Page 22 - Inclusion and diversity – Partnering for change

Our stories

Diversity treading

in the right direction

for Chile’s maintainers

“Kal Tire now has a more diverse workforce that includes

a team of women performing maintenance mechanics
at a mining operation.”

Kal Tire, a supplier of tyres
and maintenance fitters for
the mining industry, has
been engaged by BHP for
more than 10 years at BHP’s
Spence operation in Chile.
The services performed by
Kal Tire at the site’s truck
shop, have historically
required great physical
strength, and there was
a heavy reliance on men
with larger builds to safer and faster work, but has
perform this work. enabled Kal Tire to be able to
offer roles to a more diverse
As part of regular inclusion and groups of candidates. Through
diversity conversations between these initiatives, Kal Tire now
BHP and Kal Tire, a major focus has a far more diverse workforce
was placed on improving diversity that includes a team of women
within Kal Tire’s team and part performing mechanical
of this included a project in the maintenance at a mining
operational area. operation.
The two companies worked in In addition, a Gravity Assistant
partnership to introduce a six- System was also introduced
month program for specialists in during the program. The hydraulic more importantly, has allowed
tyre maintenance, to train women system allows the tools used in tyre us to attract more females to the
to complete tyre repairs, as well maintenance to be much lighter. maintenance profession and be
as learn how to assemble and more inclusive of a wider talent
disassemble them. A zero-weight Patricio Hidalgo, General Manager, pool,” said Patricio.
arm was also introduced – a tool Spence said with the support of
that provides the lifting power Kal Tire, they’ve been able to trial The program has since finished
necessary to keep the torque fresh ideas and use technology to but its achievements are still
tool, which can weigh around help solve some of our inclusion evident every day at Spence.
25 kilograms, in position when and diversity challenges at Kal Tire’s 20-strong team
twisting each bolt. Spence. includes four women who are
training to become supervisors.
Importantly, the tool eliminates “It’s an excellent example of how The aspirational goal is to
physical strength as a prerequisite we can make change happen reach a gender balance in the
for the role and allows not only where it’s needed most and, Maintenance team by 2025.

BHP Inclusion and diversity – Partnering for change 20 February 2020