The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) will be proudly featured on a giant haul truck tray at Glencore’s Mt Owen Glendell (MGO) mining complex as a workforce reminder of both companies’ commitment to safe work practices.
The tray was unveiled at the MGO complex last week, with the site also donating $10,000 to the WRHS.
A long-term corporate supporter and official training partner of the WHRS, Glencore recently funded the purchase and installation of a new GeoSim Flight Simulator at the service’s Belmont base.
It will allow pilots and aircrew officers to access state-of-the-art training that will ensure the WRHS continues to safely deliver world-class aeromedical support for local communities across Northern NSW.
Mt Owen Project Manager, Evan Fleming said the haul truck hi-vis artwork was an innovative idea from the MGO workforce to reinforce the safety message and the importance of the service to the Hunter community.
“We know what an asset the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is,” he said.
“MGO’s workforce donated more than $33,000 to an amazing total of $272,000 that Glencore’s Hunter employees gave to the Service in 2020/21 alone, which was over and above our corporate sponsorship.
“We also appreciate there’s a shared focus on safety, so it’s not surprising that our people were keen to see the helicopter alongside our site logo on this truck.
“The unique tray in the truck fleet is an important daily reminder for our workers about No Plan No Work. The principle message of No Plan No Work expects that if you do not have a plan, you do not start the work, which is supported by the messaging of Plan Right, Finish Right.”
The WRHS Chief Executive Officer, Richard Jones said the MGO gesture was another demonstration of how strongly the Hunter community had supported the service since its inception in 1975.
“The support within the Hunter Valley and, in particular, the local mining sector is crucial,” Richard said.
“To be here today with the employees at Mt Owen as they receive their brand new haul truck tray proudly displaying the WHRS logo is pretty special and humbling.
“It’s an employee-led initiative that not only provides a reminder of the support the workforce provides for our service but will also help keep everyone focused on safe working practices.”
IMAGE | Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and the team at Glencore Mt Owen Glendell.
