MineSafe Western Australia

Keep your cool

Cyclone reminder ...... page 10

Safety case approach to safety management ...... page 11

Vol. 16, No. 3 December 2007

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 1 In this issue

We started 2007 with a bumper issue of MineSafe magazine, and the third and fi nal issue for the year is another ‘gold mine of information’. As always, it starts with the regular section by State Mining Engineer Martin Knee, who promotes the concept of ‘safe design’ in his contribution. Co e s We have articles and pictorial spreads on the 2007 Underground Mine Emergency Response Competition, held in Kambalda, and the 2007 South West Emergency 3. From the SME: Concept of ‘safe design’ Response Skills Challenge, held in Australind. The 2007 Mines Safety Roadshow is also 5. Underground Mine Emergency featured. There are also warnings about some natural hazards – cyclones and lightning Response Competition strikes – faced in mining and exploration. 10. Cyclone reminder The Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 is currently being reviewed by Commissioner Kenner of the Industrial Relations Commission. One of the issues to be considered 10. Lightning strike leads to tyre explosion during this review is the introduction of a safety case regime into the mining industry. 11. Safety case approach to safety management We include some different perspectives on what a safety case might involve for the 16. Orebody modelling and strategic mining industry. mine planning The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy recently released the second edition 17. Review of Mines Safety and Inspection Act of Orebody modelling and strategic mine planning, and its contents are overviewed in this issue. There are also invitations to comment on the working hours code of practice 17. Comments sought on working hours released last year and provide feedback on hazardous manual tasks (formerly known as code of practice manual handling). 18. Mines Safety Roadshow This issue contains Part 4 of the themed section on road safety on mine sites. The 20. Assessing heavy vehicle performance contributions by a traffi c engineering expert consider heavy vehicle performance and 21. Effective road signage effective road signage on mine sites – the latter a popular topic based on Roadshow 23. Help sought on hazardous manual tasks feedback. 24. Keep your cool With the hot weather experienced in most of the State at this time of the year, there is a compilation of resources to help you ‘keep your cool’, as well as some sun 24. Health management online updates safety measures published by the State of Queensland, but very applicable to our 26. Sun safety measures circumstances. 27. Safety and health representatives section In the safety and health representatives section, we introduce you to Lindsay Robinson 30. Safety and health awards from Bemax Cable Sands, who has been a safety and health representative for 14 years. We welcome Peter Green, the new Employee’s Inspector of Mines for Kalgoorlie, and 32. Mine plans in a digital era invite nominations for an Employee’s Inspector of Mines for the Pilbara. There is also 33. When the best laid plans go awry a reminder about using the correct form to notify Resources Safety of the election of 35. South West Emergency Response a safety and health representative. This will ensure details are entered into the mines Skills Challenge safety database in a timely fashion – and the representative’s package despatched. 36. Signifi cant incident reports We report on several safety and health awards made in the latter part of this year, 38. FAQs about bullying recognising the innovative work done for the mining industry. There is also an interesting story about how the best laid plans can go awry, as shown by a crusher incident in the North West. Did you know that Resources Safety is custodian of about 25,000 mine plans dating © Department of Consumer and back to the late 1800s? A project is underway to scan the entire mine plan collection by Employment Protection 2007 March 2008. Until recently, mine plans were required to be lodged in hardcopy format ISSN 1832-4762 only. However, these are cumbersome to store and subject to deterioration over time. MineSafe is published by the Resources Safety Submission requirements have been changed so that most plans may now be lodged as Division of the Department of Consumer and PDF fi les. Employment Protection (DOCEP). It is distributed free There are three signifi cant incident reports covering specifi c safety advice related to two of charge to employers, employees, safety and health drilling incidents and a bucket elevator fi re. representatives and members of the public. Readers are encouraged to regularly check the Resources Safety website at www. Reproduction of material from MineSafe for wider distribution is encouraged and may be carried out docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety to fi nd out what’s new — updates and new subject to appropriate acknowledgement. information are posted there fi rst. For example, some health management documents Contact the editor for further information. have been updated recently. Mention of proprietary products does not imply As 2007 draws to a close, I wish MineSafe readers and their families a safe and happy endorsement by Resources Safety or DOCEP. new year, and thank you for your interest and support throughout the year. Comments and contributions from readers are welcome, but the editor reserves the right to publish Malcolm Russell only those items that are considered to be constructive Executive Director, Resources Safety towards mining safety and health. Reader contributions Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and correspondence should be addressed to: Resources Safety, Locked Bag 14, Cloisters Square WA 6850 List of contributors (from Resources Safety unless otherwise indicated): Editor: Susan Ho Patrick Burke, Macmahon Su Ho Martin Knee Louise Fogarty Enquiries: (08) 9358 8149 Caroline De Vaney, WorkSafe Peter W Lewis Donna Hunt Tse Yin Chang Email: [email protected] Matt Granger, CME Alan Gooch Stephen Lane Lindy Nield Website: www.docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety Peter O’Loughlin Alf Standen, CIMA Damir Vagaja, ARRB Group This publication is available on request in other Lindsay Robinson, Bemax Cable Sands formats for people with special needs. Photo attribution (Resources Safety): Main cover photograph: NM TYC = Tse Yin Chang , KH = Kate Henry, SH = Susan Ho, SL = Stephen Lane, PWL = Peter W Lewis, NM = Nicola Morris

