Emergency preparedness

To ensure reliable operation of equipment and processes, prevent emergencies, and eliminate the consequences of accidents for the environment and local communities, Nornickel takes a risk‑based approach to occupational health and safety management

As the Company has more than 300 hazardous production facilities that use various hazardous substances in their processes, Nornickel’s facilities remain prepared for any emergencies, including emergency containment and response.

Accident response plans at hazardous production facilities are approved by heads (deputy heads) of production units that operate such facilities, and heads (deputy heads responsible for approving action plans) of professional emergency rescue services and units engaged for emergency containment and response.

The plans are reviewed and approved in a timely manner.

There is a special category of employees at Nornickel – fire fighters and rescuers. Our work might come unnoticed, but everyone can rely on us to come to their rescue and do everything possible (or even impossible) to ensure safety, be it at production sites, residential facilities, or underground mines, deep down below the earth’s surface. We promptly respond to hazards to protect the lives and health of employees and safeguard the Company’s property, as this is the key strategic priority of the Company’s business.
Sergey Semenov,
Chief Manager, Civil Defence, Emergency and Fire Safety Department, MMC Norilsk Nickel (length of service with the Company – 5 years)

Effective periods

6 months

For underground mining facilities

1 year

For open‑pit mining facilities

5 years

For hazard classes 1, 2, and 3 facilitiesExcluding facilities specified in the first two rows of this table.

Emergency preparedness system at hazardous production facilities

Federal Law No. 116‑FZ On Industrial Safety of Hazardous Production Facilities dated 21 July 1997

Regulations on Accident Response Plans at Hazardous Production Facilities approved by Resolution No. 1437 of the Russian Government dated 15 September 2020

Accident response plans at hazardous production facilities (hazard classes 1, 2, 3)

  • Agreements with professional emergency rescue services and organisations (mine rescue services and maintenance of mine rescue equipment)
  • Auxiliary mine rescue teams at Polar Division and Kola MMC
  • Monthly training and exercises in near‑real conditions
  • Drills involving employees and emergency rescue services
  • Regular training in case of accidents, incidents, and emergencies
  • Provisioning for emergency containment and response at hazardous production facilities

The Group companies put in place surveillance, warning, communication, and support systems in case of emergency

Radio communication, employee positioning, and telemetry system for underground machinery in the Group’s mines

In 2023, Nornickel and Rostechnadzor took measures to enhance occupational health and safety, including:

  • continued implementation of the project to create a system for remote control over industrial safety at the hazard class 1 facility of Kola MMC (chlorine storage);
  • deployment of the Buildings and Structures Monitoring System project: (covering 17 facilities and over 950 buildings and structures)
  • steps to improve the quality of industrial safety expertise, administration, and management of hazardous production facilities’ routine repairs.

In addition, to prevent incidents similar to the one that occurred at CHP‑3 in 2020, the Company is reconstructing fuel storage facilities of CHP‑1, CHP‑2, and CHP‑3 in Norilsk.