Number of Employees: Onsite-8 Controlled-31

Mineral development company Perpetua Resources is working on a project to restore an abandoned mine site in Idaho while safely redeveloping the site for gold and the critical mineral antimony. During this lengthy environmental restoration phase, Perpetua is operating under OSHA general industry standards. Once permitted and operational, Perpetua Resources’ Stibnite Gold Project will operate one of the highest-grade open pit gold resources in the United States, and provide the only domestic source of antimony, which is needed for defense and clean energy applications.

In 2014, Perpetua’s Camp Supervisor attended the Boise Safety Fest and completed the OSHA Outreach Training Program 10-hour General Industry course. While she was there, she learned about Idaho’s Occupational Safety and Health Consultation program (OSHCon). She brought back the information to Perpetua Resources leadership and immediately requested an on-site consultation to strengthen the company’s safety and health program.

During the first walkthrough in October 2014, the OSHCon consultant helped to identify 29 serious hazards including: maintaining walking working surfaces, machine guarding issues such as an unsecured drill press, and electrical hazards. After the consultation visit, Perpetua established monthly visual inspections, housekeeping procedures, and enforcement protocols. The company also implemented new programs including an Emergency Response Plan, walking and working surfaces standard operating procedures, and procedures for accident reporting, root cause investigation, and hazard correction/abatement. Perpetua established a working relationship with an electrical company to address any electrical issues at the site.

Perpetua conducted a comprehensive baseline hazard survey and annually reviews it for changes and adjustments. The company ensured that the organization was properly prepared for emergencies with a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan. The plan addresses hazards unique to the rural work environment such as life flighting via helicopter, forest fires, lightning strikes, wild animal attacks, landslides, and excessive snow.

Two of the supervisors obtained their OSHA Outreach Training certificates in General Industry and Construction Industry. Perpetua now requires its employees and contractor employees to complete the OSHA 10-hour training course. Perpetua established written and required health and safety programs, implemented employee trainings, and established monthly/quarterly/annual inspections and recordkeeping procedures.

Employee and management involvement is critical in Perpetua’s continued environmental and occupational health and safety improvement. Perpetua established monthly Safety Committee meetings with employee and management participation and implemented an anonymous reporting process for health and safety concerns.

Perpetua was accepted into the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) on September 21, 2023, and is one of just six Idaho companies in SHARP. SHARP acknowledges small and medium-sized businesses that have used OSHA On-Site Consultation services and operate exemplary workplace safety and health programs. Small businesses that achieve SHARP status receive a deferral from OSHA or State Plan programmed inspections for the period that the SHARP designation is valid. Acceptance of a worksite into SHARP is an achievement that identifies the employer as a model for occupational safety and health among its business peers.

The OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high hazard worksites. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards and how to fix them, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, train and educate workers, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs. On-Site Consultation services are separate from OSHA enforcement efforts. To locate the OSHA On-Site Consultation program nearest you, call 800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit https://www.osha.gov/consultation.