Category: Stories

Working in the mining industry requires extra vigilance in every activity. Therefore, it is important for every worker to understand matters related to occupational safety and health (OHS). Accident, Incident, and Near Miss are terms often heard in discussions about OHS. Although they sound similar, these three terms have differences from each other.

Accident can be defined as an unexpected event that occurs in the workplace, resulting in property damage, personal injury, illness, or death. For example, when a pedestrian falls while descending a ladder and suffers a severe spinal and leg fracture, or even death.

Incident is an unexpected event that occurs in the workplace but does not result in property damage, personal injury, illness, or death. For example, when a pedestrian falls while descending a ladder, but there is no serious injury and the person can return to work normally.

Meanwhile, Near Miss means almost an accident or injury. However, Near Miss is defined as an incident that does not cause injury or health impairment. For example, when a pedestrian almost falls (just slips, but can still stabilize their position) while descending a ladder. Despite the difference in meaning between these terms, all three are not expected to occur.

PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM), as a company that upholds safety, is very anticipating these three conditions. To prevent them, everyone from the top leadership to all team members must understand and care about how to handle potential hazards. Because safety is a shared responsibility, the process cannot involve only a few parties.

To improve the perception of hazard prevention, STM always conducts campaigns and socialization to workers. Some of the ways are the commemoration of OHS Month, A Day of Reflection (reflection after an incident), and weekly briefings. This activity is intended for everyone who works on the Hu’u Project.

According to STM’s OHS Management System Analyst, Roynando Silitonga, OHS socialization activities are very important to align perceptions about the importance of safety in the work area. “Every year there are always activities like this, so that everyone has the same mindset regarding incidents. That incidents can be prevented and everyone must go home safely,” he said.

With this understanding and concern, STM empowers every worker to stop activities that are considered risky for accidents. This authority is in line with STM’s slogan. Namely, “Wati si aman, aina karawi” which means “If it’s not safe, don’t work”. The slogan is also added a sentence that shows concern, namely “Ita jaga mada, mada jaga ita” which means “You take care of me, I take care of you”.

Handling Procedures

To ensure a quick and effective response to any unexpected incident, STM has established a comprehensive procedure. This procedure outlines the steps required to report, investigate, and handle incidents, to ensure that the company is committed to reducing risks and preventing recurrence in the future.

STM’s Reporting & Compliance Analyst, Benedicta Vanesa, said that every visitor or new worker is required to attend an induction session to understand the company’s activity areas and the steps taken when an incident occurs. One important thing to know is to report any incident related to Occupational Health and Safety at the latest within 1×24 hours through supervisors, safety teams, and supervisors on duty.

Initial reporting can be done through the STM Emergency channel or through the Emergency number 0811-988-5288. Some information that must be conveyed such as the reporter’s name, location of the incident, type of incident, number of victims or assets involved, and type of assistance needed.

Initial mitigation carried out by the Emergency team is to inform paramedics if there are victims, and to notify the emergency response team if facing an emergency situation. Then control the incident area to prevent further danger from occurring and efforts to prevent actual changes from the scene of the incident. The next step is to save evidence to conduct an investigation and determine the root cause. In this way, recommendations can be drawn up to prevent the incident from happening again in the future.

STM internally has a report for each incident. This incident database is always updated according to developments. Every time there is a new incident, STM makes a preliminary report to the leadership. This initial report is analyzed to determine further policies. “Our target is to report near misses as much as possible, so that they don’t become incidents that cause losses,” said Vanesa.

PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM), holder of the seventh-generation Contract of Work permit from 1998 for mineral exploration activities in the Hu’u area, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, is highly committed to environmental preservation. This commitment is demonstrated through an integrated waste management system around its working areas. Waste management is an inseparable part of STM’s exploration activities.

The handling of hazardous and toxic (B3) waste is governed by the environmental permit document issued by Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Furthermore, STM places significant emphasis on the management of non-hazardous or domestic waste. The company is dedicated to the implementation of a zero-waste concept within and around its areas. To achieve this, STM has formed strategic partnerships with three business contractors to handle waste and trash.

