Metinvest’s Consolidated Iron Ore is developing a practical training system for high-risk work activities. It enables employees to practise safe working methods in conditions that closely replicate real-life operating environments. The programme is designed to run for one year: it commenced last month and is scheduled for completion by August 2027. A total of 6,211 employees are expected to complete the training programme. To date, 179 employees have already completed practical skills training.
Occupational safety begins with knowledge: employees must understand the hazards that may arise during their work, be familiar with safety requirements, and know how to use protective equipment correctly. However, theory alone is not enough. It is essential for the correct actions to be practised. To support this, five practical training grounds have been established at Metinvest’s Consolidated Iron Ore. Two of these are designed for electrical safety training involving electrical installations up to and above 1,000 V. A third is used for training under the Lockout-Tagout-Try (LOTO) system, a fourth focuses on the safe movement of loads using lifting equipment, and the fifth is dedicated to working safely at height.
Such training is particularly important for newly hired employees. Before starting work independently, they have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of potentially hazardous situations, practise the required safe working techniques, and develop a clear understanding of how to respond correctly in unfamiliar conditions. For experienced professionals, regular practical training helps refresh their knowledge, review their working practices, and remain alert to risks that may, over time, come to be seen as routine.
Practical training at Metinvest’s Consolidated Iron Ore is delivered through a structured, systematic approach. Over the course of the year, all employees whose work is directly associated with critical risks will take part in the training programme.
Practical training helps turn the right behaviours into second nature. Regular repetition helps employees maintain those skills at the required level, even after many years of experience on the job. This is how a strong safety culture is built, says Dmytro CHYRVA, Director of Occupational Health, Industrial Safety and Environment at Metinvest’s Consolidated Iron Ore:
“Knowledge provides guidance on what to do, but it is practical experience that helps turn that knowledge into confident, correct action. This is why the development of practical training grounds and the delivery of hands-on training programmes form an important part of Metinvest’s efforts, including at its iron ore plants, to create a safe working environment. Every correct decision practised during training is another step towards achieving our primary goal: zero injuries and ensuring that every employee returns home safe. We want safe behaviour to become not just a formal requirement, but a lasting habit for every employee, regardless of their profession or level of experience.”
