NNSL (May 18/98) - According to BHP statistics, the Ekati mine was approaching one million hours without a lost-time injury in January.

The record is the result of a comprehensive health and safety program that's been in place since construction of the mine began two years ago.

Safety measures in place at BHP include:

• policies detailing required safety wear (steel-toed boots, hard hats, safety glasses, reflective vests) for areas of the site where there is risk of injury

• emergency response teams, composed of 60 volunteers, trained by the territorial safety department to respond to mine emergencies

• a fire-protection system that includes a fully equipped fire truck, central alarm system and automatic sprinklers

• a fully equipped ambulance plus a five-bed first-aid facility with a nurse and medical technician on duty at all times.

Still under construction, Ekati, like all NWT mines, is subject to regular safety inspections from the prevention services branch of the Workers' Compensation Board.

Authority for conducting the inspections, and remedying any safety deficiencies, comes from the NWT Mine, Health and Safety Act and Regulations.