Kumba Iron Ore : public service communication receives global recognition

Kumba Iron Ore, a business unit of Anglo American, has received what is widely regarded as one of the ultimate accolades for public relations and communication management in the world. The company's Kolomela Mine fatigue management community project in Postmasburg, Northern Cape, last night received an Award of Distinction for public service communication at the Global Alliance COMM PRIX awards in Madrid, Spain.

The project was entered by Nelmarie Schutte from Kolomela Mine under the title, "Using kids to manage employee fatigue". It aims to help address operator fatigue amongst shift workers, which is a major contributor to mine accidents, by teaching their children about the importance of rest and a healthy lifestyle for their family members. This is done through a series of specially-developed, age-appropriate guides introduced to local schools as part of the Life Orientation syllabus. More than 1 000 children and teachers have been taught to date, empowering the children to look out for their parents and to help keep them safe.

The Global Alliance is the confederation of the world's major public relations and communication management associations and institutions, representing 160 000 practitioners and academics around the world. Entry to the COMM PRIX awards is limited to projects that have won a prior award in a regional, national or international competition. Only 13 awards were made last night from hundreds entered from around the globe.

The Kolomela Mine fatigue management community project has twice previously been recognised by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) with Gold Quill awards, in 2013 and 2014, and it is a finalist in the global Anglo American Applaud awards to be decided later this year.

The COMM PRIX awards coincided with the World Public Relations Forum attended by 700 practitioners from more than 60 countries.