Lead-in-blood monitoring

Lead-in-blood monitoring is a key performance indicator at our Rosebery, Century and Golden Grove operations due to the potential for human uptake of lead during mining and processing of lead concentrates.

The following table details acceptable levels of lead-in-blood set by the Australian National Standard and OZ Minerals internal standards.

The former Zinifex business implemented internal lead-in-blood limits which were lower than the requirements of the National Standard. It is our intention to adopt this as the OZ Minerals standard during 2009. Century and Rosebery operations continue to operate under the OZ Minerals standard, while Golden Grove operation currently operates under the National Standard.

During 2008 work commenced through the integration process to develop a common standard that aligns lead-in-blood and other monitoring programs across the company. This process will be completed in 2009.

During 2008, OZ Minerals conducted 2,136 lead-in-blood tests on our people. Of these six reached an action level and three reached a transfer level. The break down of the tests by operation is detailed in the table below.

The process implemented when our people register an action level is to work closely with that individual to determine the reason for the elevated result and apply additional monitoring until the lead-in-blood level falls below the action level.

When an individual reaches a transfer level, the person involved will be transferred from their current position into another role with minimal exposure to lead until the level reduces.

Other health hazards

The table below outlines the number of Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) exceedances by agent for OZ Minerals operations. Those operations not included in the table did not have an OEL exceedance during the reporting period.

The table below outlines the number of occupational disease cases by operation. Those operations not included in the table did not have any occupational disease cases during the reporting period.