STM has formed a partnership with CV Diaz, a local company based in Dompu Regency, to oversee the management of non-hazardous or domestic waste. Meanwhile, the management of hazardous (B3) waste is outsourced to two national-scale contractors, PT Prasada Pamuna Limbah Industri (PPLI) and PT Anugrah Mandiri Jaya Energi (AMJE). The selection of multiple partners is designed to optimize waste management at STM. Furthermore, the temporary storage of waste at STM’s operational area is limited to 90 days, necessitating careful and measured handling.

As stated by Arizal Ardiansyah, an STM Environment team member, the majority of STM’s B3 waste is currently comprised of used oil. This waste is generated from STM’s exploration activities, including drilling, the use of heavy equipment, helicopters, passenger vehicles, and other supporting tools such as generators. Additionally, absorbents, such as cloth rags, are implemented to remove residual oil and other B3 substances. “If not managed correctly, B3 waste can have a detrimental impact on the environment, potentially contaminating water and soil,” he explained.

STM has obtained government approval for its operations that produce B3 waste. It is a requirement that contractors managing this waste hold the necessary permits. These permits cover all aspects of waste management, including transportation, utilization, storage, and disposal practices. For instance, in the context of waste transportation, vehicles must be equipped with electronic manifests and location tracking capabilities. All stages of the process, up to and including waste disposal, are subject to rigorous monitoring to ensure process safety. Upon completion of the waste disposal process, a certificate is issued to confirm that all necessary steps have been fulfilled.

In addition, comprehensive supervision is also carried out in the management of non-hazardous (non-B3) waste. It is the responsibility of every employee at STM to ensure proper waste disposal and sorting by type. Maintaining a clean work environment is a fundamental aspect of sustainable mining practices. Consequently, waste bins labelled by type are provided in every room and office for the convenient sorting of waste.

On a daily basis, waste is collected by third-party personnel who have been appointed for this specific task. Domestic waste is collected at an Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST), which is situated within the STM operational area. Subsequently, the waste is subjected to further classification based on its type and color. Organic waste is processed into compost, with some being sent to the Dompu Regency landfill (TPA). The integrated waste processing by STM has the effect of reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill. The sorting of waste by type and color allows for the recycling process and economic value to be considered. “This waste is sold to recycling banks or secondhand goods collectors,” Arizal explained.

This integrated waste management approach is a key component of the company’s commitment to upholding sustainability values for the surrounding ecosystem. The protection of water, air, flora, and fauna is in line with the Environmental Management and Monitoring Efforts (UKL-UPL) that were established prior to the commencement of operations. These efforts are designed to ensure the implementation of environmentally-conscious mining operations.

A series of monitoring and testing procedures are conducted on river water, groundwater, wells, and air quality. These tests, conducted by accredited laboratories, are designed to detect any degradation or changes in environmental quality. The results are communicated to the government in the form of environmental document implementation reports. STM utilizes three laboratories for testing purposes: the primary laboratory, which covers all monitoring points; a second laboratory for comparative analysis; and a government laboratory to validate STM’s data.

The objective of this layered testing is to guarantee the accuracy of the environmental management research findings, thus providing a reliable foundation for informed decision-making. “The monitoring results demonstrate that all environmental parameters, including soil, water, and air, remain in optimal condition,” Arizal concluded.

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Learn more about our environmental sustainability efforts here.

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Dompu, 13 September 2024— The mini kiosk assistance from PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM) for residents of Jala Village, Hu’u Subdistrict, Dompu Regency, has an impact on economic improvement. One of the beneficiaries, Fatimah, uses the mini kiosk to open a dried fish business in her yard. She admitted that STM’s Village Participation Program (PPD) in 2023 was able to increase the amount of her daily income.

Fatimah has been selling dried fish for a long time to help her husband fulfill the family’s needs. According to her, the mini kiosk assistance from STM makes it easier to store and market products. Fatimah’s business has grown and she has customers up to Mataram City and Bima City. She even supplies dried fish for consumption at the Dompu Correctional Institution (Lapas).

Previously, the dried fish produced by Fatimah was only stored on simple boards and bamboo. The appearance was not very attractive and not many potential buyers saw it. This changed after Fatimah was noticed by STM’s Community Development team. She said that the sales potential of her products is getting better. People are getting to know her business more easily.

