QKR Namibia’s Navachab Gold Mine has celebrated a major safety milestone after recording four million working hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI).
The achievement was celebrated under the theme ‘One Team. One Goal. Zero Harm,’ recognising the contributions of employees, contractors and business partners to maintaining a safe working environment at the mine.
Speaking during the celebrations, Navachab managing director George Botshiwe said the milestone underscored the importance of making safety part of daily operations.
He reminded employees that protecting themselves and their colleagues must remain a priority.
“No task is so important that it cannot be done safely,” Botshiwe said. Employees and contractors who helped improve safety at the mine were also recognised.
The Survey Section received the QKR Namibia Navachab Annual Safety Performance Award for its safety record, while the Pre-Concentration Plant was recognised for near-miss and incident reporting. Contractor Safety Performance Awards were presented to Kneumayer, Epiroc and Komatsu for helping maintain safety standards at the mine.
Three employees each received N$1 000 vouchers through a near-miss reporting draw aimed at encouraging workers to identify and report potential safety risks before they lead to injuries.
Navachab also extended its safety message beyond the mine through its “I Take 5 for My Big 5” campaign, which involved learners from Erbernezzer Primary School. Learners took part in a safety poster competition that encouraged them to think about safety at school, at home and in their communities.
Two learners were recognised for their entries and each received a N$1 000 voucher.
The mine said reaching four million LTI-free hours is an important achievement, but it does not mean attention to workplace safety can be relaxed.
Navachab said it will continue promoting personal responsibility, proactive reporting and a culture in which employees and contractors look out for one another.
Representatives from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and other mining industry stakeholders also attended the celebration.
The mine said their participation highlighted the shared responsibility of the mining industry, government and workers to continue strengthening occupational health and safety in Namibia’s mining sector.
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