Happiness key to boosting staff productivity

TWO gold mining operations in the country have for the first time joined efforts to highlight the connection between a happy home and  community, and a safe and productive workplace.
Newcrest Lihir accepted an invitation to participate at Porgera’s National Mine Safety Week recently and witnessed Porgera launch its Women in Mining (WiM) initiative as part of the programme.
Lihir’s anti-violence adviser, Margaret Yanda, who coordinates the Trupla Man Trupla Meri anti-violence and behaviour change programme, and healthy business consultant Eric Tamo represented Lihir at Porgera last month to support Barrick’s commitment to strengthen diversity in its workforce.
Yanda, addressing the Porgera workforce, described Lihir’sTrupla Man Trupla Meri as men and women displaying integrity, care, honesty, commitment and responsibility.
She emphasised that it linked happy and healthy homes and communities to safe, productive workplaces.
Tamo conducted a food campaign based on diets, subsistence gardening, home-cooking, food preparation, family health and women and children’s health. His message focused on empowering the workforce to make healthy and safe choices at work and home.
Porgera’s occupational health and safety manager, Robin Sheahan, when thanking Newcrest-Lihir, said it had delivered a remarkable and inspiring session to the workforce in Porgera.
“It is the first time for our workforce to engage in such a motivational and encouraging session onsite,” he said.
Yanda congratulated Porgera’s WiM members on behalf of Newcrest-Lihir and thanked the host miner for inviting Newcrest-Lihir to participate in its NMSW. She encouraged the men to be Trupla Man and to respect and support the women in their workplace and homes to excel in life.
She said Lihir was committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone felt safe, valued and empowered to perform at their best.