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In 1991, Mineração Rio do Norte gave a new direction to the company's security programmes. The results are most impressive. In 1982, MRN recorded 292 accidents. By 2001 this number had plummeted to a mere 24, of which only seven caused a loss in working time. Among other reasons, this fall is due to the systematic management of Security and Occupational Health that has been adopted by the company, that actively encourages the constant search for continuous improvement to its processes. The results obtained through this programme have already earned Mineração Rio do Norte several prizes. MRN was awarded the Brazil Agency Prize for Health and Safety in the Workplace, an award that is given to companies that, through efforts and preventive action, have come up with measures that succeed in obtaining the best results in accident and work illness prevention, and has also been chosen as a model company in the security area among all mining companies in Brazil by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. But only this recognition is by no means enough for Mineração Rio do Norte. Upholding their commitment to quality, safety and the health of the employees, MRN has a new goal: obtain certification according to the OHSAS 18001 standard (Occupational Health and Assessment Series). OHSAS is an international standard created in 1999, which seeks to implement, maintain and continually improve a company's management system. By seeking this certification, Mineração Rio do Norte is setting new parameters for the existing management system, which seeks to stamp out or reduce as much as possible the risks to which employees are naturally exposed in their work activities.
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