2 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 From the State Mining Engineer

Thinking it through from the start — concept of ‘safe design’

So-called safe design is a process that or processes. The most effective risk Subsequent stages of the product’s eliminates occupational health and safety control measure – eliminating the hazard lifecycle should not proceed until the (OHS) hazards, or minimises potential – is often cheaper and more practical to preceding phase design reviews have OHS risk, by involving decision makers achieve at the design or planning stage, been considered and approved by those at an early stage and considering the life rather than making changes later in the persons with control. lifecycle when the hazards become real cycle of the designed product. The accompanying illustration risks to clients, users, employees and summarises the life-cycle phases A safe design approach will generate businesses. a design option that eliminates OHS associated with a designed product. hazards and minimises the risks to those It is estimated that inherently safe plant It also demonstrates the inverse who make the product, to those who and equipment would save between 5 relationship between the ease of erect or install it, to those who use it and and 10 per cent of their cost through implementing decisions to improve maintain it throughout its useful life and reductions in inventories of hazardous safety against the costs of safety to those who may have to demolish it, materials, reduced need for protective implementation against life-cycle for dispose of it or recycle it at the end of its equipment and the reduced costs of the designed product. productive career. testing and maintaining the equipment. The direct costs associated with unsafe Why should we consider a safe design design can be significant (e.g. retro- approach? Safe design is important fitting, workers’ compensation and Key elements for to employees; designers (architects, insurance levies, environmental clean up engineers, industrial designers); and negligence claims). Since these costs a safe design manufacturers, importers and suppliers; impact more on parties downstream in Principle 1: Persons with control employers; inspectors; and OHS the lifecycle who purchase and use the – persons who make decisions practitioners. It is good management product, the incentive for these parties to affecting the design of products, practice. And it helps decision makers influence and benefit from safe design is facilities or processes are able to understand and implement the OHS risk also greater. promote health and safety at the management approach. source. In the early phases (concept and detailed Safe design principles can be applied design process) there is greater scope to Principle 2: Product lifecycle – safe through the life cycle of the designed design-out hazards and incorporate risk design applies to every stage in the product whether in the: control measures that are compatible lifecycle from conception through to disposal. It involves eliminating • construction, use, maintenance with the original design concept and functional requirements of the product. hazards or minimising risks as early or demolition of any building or in the lifecycle as possible. structure; Decisions can be made to eliminate OHS hazards in the systems of work, methods Principle 3: Systematic risk • manufacture, supply, installation, use, of manufacture or construction, or the management – the application maintenance or disposal of plant or use of materials involved in creating the of hazard identification, risk equipment; designed product. assessment and risk control processes to achieve safe design. • manufacture, supply, use or disposal This means that a designer must have of chemicals; or a good understanding of the lifecycle of Principle 4: Safe design knowledge the item they are designing, including the and capability – should be either • implementation or use of any demonstrated or acquired by persons needs of users and the environment in system of work or process or any with control over design. which that item may be used. other physical attribute or system Principle 5: Information transfer associated with either the work place New risks may emerge as products are – effective communication and or the interface with people. modified or the environments in which documentation of design and risk they are used change. Safety can be The accompanying break-out box lists control information between all further enhanced if each person who the five key elements that impact on persons involved in the phases of has control over actions taken in any achieving a safe design. the lifecycle is essential for the safe of the lifecycle phases takes steps to design approach. The opportunities to create safer ensure health and safety is pro-actively workplaces are most cost effective addressed, by reviewing the design and checking that the design meets safety when captured in the earliest phases Continued on page 4... of the lifecycle of designed products standards in each of the lifecycle phases.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 3 • a greater ability to predict and In summary, safe design involves ...from page 3 minimise costs associated with understanding, identifying and analysing injury and environmental damage; potential OHS hazards and risks A safe design approach results in • better prediction and management throughout the designed product’s many benefits, including: of production and operational costs lifecycle as part of the design process • simplified risk control; over the lifecycle of a product; to improve its safety. • prevention of injury and disease; • a more informed ability to meet Further safe design information and legislative responsibilities; examples may be obtained from the • improved useability of products, excellent 2006 publication Guidance on systems and facilities; • a reduced need for redesign and the principles of safe design for work, retrofitting, and its associated costs; • a greater ability to predict and available from the Australian Safety and manage production and operational and Compensation Council (ASCC) or costs across the life cycle of the • innovation (in that safe design www.ascc.gov.au/ascc/HealthSafety/ designed-product; demands new thinking). SafeDesign

