Hecla’s focus on continuous improvement is reflected in our safety-first culture.
Hecla’s extensive safety practices and standards are detailed in our Safety and Health Management System (SHMS). Our standards are designed to exceed industry best practices and comply with Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) regulations in the United States, Occupational Health and Safety in Mines regulations in Quebec, Occupational Health and Safety legislation in Yukon, and federal regulations for Occupational Health, Safety and Work Environment in Mexico.
In 2016, Hecla became the first hardrock mining company to be independently certified under the National Mining Association’s CORESafety® system, and in 2018 Casa Berardi became the first international mine to receive CORESafety® certification.
Our focus on continuous improvement of our safety and health practices and training has resulted in steady improvement of safety performance since the launch of the SHMS in 2012.
Hecla tracks safety performance and training indicators including its All-Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR), near misses, observations, equipment damages, and training hours, with a goal of reducing safety incidents and improving upon the previous year’s performance. In 2023:
Hecla implements several programs designed to raise awareness of its safety culture and help employees develop skills that enable them to perform their work in a safe and healthy way. These programs include the SAFETY: Take it Home campaign and the Hecla Take 5 Safety Focus Program, which fosters continuous improvement by improving job site awareness and decreasing exposure to high and critical risk activities at each job site.
Hecla’s Casa Berardi mine was awarded the John T. Ryan Safety Trophy for the Quebec-Maritime Provinces Region for outstanding safety performance for the second time in three years. The annual award is presented by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum to the mine with the lowest reportable injury frequency.
In 2022, the Fire Creek mine in Nevada earned a distinguished Sentinel of Safety Award from the National Mining Association. These recognitions are given each year to mining operations in the U.S. Sentinels of Safety are awarded annually to the nation’s safest mines with a minimum of 4,000 injury-free hours. The Fire Creek and Hollister sites were also recognized in the Small Underground Mine category at the Nevada Mining Association Safety Awards.
Three Hecla sites – Fire Creek, Hollister, and Midas – received the Certificate of Achievement in Safety, a merit award from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Our SAFETY: Take It Home campaign contest showcased how Hecla’s employees and contractors promote safety protocols learned on the job to their families at home.
At the 2022 Central Mine Rescue Competition held by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, Hecla’s Lucky Friday mine won the overall team trophy, and first place in three categories: Team Technician, Field Exercise, and First Aid. Our Greens Creek mine placed fifth overall and won third place for First Aid. Casa Berardi placed third in the Quebec Preliminary Mine Rescue Competition, organized by CNESST, and has qualified for the “Provincial Elite tournament”.
