CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Risk management is an essential element in every part of IAMGOLD operations calling for risk assessment processes and crisis management plans at both the site and corporate levels.

Our Approach to Emergency Response is a precautionary approach. Since over-responding to an issue is infinitely better than under-responding, the IAMGOLD policy is to encourage site personnel to invoke emergency response measures when needed. Emergency preparedness procedures were activated 88 times at our operations in 2011.

Crisis Management Plans (CMPs) have been readied throughout the organization to define roles and provide guidelines for the successful and professional management of crises affecting IAMGOLD, its employees and their families, contractors, and communities. In 2010, IAMGOLD performed its first global crisis simulation in coordination with the Rosebel mine site. Over the course of the next two years, various operations will perform similar, site-based simulations. Here are some examples of environmentally focused emergency simulations.

Emergency Simulation at Mouska
To be up to date on risk management, Mouska mine conducts an environmental emergency exercise once a year. In 2011, the exercise involved a diesel spill. The exercise involved reviewing the environmental emergency book, contacting communities of interest, communicating with the corporate office, submitting a news release concerning the incident and simulating a press conference. After the exercise, a review was conducted and an action plan was developed to improve their risk management.

Emergency Simulation at Westwood
In 2011, an emergency simulation on SO2 was conducted to test readiness of the first responders as well as the response of external resources who would assist in an emergency situation. The main elements noted were the speed of the emergency team, the effectiveness in rescuing those affected by a gas leak, communication improvements, missing instruments in some areas and the lack of safety equipment for ore processing mill employees. Action plans are being implemented to ensure the optimal response in the event of an emergency.