International SOS and Oyu Tolgoi will build an occupational health clinic

Seventy five percent of our workforce are Mongolians. We are planning to increase the number of Mongolian employees through skill transfer and training highly skilled professionals.

Mr.Travis Cunningham, SOS General Manager "We employ a large number of Mongolian doctors and nurses. We do a lot of training for our work force and, as an international company, we comply with international standards. We also provide medical services in Ulaanbaatar".

Oyu Tolgoi LLC has established a tradition to award their best suppliers each month. International SOS Mongolia LLC has been recognised as the best supplier for August 2012. We interviewed SOS General Manager, Mr.Travis Cunningham.

Congratulations on becoming the best supplier of the month for August 2012.

Thank you.

Could you briefly introduce your company?

SOS have been working in Mongolia for nine years, before the Oyu Tolgoi project even began. Back then we came to Mongolia at the invitation of Ivanhoe to provide medical services on site. We have 45 employees working on site today, doctors, nurses, a psychiatrist, pharmacists and administrative assistants. We employ a large number of Mongolian doctors and nurses. We do a lot of training for our work force and, as an international company, we comply with international standards. We also provide medical services in Ulaanbaatar.

What are your future plans?

We have planned, jointly with Oyu Tolgoi, to initiate and carry out a programme diagnosing, treating and preventing occupational injuries. Within the framework of this programme, an occupational health centre will be opened at the main clinic operating at site. We are training our employees to deliver first aid. Our long term plan is to establish a hospital where occupational injuries and conditions are treated. This hospital will provide full range of services including medical treatment and rehabilitation complying with international standards, and the quality and services of Rio Tinto’s best practices. Our company works closely with Rio Tinto’s international occupational health team.

In total how many employees do you have?

We have 120 employees, most of whom are doctors and nurses. We have a small professional team, operating in Ulaanbaatar, managing the day-to-day site operations of mining companies. Seventy five percent of our workforce are Mongolians. We are planning to increase the number of Mongolian employees through skill transfer and training highly skilled professionals. In addition to general medical checkups, treatment and pharmacy, we have a duty to be ready for an emergency.