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TARGETS
Future targets

During 2003 we worked with our operations to establish more specific and quantitative targets for occupational health and environment performance. Some operations reach targets sooner than others and we focus on those that need additional support.

Key elements of the target setting process were:

  • Ensuring targets are challenging but achievable;
  • Integrating targets with the business planning process so that action plans are fully costed and resourced; and
  • Supplementing Group level targets with operation level targets, using indicators that reflect local issues.

For management areas like employment, human rights and sustainable development, rather than setting targets, we develop programmes to deliver improved performance.


Safety
Target Zero fatalities.
2004 target Our goal remains the same: no injuries. We will continue to seek a 50 per cent reduction in the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR). However, we will also develop longer term targets that will build on our performance improvement over the past five years and help us to continue toward our ultimate goal of zero injuries.
Setting stretch targets of an annual 50 per cent improvement in LTIFR for the past four years emphasised to all employees how serious we were about safety. This has not changed. However, for many businesses in the Group, and for the Group overall, continuing to set annual 50 per cent reduction targets is not realistic, and we recognise that unrealistic targets can affect motivation and behaviour negatively.
In the future, we anticipate that a mixture of leading and lagging indicators may be appropriate to measure safety performance. For better performers, in particular, a combination of these measures can better reflect that business' achievements.


Occupational health
Target Full implementation of occupational health standards by the end of 2004, including commencement of an effective verification process.
Target No employee exposed to noise of more than 82 decibels (averaged over eight hours) by the end of 2004, after allowing for the use of hearing protection such as ear muffs or plugs.
Target A 20 per cent reduction in the number of employees (per 10,000) exposed to noise of more than 85 decibels (averaged over eight hours) between 2004 and 2008.
Target A 40 per cent reduction in the number of new cases of occupational disease (per 10,000 employees) between 2003 and 2008.


Environment
Target Full implementation of all environment standards by the end of June 2005, including commencement of an effective verification process.
Target A ten per cent reduction in freshwater withdrawn per tonne of product between 2003 and 2008.*
Target A five per cent reduction in energy used per tonne of product between 2003 and 2008.*
Target A four per cent reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of product between 2003 and 2008.* A four per cent reduction due to improved efficiency is equivalent to approximately 1.3 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e).
Target Zero significant spills


* Based upon operation level efficiency changes, which are considered better measures of underlying performance as they do not include the effect of changes in our mix of products, eg. as a result of acquisitions.

S&E help
Targets are an important element in driving performance improvements in certain areas, particularly health, safety and environment.
©2003 Rio Tinto | Design by Tor Pettersen & Partners