We recognize that our activities can, in some situations, pose physical risks to the communities we interact with. As part of an ongoing cultural transformation process and our commitment to putting safety first, Vale is currently reviewing the ways our operations can affect society. One of the components of this review is Community Safety and our approach to managing risks and impacts resulting from threats to the physical integrity of individuals which are exacerbated by Vale’s presence in the territory.  

Our approach to managing impacts in other dimensions (occupational health and safety, environment, and process safety) is extended to our communities with the same level of commitment and dedication. Vale’s Community Safety process has been designed and implemented within our Corporate Social Responsibility framework. 

This process addresses safety-related events with potential social impacts, that resulting in injury to non-employees that occur in areas under Vale's responsibility or in external areas during production or production support activities.  

Immediate emergency response measures are taken in response to these events, regardless of which parties are liable, according to parameters established in internal rules. Any such events are documented and investigated to identify their causes and define actions to reduce the risk of recurrence. These actions may include communication with communities to strengthen their risk perception and align initiatives with local needs, in addition to reviewing internal processes and improving equipment.