“There were three stalls given to dried fish sellers in Jala in 2023. Among the beneficiaries, I was the only one who kept the front and displayed the fish like that. Many buyers pass by and stop by. They say it’s much neater and nicer,” said Fatimah on the sidelines of her activities.

After receiving the mini kiosk, Fatimah no longer has to move her fish inside the house, but simply closes it in the afternoon and opens it in the morning. She has been doing this for almost a year. Through STM’s support, Fatimah’s income is capable of reaching the range of Rp500,000-Rp1,000,000 per day compared to the previous level.

To fulfill consumer demand, Fatimah does not work alone. She works in partnership with fisherwomen in Jala Village. Fatimah said that they always provide the best products that are favored by customers. She said that the mini kiosks indirectly benefit the local fisherwomen as they are able to increase the absorption of their fish catch.

According to Fatimah, working with fisherwomen is a mutually beneficial relationship. “I am also the wife of a fisherman. I can feel that this business benefits us to help with household needs. In addition, I also have four small children who need more attention. I can’t fulfill customer demand by myself, so I need the help of the fisherwomen,” she explained.

STM’s Community Relations Manager Ulya Defretes, who was met during the Jala Village clean-up activity, expressed her gratitude that the company’s assistance could benefit the residents. “We are very happy to see that STM’s support can be used and benefited by the residents. This assistance is a form of the company’s concern for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the company’s work area,” he said.

PPD is one of the programs run by STM for villages around the company’s working area. This program has been running for a long time and continues to expand its beneficiaries. The program is the result of the residents’ proposals that are determined in the village deliberation with the local village government. Besides the economic sector, PPD also targets empowerment in the fields of health and education.

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Community empowerment is an integral part of the development of PT Sumbawa Timur Mining’s project. Learn more about our other programs here.

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Jakarta, September 12, 2023— The mining industry is known for its harsh and potentially dangerous working environment. This condition sticks with the widespread “mining is the men’s world” stereotype; creating a masculine and gender-biased work culture that prevents women from entering or developing. The opinion of some people who doubt women’s technical and scientific abilities also worsens the situation-not to mention the lack of facilities for women workers. Consequently, women are often overlooked for career opportunities in the industry.

Research from McKinsey & Company shows that women only make up around 8-17 percent of the total labor force in the mining industry worldwide. This figure reflects a significant imbalance when compared to other sectors. The main causes of women’s low participation in this sector are gender stereotypes, lack of support from company policies, and an unfriendly working environment for women.

According to the same institution, companies that are more inclusive and have better gender diversity tend to perform better financially. Gender diversity can increase innovation, creativity, and better decision-making at all levels of the organization. In this regard, PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM) is on the right path with its inclusive women program.

STM is committed to nurturing diversity by implementing policies and programs that support the growth of female workers. STM ensures that workplace facilities, including changing rooms, toilets, and nursing rooms, are available and comfortable for female workers. Additionally, STM enforces strict policies against discrimination and harassment in the workplace, provides reporting channels for unethical actions, and offers insights on integrity and inclusivity to all employees.

Currently, female workers at STM make up 25 percent of the total number of employees—higher than the global mining industry average. To ensure diversity is maintained, STM implements gender-neutral recruitment and provides equal competition opportunities for all its employees in career development. Training and career development programs are available regardless of gender, aimed at helping women have the same opportunities as their male colleagues in exploring their potential and developing their managerial and leadership skills.

Through these initiatives, STM strives to create a fair and supportive work environment for all employees, with the long-term goal of increasing the participation and representation of women in the mining industry. To strengthen this commitment, STM also provides opportunities for competent female workers to take on leadership roles. The percentage of women in leadership positions at STM currently stands at 30 percent.

STM provides space for women workers to develop themselves through various trainings.

-Aziza Hasna, HR Deparment.

One of STM’s women workers at the Hu’u Project, Aziza Hasna, says that she can work with a sense of security because the company pays close attention to employee safety. “STM has a good work culture with the Golden Rules as a guide for every employee, not just women workers, but for all employees. This makes us feel protected and safe at work,” said the Human Resources Department team member.

