Air Rescue helicopters can land at the divisions of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

Safety first - KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and the Polish Air Rescue (LPR) have jointly prepared landing sites for Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) helicopters. This is an important element in strengthening the safety system not only for the company’s employees, but also for the local communities.

The proposal to organise the landing sites emerged at the meeting of the KGHM Surveyors in June 2023. Special areas have been proposed for the landing of air ambulance helicopters at the Lubin mine shafts. The initiative was quickly extended to the other divisions of KGHM.

“The initiative is, from our perspective, a benefit in itself. By preparing helipads for air ambulance helicopters at our divisions, we can respond more quickly to situations that threaten the safety of our staff. Thanks to our cooperation with the Polish Air Rescue, we will be more effective in responding to emergencies, which - especially in the mining sector - unfortunately do happen,” said Andrzej Szydło, the CEO of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Lubin, Rudna and Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mining Facilities, the Głogów, Cedynia and Legnica foundries, as well as the Hydrotechnical Plant, 10 landing sites have been prepared on land owned by KGHM. “These sites have been properly marked, are kept up to date and allow for the safe landing of air ambulance helicopters during both the day and the night. The sites have been placed under the constant care of the company’s staff and are also adapted to the operational requirements of the LPR,” said Marcin Górski, the director of the mining department of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

Safety is a priority for both KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and the Polish Air Rescue. “As part of the project, LPR’s experts looked at the proposed sites and made adjustments that allowed the final choices to be made. All activities were in compliance with the Aviation Law. The aim of the joint project was to improve rescue operations and improve the safety of the company’s employees and local residents,” added Ewa Warchala, the chief survey engineer in KGHM’s resource management department.

The selected helipads are of an appropriate size and have been established on land not developed by KGHM’s divisions. In some cases, adapting the architecture of the site to meet the requirement for helipads has required work on the part of the shaft division services involving, among other things, the removal of obstructions from the ground.

In KGHM’s mines, the most frequent actions requiring the involvement of rescue services are cave-ins following rock mass tremors. The company has a specialised mine rescue unit located in Sobin. The staff of the Mine Rescue Unit includes more than 100 professional mine rescuers and firefighter-rescuers. There are also altitude and diving sections within the unit. In addition, emergency services are also in place at every division of KGHM.

With this initiative, KGHM and LPR are jointly raising safety standards in Lower Silesia. Further projects are already being planned, including the design of helicopter landing sites already at the design stage of new mining projects.

KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. is one of the leaders of the mining and smelting industry in Poland, caring for the safety of its employees and local communities. The Polish Air Rescue is a specialised medical service that provides assistance in life- and health-threatening situations, reaching the victims quickly.