Highland Gold Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:07:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Case study: How Highland Gold promotes employee health and wellbeing https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-highland-gold-promotes-employee-health-and-wellbeing/ Mon, 25 Oct 2021 06:11:47 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=13003 Highland Gold is a leading gold producer with a world class Russian asset base of production, development and exploration projects. In addition to keeping its workforce safe, , with the aim of preventing illnesses that could affect a worker’s ability to perform their tasks. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Highland Gold published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the […]

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]]> Highland Gold is a leading gold producer with a world class Russian asset base of production, development and exploration projects. In addition to keeping its workforce safe, Highland Gold supports the general health and wellbeing of all its employees  Tweet This!, with the aim of preventing illnesses that could affect a worker’s ability to perform their tasks.

This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Highland Gold published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

The health services Highland Gold provides to all employees include vaccinations, medical checks (including temperature and blood pressure), drugs and alcohol intake monitoring, and heart health programmes. In order to promote employee health and wellbeing Highland Gold took action to:

  • implement an electronic health check system
  • support healthy lifestyles

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Highland Gold identified a range of material issues, such as legal compliance, greenhouse gas emissions, employee engagement and labour relations, materials and waste management. Among these, promoting employee health and wellbeing stands out as a key material issue for Highland Gold.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Highland Gold engages with:                   

To identify and prioritise material topics Highland Gold engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Investors ·      Half-yearly annual results conference calls

·      Industry and investment conferences

·      Regular meetings with institutional and private investors

·      Quarterly performance updates and regular news announcements

·      Website
Employees ·      Employee benefits packages

·      Ongoing training and development

·      Workforce posters and communications

·      Staff engagement surveys

·      Workers’ councils

·      Executive site visits and sessions

·      Business Ethics and Anti-Corruption policy

·      Group HSE policy

·      Group Cardinal Safety Rules

·      Established whistleblowing procedures

·      Publication of Modern Slavery Statement
Local communities ·      Community liaison working groups

·      Dialogue between site managers and local administration

·      Dialogue between the Regional Managing Directors and the regional administration

·      Sponsorship and support of “Day of the Metallurgist” and other events in local villages
Government and regulatory bodies ·      Social investment via social contracts with municipal administrations

·      Regulatory audits

·      Direct contact with regulators

·      Industry conferences
Suppliers and contractors

 

 ·      Contractual relationships

·      Training

·      Meetings

·      Compliance audits

·      Daily dialogue with contractors on site and through management team
Media and analysts ·      Press releases

·      Interviews and briefings around key announcements and events

·      Presentations

·      Site visits

What actions were taken by Highland Gold to promote employee health and wellbeing?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Highland Gold reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee health and wellbeing:

  • Implementing an electronic health check system
  • To make sure its staff are fit to work at the start of shifts, and to limit the spread of seasonal conditions, Highland Gold began rolling out the health check system (“ESMO”) at MNV, Belaya Gora and Novo. The system, which measures blood pressure, body temperature and the presence of alcohol and/or drugs, was also introduced to Valunisty in 2020. Each of Highland Gold’s operating mines carries out regular health checks, as well as pre-shift and pre-trip screenings. If an employee does not pass the check, the system will automatically deactivate their pass, prohibiting access to the mine until they are cleared for work again. These checks are now digitised, which has increased efficiency. Storing the data enables Highland Gold to monitor workers who have ongoing medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, so the on-site doctor can provide increased support if necessary. This development is also proving beneficial in enabling Highland Gold to identify health risks earlier. Highland Gold has additionally developed an action plan to reduce and control rates of sickness at each of its assets. As part of this, Highland Gold’s IT department is developing a piece of software that enables the company to identify and monitor employees that frequently take sick leave so Highland Gold can identify causes of ill health and provide health support plans to its staff.
  • Supporting healthy lifestyles
  • To encourage employees to follow a healthy and active lifestyle, Highland Gold has installed well-equipped and modern gyms at every asset. Highland Gold also piloted a “Well-being” project at its Moscow headquarters, a major and complex project incorporating various components, including breaks for all employees, and making fresh fruit available.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 403-6 Promotion of worker health