Moreover, she said that STM provides space for women workers to develop themselves through various trainings. Some time ago, she attended a business ethics training held in Jakarta. In addition, there are still various other types of training that can be utilized to develop self-potential, which is tailored to the interests and talents of each employee. “That’s one of the facilities to support women who work at STM,” said Aziza.

STM demonstrates its strong commitment to create an inclusive work environment and support women workers through these initiatives. Supportive policies towards women workers are believed to not only strengthen gender equality and equity but also improve performance and innovation in the company. By providing full support to women workers, STM strives to set an example for the rest of the mining industry in terms of inclusivity and diversity.

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Step into the world of PT Sumbawa Timur Mining, where we value our talents inclusively. Be a part of our journey. Discover our job opportunities here.

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Dompu, August 29, 2024— Aging doesn’t make Siti Nursa’s hands lose rhythm. Her fingers are agile in arranging the colored strings on the wooden loom. Her eyes are sharp to ensure that each strand of string is positioned to form a pattern. After a series of complicated and time-consuming traditional weavings, the Muna Pa’a, which has become the pride of the Dompu people, is ready.

Muna Pa’a is the authentic weaving of Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. During the sultanate period, the sultans and nobles of Dompu used this cloth to show their regal status. The valuable historical value of this three-dimensional patterned fabric led to its designation as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia in 2023.

The designation has made the spirit of preserving the Muna Pa’a cultural heritage even more resounding in Dompu Regency. Kancira Daha, a weaving group from the Hu’u sub-district, plays a role. The group of six women continues to develop its capacity to contribute to cultural preservation while improving the local economy.

Siti Nursa (60) is the leader of the Kancira Daha weaving group. According to her, before the group was formed, the women in her village used to weave cloth for personal use. They made Nggoli weaving, which is typical of the Mbojo tribe, from Bima and Dompu, and also fabrics with simple motifs. Their shared interest made them work in groups. The name Kancira Daha itself comes from the name of the local sub-village and village.

Nursa explained that this group runs independently with full limitations. To improve the quality of their weaving, they needed adequate facilities or intensive mentoring. However, things improved when PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM), a company conducting copper exploration in Hu’u Sub-district, paid more attention to the Kancira Daha weaving group in 2022.

STM has provided a lot of support since the mentoring began. The company opened our knowledge about the weaving business, increased promotion, and facilitated market access. We also received mentoring with woven fabric production equipment and display cases to store our products.

Nursa added that among all these supports, she is most grateful for the company’s willingness to teach the Kancira Daha weaving group to make Muna Pa’a cloth. Nursa and her partners are familiar with Muna Pa’a and know that this type of weaving is one of Dompu’s cultural heritages, but they need to be used to making it. Nursa said that the technique and pattern of making Muna Pa’a are different from the woven fabrics she usually makes.

“So far, we have only heard and seen about Muna Pa’a weaving. It is said that this weaving has existed since the sultanate era. We just learned to make Muna Pa’a with the STM mentoring program. This is different from the weaving we usually make because there are more creations and we have to be more careful,” said Nursa.

While it took some adapting, slowly but surely, the Kancira Daha weaving group was able to produce its own Muna Pa’a cloth. The time required for a weaver to make a one-meter Muna Pa’a cloth is 14 days at most. This takes twice as long as ordinary woven fabrics. However, the group members claim to enjoy every process.

From an economic perspective, the Muna Pa’a weaving craft can provide additional income for Kancira Daha members, some of whom work as vegetable farmers. The price of a one-meter Muna Pa’a cloth is around Rp600,000. “The mentoring by STM has improved our ability to make traditional fabrics and helped us to realize economic independence,” said Nursa.

Since being mentored by STM, Kancira Daha and its products have become more widely known. The group was facilitated to connect with the Cooperatives and SMEs Office and the Industry and Trade Office of Dompu Regency for better business development. In addition, Kancira Daha also participated in local business exhibitions, such as the Dompu Expo with STM, in June 2024 and is likely to be involved in other larger exhibitions.

