“
It is DMP’s role to confirm that companies are abiding by
the mines safety legislation,” said Mr Chaplyn. “We are also
striving to be a leading safety regulator and have developed an
organisational structure and approach to help achieve this, with
regional teams and issue-specific focus groups.
“
In engaging with industry, we promote best practice and
raise awareness of safety and health issues through a variety of
tools, including publications, audit guidelines, news releases and
road shows,” he said.
Resources Safety was given a boost in 2013 with the
recruitment of seven new safety experts. Five were appointed to
the mines safety inspectorate and include structural, mechanical,
electrical and mining engineers. All new mines inspectors
are put through a rigorous six-month training program that
ranges from applying the legislation to risk management in the
mining context.
As the move away from prescriptive to a risk-based approach
gains momentum in WA, DMP’s mines safety inspectors and a
range of industry professionals took part in G-3 Global Minerals
Industry Risk Management (G-MIRM) training sessions during
2013.
The training, which was rolled out throughout the year,
was conducted by JKTech, a company highly skilled in this area.
DMP’s Resources Safety Executive Director Simon Ridge said
that the sessions covered site safety and health risk improvement
plans to initiate a change in operational risk management
–
furthering managers’ understanding of risk management.
“
This offers the inspectors further training, so the department
and industry are talking the same language when they are
looking at company’s full site risk analysis data,” Mr Ridge said.
“
We also want to challenge and mould the way managers, as
individuals, make decisions, behave, lead and live with regard
to risks.”
The newly reconstituted MIAC, the state’s key advisory group,
continues to provide advice on health and safety in the mining
industry to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, the Minister
for Commerce and the Commission for Occupational Safety
and Health. Originally represented by seven members,
MIAC has been expanded with the appointment of an additional
four expert members. These new members have been drawn
from the union movement, industry representative bodies and
independent experts.
“
This means the committee now has a broader range
of membership to give independent and expert advice,”
said Mr Ridge.
MIAC meets every two months to discuss current issues, with
safety regulations often at the top of the list. MIAC also reviews
codes of practice and guidelines to ensure industry’s needs are
being met.
DMP is also continuing its transparency efforts. Participation
in industry working groups and the presentation of events such
as the Mines Safety and Exploration Safety Roadshow provide
opportunities for industry and safety experts to discuss the latest
news, issues and concerns face to face with the inspectorate.
DMP continues to provide sponsorship and operational
support to annual mine emergency response competitions held in
Western Australia.
Industry also plays an even greater role in the safety
of workers.
“
At the end of the day, it is the company’s responsibility to
ensure workers go home safely, and the majority of companies in
WA perform to a very high standard,” said Mr Chaplyn.
“
The zero harm aspiration must be equated with quality
work processes, from the very first steps of design, through
Kambalda Mutual Aid team tackles
the team skills event at CME’s 2012
Underground Mine Emergency Response
Competition, held at Mt Charlotte
Mines inspectors receive their graduation
certificates from Bill Marmion MLA,
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Minesite 2013
•
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