A company in the precious metals mining industry was dealing with trespassing and theft by illegal miners. Here’s how G4S recruited, trained and deployed a team of over 1,000 security guards to address the problem.
A Gold Standard for Security
THE CHALLENGES: OVERVIEW
One of G4S’s customers is a leading international precious metals mining company based in Africa. They have a diverse portfolio of platinum group metal, gold operations and other projects.
This customer came to G4S because their mines were being accessed by illegal miners. These illicit miners are often migrant workers from neighboring countries, or local miners who lost their jobs during the economic downturn. The illegal miners often collude with mine employees, paying them bribes to access the mines. The materials they mine are sold to illegal dealers locally, or to exporters.
The unregulated nature of this work has led to corruption, violence and turf warfare and rival illegal mining factions have fought each other to the death over profitable mines. There are an estimated 6,000 illegal miners working at any particular time, and they are supported by large crime networks.
This customer needed our help to increase the security of their mine shafts, so they could prevent access by illegal miners. They came to G4S because of our experience and strong track record in the mining industry. We had worked with them on specialised ad hoc operations prior to the contract, and we won the closed tender between the top 5 security organisations with a reputation in this sector.
THE GOALS
Creating a strategy for this problem involved numerous meetings with the customer to discuss the risks they were facing and their unique security requirements. We worked with them to create a robust security plan that would help them avoid the theft of product, risk to operations and risk for loss of life.
Our goal was to create a Tactical Intervention Team of specially trained security guards that would be deployed based on risk and requirement to the mines that were threatened by illegal miners. In addition to recruiting a team to address the immediate problem, we also aimed to refresh standard operating procedures at the mines and improve process management for the long term.
THE SOLUTION
Once we had put together a plan, we took action right away. We recruited, trained and accredited over 1,000 security guards within 30 days. The security guards were deployed on October 1, 2020, only one month after the contract was awarded.
Although the recruitment process happened quickly, it was extremely thorough. We vetted all staff and conducted criminal and credit checks, background screenings, education qualification verifications and accreditation to provide security services.
Then, we trained all staff members with a G4S Induction,
as well as site and post-specific training on standard
operating procedures, risks and mitigating actions.
We also gave these qualifying security guards specific
training in Mining Medicals.
Once the teams were trained and ready, they were
deployed to each of the mining operations G4S was
contracted to throughout the country.
THE RESULTS
We were able to mitigate the customer’s pain points and deliver a strategy that solved the problem yet was still cost effective. As a result, the customer experienced a decrease in incidents and health and safety violations. They were also able to improve their recovery of Gold Bearing Material, as well as safeguard their assets and infrastructure.
The customer’s operations are also overseen by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). The DMR controls mining operations and has stringent safety rules. The DMR can shut down mining operations if these rules are violated.
Thanks to the improved process management established by G4S and the quality of the security guards deployed, this customer has not had any stoppages due to DMR violations while we have been working with them.