Together, Creating Sustainable Value

Underground mining tools usually include a mix of mechanical and pneumatic tools such as handheld jacklegs and stoper drills. Mechanical equipment such as bolters can now be operated remotely keeping the operator at a safe distance from hazards in the work area. Hand-held tools require cumbersome connections to water and compressed air to function and are heavy to lift, making them difficult to maneuver at the risk of musculoskeletal injuries to the worker. Pressurized air and water lines underground can also be a risk as they age and deteriorate in underground conditions, faulty valves on compressed air lines have caused serious accidents in the industry.

With worker safety in mind, Borden has banned the use of jacklegs and stopers, which are pneumatic hand tools.

Worker health and safety is of the utmost importance at Goldcorp and air quality is a high priority in underground operations. Ventilation fans, air ducts, and infrastructure such as fresh air intake raises, are necessary to distribute fresh air, and as a result are indispensable to ensure the health, safety and comfort of anyone working underground. However, as mine development progresses deeper, costs rise as it takes more effort to deliver quality air.

To conserve energy and save money without compromising safety and air quality, Borden has implemented a Ventilation on Demand (VoD) system.

Water management, energy efficiency and conservation feature prominently as key aspects to consider in all successful mining operations. At Goldcorp, we have ambitious and innovative projects and goals in our Environment division and Lisa Wade, our VP of Environment, highlights some of these.

With the donation of one hectare of communal land by the community, Goldcorp’s Peñasquito mine recently constructed and opened the Rural Medical Centre, which will benefit more than 2,300 members of the community of Cedros and Mazapil, in the state of Zacatecas, one of the largest municipalities in Mexico.

As 2017 drew to a close, James Hobart recalls that his days felt routine, with few new challenges. But that was about to change when, along with 11 other participants, Hobart was accepted into the 2018 cohort of the Aboriginal Management Program (AMP) at the UBC Sauder School of Business.

The AMP is proudly supported by Goldcorp and is a rigorous five-month-long certificate program aimed at identifying promising Indigenous entrepreneurs then putting them on a fast track aimed at developing their leadership, project management, finance, and business planning skills.

Goldcorp is pleased to announce the third annual #DisruptMining innovation challenge and live finale event will be presented on Sunday, March 3, 2019 during the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto, Canada.

As part of our commitment to workplace diversity, Red Lake Gold Mines implemented the Stope School Program in 2007.

The Stope School Program is a Common Core training program that trains both local and First Nations people who are interested in working in an underground mining environment. The program runs for three months and consists of Underground Hard Rock modules, as well as other specialty modules. The Stope School Program prepares the trainees to enter the workforce knowing the basics of mining with safety as a priority. Training consists of theory and practical activities consistent with the guidelines outlined by the Common Core Modules, a series of programs administered by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).

At Goldcorp, we believe that developing our people enables them to achieve their ultimate potential and helps them exceed their goals. We are committed to investing in and developing all our employees. As an example, our StepUP program is designed to equip everyone to achieve results in a safe, productive and responsible way, by aligning our business and people practices around a core set of behaviours. Successful performance is a result of not just what we do, but also how we do it and the StepUP behaviours define what we can expect from one another at every level of the organization.

At Goldcorp, we strive to foster an open and inclusive workplace environment and strongly support the principle that everyone should have an equal opportunity to participate in our company and achieve their full potential.

In our 2017 Sustainability Report, we show how our commitment to our people is at the forefront of everything we do. From recruitment to onboarding to succession planning, we are dedicated to growing the careers of everyone we hire. We sat down with Jenine Ellefson, our Vice President, People to talk about the many changes, successes and challenges we encountered in 2017, and how these stories have generated fruitful learning experiences and lasting value for the company.