Safety and health culture in mining: COMP members show the way

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

January 27, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — While the mining industry has made significant strides in reducing catastrophic accidents, its focus has expanded to include risks associated with the trade that encompass both the health of employees at the workplace and the surrounding communities.

For Philippine miners like Taganito Mining Corp., Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. and CTP Construction and Mining Corp., this entails redefining what it means to keep a workforce truly safe in a demanding, high-stakes environment.

The three Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CaMP) member companies have been recognized for their exceptional execution, bringing them in line with the global standard for safety and health frameworks, in the latest Toward Sustainable Mining (TSM) performance review.

A TSM foundation

“The Safety and Health Protocol is foundational to the TSM,” CaMP chairman Michael Toledo said.

“Mining is not possible unless the people who operate our mines, support our operations and live in our host communities are protected. Safety and health are not simply compliance requirements; they reflect our values as an industry.

Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.

“Achieving an excellent performance rating under the TSM initiative is critical to RTN as it demonstrates effective governance, strong risk management and consistent implementation of safety and health programs and initiatives,” RTN resident mine manager Ronel Suguitan said.

He pointed out that RTN has established and implemented a structured Occupational Safety and Health Management System that includes hazard identification and risk assessment, risk-based control measures and safe work procedures, incident, near-miss and unsafe act reporting and investigation, contractor safety management, permit-to-work systems, regular inspections, internal audits and management reviews.

Zero lost time accidents

With 1,080 personnel as of December 2025, RTN’s safety and health objectives include zero Lost Time Accidents (LTA), prevention of fatal and high-potential incidents, reduction of high-risk hazards, continuous improvement and increasing safety awareness of employees and contractors.

Suguitan explained that key programs implemented by the company include safety leadership and accountability programs, hazard and nearmiss reporting initiatives, mandatory safety training and inductions, contractor safety management programs, health surveillance and occupational health and wellness programs, emergency preparedness and response drills and safety incentive programs.

Taganito Mining Corp.

For TMC, with a total of 4,411 employees, achieving an excellent performance rating under the TSM initiative reflects the company’s effective management systems, such as strict compliance with safety and health, community development, and environmental management.

“With stringent implementation of best practices across the operations of the company, it demonstrates the organization’s strong commitment to a responsible and sustainable mining company,” said Artemio Valeroso, TMC resident mine manager.

Business sustainability

TMC has established and implemented a comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Management System aligned with regulatory requirements and industry best practices, including hazard identification and risk assessment, safe work procedures, contractor safety management, training and competency development, incident reporting and investigation, emergency preparedness, health surveillance and continuous monitoring and improvement to ensure safe and healthy mining operations for all.

Safety and health processes

TMC, according to Valeroso, has implemented structured Safety and Health processes to safeguard its employees and other stakeholders. These include hazard identification and risk assessment, development and enforcement of safe work procedures, contractor safety management, safety training and competency programs, incident reporting and investigation, emergency preparedness and response, health monitoring and medical surveillance, regular inspections and audits, and management review to drive continuous improvement across mining operations.

TMC’s Safety and Health targets are zero fatalities, minimizing lost-time accidents and occupational illnesses, maintaining a high level of workforce safety competency through training and continuously improving hazard controls, emergency preparedness, and overall Safety and Health performance across all operations.

CTP Construction and Mining Corp.

For CTPCMC, achieving an excellent “AAA” performance rating under the TSM Initiative demonstrates the company’s strong commitment to regulatory compliance and dedication to going beyond minimum requirements to ensure the safety, health and well-being of employees, said Ross Joseph Romanillos, CTPCMC CEO and president. “The rating reflects the effectiveness of our safety and health systems, reinforces a positive safety culture and strengthens stakeholder trust in our operations.”

A strong positive image

A Filipino family-owned corporation with 668 employees under its watch, CTPCMC has an excellent “AAA” rating across all five criteria of the TSM Initiative.

“Safety and Health Protocol projects a strong and positive image as a responsible mining company committed to high standards of safety, health and responsible operations,” Romanillos said.

For employees, the “AAA” rating reinforces confidence that management places a high priority on their safety, health and well-being, while for host communities, the rating assures that the company operates responsibly and in accordance with internationally recognized safety and health standards.