SAFETY CULTURE ASSESSMENTS As a result of four fatalities at Ambatovy in ����� management introduced a strategic focus on fatality prevention and life safety� and commissioned independent external assessments of the safety culture at each operating site� The assessments provided valuable insights into factors that contribute to the safety culture at each site� personal commitments to safety� mutual respect among employees� organizational pride and mythology� accountability for safety at the line�management level� constructive leadership interactions in the field� and control of critical risks� A key learning was that leaders are critical to establishing the culture and behavioural expectations for safety� In ����� all sites focused on improving their visible and felt leadership programs to move towards an interdependent safety culture at each location� Each site developed an action plan that included the setting of ambitious targets for leaders to be present in work areas more often� to role�model safety behaviours� and to improve the quality of interactions through peer reviews and tiered interactions� The action plans also focused on addressing significant potential incidents� strengthening life safety rules� and improving use of hazard assessment tools� Safety culture improvements were noticeably observed at the Moa Nickel Site in ����� Leadership interactions and communications assisted in reinforcing the need for performing safe work and adhering to the life safety rules� The advances in safety culture were demonstrated during a crisis preparedness exercise held with the government in June� with all levels exceeding expectations� Health and safety management systems will help to sustain progress and continually improve health and safety performance.