager Ely Valmores as Safety Manager Art Abad looks on. Below, Angelito Pepito in action. “The awards program inspires our employees to work safely at all times. This will definitely help in advancing our objective of leaving a culture of safety to our Subanon brethren.
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“Their records are spotless,” Arturo Abad, TVIRD Canatuan Safety Manager says, “They have been consistently following our safety standard operating procedures. Their immaculate records at our Human Resources and Administration Department further attest to their distinction as role models.”
“I could hardly believe that I will be chosen as a Safety Hero from among the 100 plus employees of the Maintenance Department,” says Pepito, who has been connected with TVIRD for four years now. “My wife is proud of my achievement.”
A native of R. T. Lim town in adjacent Zamboanga Sibugay Province, Pepito was employed in a logging firm before joining TVIRD. “What I love most about TVIRD is the way it takes care of its employees. The salary and benefits are rewarding and the safety of employees is one of its paramount concerns,” he relates. “In my previous company, I could even work in a sleeveless shirt. If we wanted to have safety shoes, the cost was deducted from our salaries. When welding, I covered my face with a piece of plywood for protection. We didn’t have a safety department. All these aren’t the case with TVIRD. Quite a big difference!”
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Above, Broze Balili leads his fellow employees in saying the morning prayers before their daily tool box meeting. Below, Balili (far left) with Len Nacua confers with Len Nacua, a trucking contractor, and Mine personnel Euberto Cisneros and Michael Tolentino. “We achieved a good production performance against our plan without sacrificing the safety of our workers. Credit goes to Bronze, who never tires in reminding our personnel to follow safety rules,” says Pete Remoto, TVIRD Canatuan Mine Department Manager.
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Maintenance Department Superintendent Celestino Panares is equally proud of Pepito. “He is one of our best welders,” Panares says of Pepito. “His safety record and adherence to our Code of Conduct are worthy of emulation. He analyzes his work well and always comes to work well prepared. He doesn’t even smoke or drink! He really deserves this award.”
Balili – “Bronze” to colleagues – is considered one of TVIRD Canatuan’s pioneers after having worked here since 2004, the company’s first year of production operations. “We all begin our day with a ‘tool box meeting’ where we, among others, remind each other of the safety procedures we must observe as we go about doing our tasks. Safety meetings in my previous employer were conducted only once a month. Here we do safety pep talks every morning as well as safety audits and department safety meetings every month. I am truly proud that I am part of a company that values the health and lives of its employees!”
Pete Remoto, Mine Department Manager, says he admires Balili’s working habits and his enthusiasm in constantly reminding his co-workers to follow safety procedures like, for instance, making sure that each dump truck driver thoroughly inspects the road worthiness of his vehicle before driving.
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A driver checks his vehicle thoroughly before boarding it, part of the meticulous safety procedures followed by TVIRD employee and contractors in Canatuan.
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Danessa Sandiko, Mine Department Assistant Manager, agrees: “Bronze’s efficiency in handling the safety aspect of our operation can be seen in our zero accident record at the mine pit since he was assigned to the senior foreman post in 2006.”
Remoto adds: “We achieved a good production performance against our plan without sacrificing the safety of our workers. Credit goes to Bronze, who never tires in reminding our personnel to follow safety rules.”
Pinero, a Subanon, for his part, says the Safety Heroes Award “…gave me all the reasons to be always safety conscious not only for me but for my family. Was I surprised that I was chosen? Absolutely! I never thought I would be given the award. Of the so many employees in our department, I was chosen to be the given of the award. I am still in cloud nine!”
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Pete Remoto and Danessa Sandiko, Mine Manager and Assistant Manager, respectively, are all praises for Balili. “Bronze’s efficiency in handling the safety aspect of our operation can be seen in our zero accident record at the mine pit since he was assigned to the senior foreman post in 2006.”
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Rey Carubio, Mill Superintendent, says Pinero’s ability to analyze and respond properly to every critical situation, with emphasis on safety, makes him the department’s standard for safety excellence. “Pinero cares for the safety of his co-workers and always encourages them to follow safety procedures. An employee like him deserves the award. He is always looked up to by his colleagues because of his pleasing attitude and his being safety conscious.”
“We are serious about achieving our objective of leaving a culture of safety in Canatuan that every TVRD employees will be proud of,” says Rey Jimeno, Safety Department Inspector. “To be able to attain this objective, we are employing administrative and engineering controls to instill the value of working safely and to seriously practice it.”
He explains that the administrative aspect of the controls lies in the safety policies and procedures that his department crafted jointly with all the other departments following a risk assessment process and then followed by the implementation of these policies and procedures. “We made sure that Safety is everybody’s business,” Jimeno stresses.
The engineering aspect of the controls, on the other hand, includes the installation and provision of safety devices and tools to prevent the occurrence of accidents. “For instance, we built railings to prevent accidental falls, or machine guards and signs,” he explains. “These are further reinforced by the so-called ‘Safety’s last line of defense’ — personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as hard hats, masks, safety shoes, boots, raincoats, gloves and eye goggles that were distributed to employees.”
Abad says the company will pursue its Safety Heroes award next year. “The awards program inspires our employees to work safely at all times. This will definitely help in advancing our objective of leaving a culture of safety to our Subanon brethren. Indeed a legacy that will remind our gracious hosts that safety is an important component of responsible mining.” (Lullie Micabalo)