Newcrest kicks off mining safety week

 NEWCREST Lihir has kicked off the PNG national mining safety week with activities involving employees and local schoolchildren.
Newcrest employees hosted 20 students from Lakaziz Primary School on Masahet Island, on a “VIP” visit, including safety inductions, issuance of essential safety clothing such as hard hats, vests and safety glasses.
Students were taken to the open pit dispatch to view the mine pit.
Employees were on-hand to explain how the ore was blasted, mined and then trucked to the crushers.
A highlight of the school visit was to see the heavy vehicle training simulator.
The students were eager to understand how haul truck drivers get their first training in a safe and controlled environment before actual training outside on larger vehicles.
Mine trainer John Tera showed to the children how, in a computerised vehicle cabin simulator, one could replicate a total mine pit environment, which included driving a haul truck or operating a shovel.
One of the popular safety week activities for Newcrest employees was the team sports.