Dear Safex Members,

I live in Chile. A country that is located at the convergence of tectonic plates, the Nazca and South American to be more specific. This is a zone of high seismic activity known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Although earthquakes are a reality of Chile, the country has developed a solid capacity for risk response and mitigation. This has been possible thanks to the experience accumulated over generations, which has contributed, to a great extent, to reducing their impact and protecting people's lives. It is a natural phenomenon that we cannot control, but we can mitigate.

In the world of explosives, on the contrary, we have end-to-end control of all processes, which has made me reflect on the reasons why accidents continue to occur in our industry.

A strong earthquake occurs approximately every 10 years. This is a situation that keeps us alert, especially because it can hurt those, we love the most. We are always alert, always prepared. When we talk about our work manufacturing, and handling explosives; the perception of risk can begin to fade. The task is perceived as a routine, and complacency becomes an enemy, overlooking compliance with regulations and procedures.

When faced with a natural disaster, we assume the leadership of the contingency, because the life and well-being of our families hangs in the balance at that moment. In the case of operations, leaders must be role models for their teams and not compromise safety under any circumstances. Leaders in the field, not behind their desk. Being present, watching, listening, and reacting must be daily practice. Life is unnegotiable !

Through generations and painful losses, my country has learned lessons and has implemented a solid capacity for risk response and mitigation to natural disasters. In the same way, those of us who work in this business must act with humility and generosity, learning lessons from others, sharing knowledge, and knowing that the smallest details can put our people and company at risk. This is the reason for Safex to exist. We are a community that builds knowledge through the dissemination of experiences to take care of the lives of those who trust us.

Juan Andrés Errázuriz D.
CEO Enaex