2023 Health and Safety Performance
Donlin Gold LLC maintained an impressive health and safety record in 2023, again achieving a commendable zero Lost Time Injury (LTI) frequency rate. The Total Recordable Incident Frequency Rate (TRIFR)1 for the year was 0, surpassing our target of 1.5 or lower. In 2023, employees and contractors at Donlin Gold LLC received a total of 340 hours dedicated to health, safety, and emergency response training2.
Notably, the collective efforts of Donlin Gold LLC employees and contractors have resulted in over 3.0 million work hours spanning more than a decade without a single LTI or fatality. In 2024, in the realm of Health and Safety our goal will continue to be zero LTIs and a TRIFR of 1.5 or lower.
In pursuit of this objective, NOVAGOLD’s collaboration with Donlin Gold LLC will persist in developing and executing comprehensive health and safety training programs for all employees and contractors before initiating field operations. Concurrently, we will maintain ongoing scrutiny and reporting mechanisms to evaluate the efficacy of these programs.
Donlin Gold, alongside its commitment to investing in and supporting its employees, actively participates in various community safety programs within the Y-K region. In 2023, NOVAGOLD sponsored the Alaska Safe Riders project, focusing on promoting safe practices in snow machine use, a prevalent activity during the winter months for most residents in the Y-K region. Additionally, through collaboration with TKC, the village of Crooked Creek, the Akiak Native community, and the Napaimute Tribe, Donlin Gold provided financial support to construct and maintain ice roads. These roads facilitate winter travel between remote Kuskokwim River communities, fostering increased participation in community events, cultural activities, and sports, and providing essential access for emergency services, law enforcement, and general travel. On an annual basis, an average of 300 miles of ice road are constructed and maintained.
| 2021-2023 LTI, TRIFR and Hours Worked | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| LTI | None | None | None |
| TRIFR | 1.16 | 1.42 | 0 |
| Hours worked without a LTI | 171,310 | 274,968 | 123,901 |
1 Total Recordable Incident Frequency Rate is defined as an incidence rate of lost-time injuries, fatalities, and medical incidents and is computed using the formula: (number of injuries and illnesses X 200,000) / employee hours worked = medical incidence rate. Note: ‘200,000’ represents the number of hours 100 employees work based on 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year, and provides the standard base for calculating the incidence rate for an entire year.
2 Safety training hours are tracked using attendance logs from camp orientation and weekly safety meetings at camp.