The Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM), owned by Debswana, have attained a green audit following a recent virtual International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 and 45001 internal audit.

This sees OLDM ranking “incredibly well” when it comes to environmental management, as well as occupational health and safety management.

OLDM senior safety and health manager Badiri Motlaleng says the objective of the audit was to check the OLDM’s level of conformance against the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management system standard and the ISO 45001: 2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management system standard.

The auditors concluded that the environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS) management system was suitable and effective in meeting the requirements of the ISO 14001: 2015 and ISO 45001: 2018.

Evidence confirmed that the system was effectively maintained in areas pertaining to the audit scope.

The OLDM recorded no major findings, ten minor findings and 22 opportunities for improvement.

Presenting their findings, the auditors applauded all the participants for open interactions and for being able to articulate requirements of the management systems associated with their processes, as well as the high level of understanding and commitment to the systems demonstrated by the leadership.

“OLDM leadership demonstrated a high level of understanding of the system and their commitment with respect to the management system was evident,” they noted.

Other positive observations and good practices the auditors highlighted included the Fatigue Management Programme within the pit, noting that it was excellent in providing leading indicators regarding wellness and fitness to work.

They also commended the means by which the OLDM has incorporated referencing to the hierarchy of control within OHS hazards and risk assessment documented information.

This includes provision for promoting effectiveness of controls and their consistent application, as well as the displayed high-level understanding of the system requirements and being able to link the standard requirements to their activities.

This, it was noted, means a good integration of the emergency medical service into business processes.

Senior engineering manager Lefoko Sethoko applauded the OLDM employees and their business partners for their efforts in ensuring that OLDM achieved a positive audit outcome.

Sethoko encouraged the employees and business partners to look at internal audits as an opportunity for retrospection and to measure the operations’ compliance to the systems.

“The recommendations of the auditors will help OLDM in our journey of continuous improvement. Areas that have been noted, both positive and negative, are there for us to learn from,” Sethoko said.