“Alhamdulillah, our products are increasingly recognized. We have made 22 Muna Pa’a orders for government offices, including those used by the Regent of Dompu Regency and his wife. We also collaborate with tourism entrepreneurs at Lakey Hu’u Beach to make souvenirs. Also, various orders are coming from STM for domestic and foreign purposes,” Nursa explained.

Nursa and the Kancira Daha weaving group members greatly appreciate the community empowerment program initiated by STM in the economic field. The program contributes to preserving traditional fabrics in Dompu Regency, especially the Muna Pa’a weaving. The program also allows the women of Daha Village to strengthen the family economy.

“The support from STM means a lot to us, and hopefully, more parties will care about the development of MSMEs. We hope that this traditional weaving tradition is not only carried out by older people like me but also by the younger generation. This woven fabric must continue to exist and become the hallmark of Dompu Regency,” she said.

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Community empowerment is an integral part of the development of PT Sumbawa Timur Mining’s project. Learn more about our other programs here.

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Dompu, August 8, 2024— Working in a multicultural mining company, with diverse people and challenges, does not discourage Dedy Julkarnain. Born in Marada Village, Hu’u Subdistrict 31 years ago, Dedy is always confident and continues to develop his potential. Currently, he dedicates his best efforts to PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM) with the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the Health, Safety & Risk (HSR) Department.

Dedy Julkarnain is a familiar name among STM employees, especially in the Hu’u Site working area. This smiling man has a good relationship with his colleagues, both in terms of work and daily life. As a friendly and helpful person, Dedy embraces his role at ERT wholeheartedly. For him, keeping others safe is more than just a job: it’s a calling because life comes first for everyone.

Dedy, who was met on the sidelines of his activities, expressed his gratitude for being able to join the Hu’u Project run by STM. He is very pleased to be able to participate in optimizing the potential of natural resources in his area, not only for the benefit of a few people but for the better development of the Dompu Regency. He also appreciates STM’s management for paying attention to local talents like him to grow and develop together.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram, he joined STM for the New Staging construction project in late 2018. He briefly joined STM’s geothermal project as an administrative assistant and foreman. In early 2023, Dedy solidified his career with the ERT HSR department. Dedy’s affinity for new challenges makes it easy for him to adapt to new work environments and fields.

He said that the management of STM continues to encourage him as a local citizen to improve his self-capacity with various trainings in accordance with the development of the project.

This is very extraordinary since I joined STM. The leadership and management continue to support us as local citizens to improve our technical and non-technical knowledge, and it is all covered by the company.

 

As an ERT member, Dedy is responsible for ensuring that visiting guests and newly joined STM business partner contractors are given safety awareness, as well as victim evacuation measures. This requires him to continuously improve his self-capacity through certified training and independent practice.

Some of the training and certificates of expertise that Dedy has successfully gained include Confined Space Rescue, Authorized Gas Tester (AGT), Labor at Heights Level 1-2, SAR, Vertical Rescue/Rugged Terrain Rescue, Forest and Land Fire Management, Class D-B Fire Officer, First Aid Level 3, Multiple Casual Incident Plan (MCIP), Road Accident Rescue (RAR), H2S Gas Hazard Safety Handling, and First Operational Supervisor.

Dedy believes that the Hu’u Project will grow rapidly. More and more people will come, locally, nationally, and even internationally, to work together to advance the project. As a local talent, he is optimistic that he can continue to give his best and does not feel threatened by these developments. Moreover, the company always encourages its employees to go one step further every day through various programs provided.

As an ERT team member, he also advised all his coworkers to continue to work together to maintain this project as best as possible, starting with maintaining their own safety. In the next few years, the exploration stage will move towards the construction and production stages, presenting more diverse challenges. All parties involved in this project must prepare themselves to achieve the company’s goal of becoming a world-class mine powered by renewable energy.

“This industry has a high work risk. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves by maintaining health, exercising diligently, being aware of the surrounding work area, and not getting tired of continuing to expand our horizons through activities that meet the needs of each specific profession and expertise,” said the man who also enjoys music and rock climbing.

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Step into the world of PT Sumbawa Timur Mining, where we value talents like Dedy. Be part of our story. Discover our job opportunities here.

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