Disclosure 403-6 Promotion of worker health corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Highland Gold, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Highland Gold: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Highland Gold promotes employee health and wellbeing appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Highland Gold promotes ethical business behaviour https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-highland-gold-promotes-ethical-business-behaviour/ Mon, 21 Dec 2020 06:46:59 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=12058   Highland Gold is a well-established gold producer, with a world class Russian asset base of producing, development and exploration projects. , according to the best international practices. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Highland Gold published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract Firmly committed to high ethical […]

The post Case study: How Highland Gold promotes ethical business behaviour appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]>  

Highland Gold is a well-established gold producer, with a world class Russian asset base of producing, development and exploration projects. Highland Gold is committed to implementing the highest ethical standards with regard to its stakeholders  Tweet This!, according to the best international practices.

This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Highland Gold published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Firmly committed to high ethical standards of doing business across all of its businesses, Highland Gold has adopted a Code of Ethics and an Anti-Corruption Policy, which apply to every employee and all its business partners. In order to promote ethical business behaviour Highland Gold took action to:

  • promote human rights
  • implement an Anti-Corruption policy and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
  • provide a whistleblowing hotline

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Highland Gold identified a range of material issues, such as occupational health and safety management, greenhouse gas emissions, employee engagement and labour relations, materials and waste management. Among these, promoting ethical business behaviour stands out as a key material issue for Highland Gold.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards             

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Highland Gold engages with:                  

To identify and prioritise material topics Highland Gold engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Investors ·       Half-yearly annual results conference calls

·       Industry and investment conferences

·       Regular meetings with institutional and private investors

·       Quarterly performance updates and regular news announcements

·       Website
Employees ·       Employee benefits packages

·       Ongoing training and development

·       Workforce posters and communications

·       Staff engagement surveys

·       Workers’ councils

·       Executive site visits and sessions

·       Business Ethics and Anti-Corruption policy

·       Group HSE policy

·       Group Cardinal Safety Rules

·       Established whistleblowing procedures

·       Publication of Modern Slavery Statement
Local communities ·       Community liaison working groups

·       Dialogue between site managers and local administration

·       Dialogue between the Regional Managing Directors and the regional administration

·       Sponsorship and support of “Day of the Metallurgist” and other events in local villages
Government and regulatory bodies ·       Social investment via social contracts with municipal administrations

·       Regulatory audits

·       Direct contact with regulators

·       Industry conferences
Suppliers and contractors

 

 ·       Contractual relationships

·       Training

·       Meetings

·       Compliance audits

·       Daily dialogue with contractors on site and through management team
Media and analysts ·       Press releases

·       Interviews and briefings around key announcements and events

·       Presentations

·       Site visits

What actions were taken by Highland Gold to promote ethical business behaviour?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Highland Gold reports that it took the following actions for promoting ethical business behaviour:

  • Promoting human rights
  • Highland Gold’s commitment to upholding human rights goes together with its commitment to the health and safety of employees and environmental No violations of human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples, were recorded during the reporting period. Highland Gold also intends to develop a series of educational programmes, so as to heighten employees’ understanding of how to preserve cultural heritage and support local communities within Highland Gold’s areas of operation.
  • Implementing an Anti-Corruption policy and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
  • Highland Gold has a clear Anti-Corruption policy and an internal Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. These extend across all of its businesses and activities, and apply to every employee and business partner. Both documents are available on Highland Gold’s corporate website. Regular audits are also carried out, to make sure ethics and anti-bribery standards are upheld. Additionally, Highland Gold does not make political contributions to any party and does not perform any political activity or sponsor any political parties, movements or public non-governmental organisations with any goals. Highland Gold does not participate in any activities sponsored by political parties or movements and similar provisions apply to representatives of political parties, movements, and candidates nominated by parties or movements, as well as self-nominated candidates. Charitable donations, grants and sponsorship, where no commercial advantage or other service is expected in return, are offered in line with Highland Gold’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
  • Providing a whistleblowing hotline
  • Highland Gold has a whistleblowing hotline which is available for employees and stakeholders to report violations anonymously. Every issue raised is initially reviewed by the Internal Audit and HR departments, and is forwarded to the relevant department. Whistleblowing events and any action are reported to the Audit and Risk Committee.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

2) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

 

Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures corresponds to:

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Highland Gold, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Highland Gold: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Highland Gold promotes ethical business behaviour appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

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