Gold Winner:
Vasily Lemak, Fuel Farm Inventory Operator, Pevek
Vasily joined Kinross in 2004 as a driver in the construction department at Kupol. In 2011, he began training to become a fuel farm operator in Pevek, a port on the Arctic Ocean where our Russian mines receive supplies.
A skilled expert in his field, Vasily is described as passionate about delivering positive results while ensuring the safety of his colleagues.
When a new fuel monitoring system needed to be implemented, Vasily took on the project and now acts as a key member of the maintenance team. He worked with his team to find recommendations to improve the system and they were able to implement it safely and without any incidents.
“Vasily loves his job and does it well! His goal is to make sure his colleagues get home safely and he draws from his skills and experience to make that happen,” said a colleague. “We are lucky to have someone like Vasily on our team.”
Vasily’s colleagues recall a heroic act that occurred during the construction of the winter road connecting Kupol and Dvoinoye. Vasily was tasked with fueling heavy vehicles that were cleaning a section of the winter road when a snowstorm struck. Although Vasily was a few kilometers from the vehicles, he knew if he did not deliver fuel to the drivers, they risked being stranded in frozen temperatures.
Vasily assessed the risks and cautiously proceeded while maintaining contact with senior road supervisors. Moving at minimal speed from one road post to the next, Vasily reached his destination in time to top up fuel for the awaiting loader and dozer.
This example illustrates Vasily’s commitment to Putting People First, and his desire to help and support his co-workers. How he proceeded when faced with a difficult situation highlights his professionalism and how he lives Kinross’ values!
Vasily (centre)with colleagues in Pevek
