Newcrest Mining Limited has urged employees to employ healthy lifestyles at home and at work to ensure a safety culture at the Lihir Gold Mine.
Acting General Manager, Stephen Perkins, when opening the Mine Safety Week in Lihir on Monday, March 27, said this was vital for the mines operations.
Perkins said a healthy lifestyle must begin with choices.
“PNG has a population of more than seven million people. The life expectancy here is 61-65 years. Good news is we can improve on that by making positive choices. The Mine Safety Week here in Lihir is about creating more awareness on what these choices are. We must be willing to make positive choices that will result in positive changes,” he said.
Perkins said 80% of stroke, heart attack and diabetes can be prevented by maintaining a sound mind and healthy body.
He added that 40% of cancers can be prevented by doing little changes in life such as giving up unhealthy behaviour.
The National Mine Safety Week is an annual event observed by all miners within PNG.
With the theme “Positive Behaviors and Choices,” Lihir observed the National Mine Safety Week through several activities, which included Interdepartmental Emergency Response Challenge, Safety Song Competition, Lihir Schools Mine Tour, Safety Week, Games and other competitions.
Lihir has complemented the annual event with its Trupla Man, Trupla Meri Campaign, NewSafe and Healthy Living Programs.