Health & Safety
Safety Commitment
In conjunction with its workforce, KICO has established a health and safety policy that demonstrates the company’s commitment to each employee’s health and safety through a structured programme of health and safety activities.
KICO is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all employees, contractors and anyone affected by the operation. The company achieves this through proper training, supervision, and equipment, assigning work based on competence, and identifying and
controlling risks.
KICO encourages reporting unsafe conditions and empowers employees to stop work if conditions are unsafe. Through open communication and active participation, the company
promotes a strong safety culture while protecting all persons on and around the operation. Safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone contributes to a zero-harm workplace.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
IKICO’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team is made up of trained medical, fire and rescue professionals dedicated to protecting the mine and the surrounding community. The team includes Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Intermediate Life Support (ILS) personnel, a firefighting brigade and an underground rescue team capable of responding to medical, fire, hazardous material and underground emergencies.
The EMS team conducts regular drills, manages medical evacuations and provides first aid and emergency response training. To further strengthen its capability, KICO is committed to establishing an on-site training centre to develop and certify internationally recognised
emergency response personnel in the DRC.
Healthcare on Site
KICO operates a well-established and well-trained Emergency Response Team (ERT) for underground and surface rescue and firefighting, supported by MSS paramedics and ILS practitioners. A two-bed advanced life support resuscitation and clinical facility is located close to the main shaft, where emergency patients are stabilised before referral.
MSS personnel are on duty 24 hours per day, with MSS Emergency and ICU physicians available via telemedicine for clinical guidance and support. Rapid diagnostic testing is available on-site for malaria, typhoid, cholera, tuberculosis, and cardiac emergencies.
Emergency cases are immediately referred to Lubumbashi or, where required, evacuated to South Africa.
Underground, multiple refuge bays are equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), emergency packs and immobilisation equipment. Selected personnel hold basic or advanced first aid training, including major haemorrhage control and immobilisation.
Malaria Prevention
KICO implements a structured malaria prevention programme that includes regular spraying and employee education. Patients presenting with symptoms are tested immediately by clinical staff or referred to local facilities.
All visitors to the site receive a malaria travel pack, along with guidance from clinical personnel on malaria awareness and the correct use of the pack.
Occupational Health
All employees undergo a pre-employment medical assessment to confirm fitness for work, supported by periodic and exit medical assessments.
KICO also operates a voluntary wellness programme, enabling employees to access routine checks of blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as ongoing monitoring and support for chronic medical conditions.
Occupational Hygiene
MSS personnel support KICO through regular general hygiene inspections of facilities such as kitchens and accommodation.
The company’s occupational hygiene programme is
being extended to include routine air and water quality testing across relevant work areas.
Security
KICO’s Security Operations Centre (SOC) deploys advanced security technologies, including long-range AI-enabled CCTV systems and a rapid-response drone to support Zone Quick Reaction Teams during incidents. These tools enhance the site’s ability to respond swiftly
to events such as trespassing, fires or criminal activity.
In 2025, KICO partnered with Justicia to deliver the first official Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) training for all security service providers, including the police. This initiative is designed to ensure that security interventions and arrests are
conducted professionally and humanely, reinforcing KICO’s commitment to responsible security practices.
KICO’s Risk Control Department is mandated to ensure the secure and compliant movement of company logistics across designated transport corridors. In line with operational safety standards and regulatory obligations, the department coordinates the escort of:
- Empty trucks departing from Polytra, transiting through the Reload Yard andvproceeding safely to KICO
- Loaded trucks departing from KICO, routed through the Reload Yard and continuingvto the Lubumbashi junction en route to Kanyaka
This responsibility includes appropriate risk mitigation measures, continuous monitoring of convoy movements and adherence to all internal safety protocols and external regulatory requirements. The Risk Control Department remains committed to safeguarding personnel, assets and cargo throughout the transport cycle.