Ease of safety implementation Cost of safety implementation

Safety decision making

Time

LIFE CYCLE OF THE DESIGNED PRODUCT

Develop concept/ Construct/ Design Supply/install Use Maintain De-commission Disposal/recycle commission manufacture

Moving upstream in the design process. Adapted from WC Christensen and FA Manuele (eds), 1999, Safety Through Design: Best Practices. National Safety Council, Itasca, Illinois.

Some of this improvement could be PPE statistics for mining attributed to greater compliance with the requirement to wear eye protection. Resources Safety was recently asked A quick look over the years that More functional and comfortable safety if there were any statistics showing the Resources Safety database has glass designs might also have improvements in safety in the mining been in operation gives the following increased acceptance. industry resulting from personal information: protective equipment (PPE) use. As always, PPE should 1987-88 216 lost time eye injuries be viewed as the line Chris Stubley, from the Information out of a total of 2,246 LTIs of last resort in Services Section, Health Management the hierarchy 2005-06 15 lost time eye injuries Branch, responded that PPE is not of controls. out of a total of 462 LTIs specifically referred to on the injury notification forms so they cannot be used Over almost two decades, not only have to provide the statistics. However, he the number of LTIs decreased, but the suggested that an analysis of lost time proportion of LTIs due to eye injuries injuries (LTIs) to eyes may provide a guide. has decreased from 9.6% to 3.2%.

4 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Underground Mine Emergency Response Competition

Mid West team takes top award Thanks to hosts

The Mid West region continues to up • Theory – Golden Grove Competition committee chairman the ante in the mining industry with the • Safety – Golden Grove Mark Pannewig gave a special vote of Oxiana Golden Grove team taking out top thanks to the host site of this year’s honours at the 2007 Underground Mine • Overall First Aid – Agnew Gold. Underground Mine Emergency Rescue Emergency Response Competition held The Rescue Coordinators Award went to Competition, the St Ives Gold Mining 2-4 November at St Ives gold mine near Cindy Lewis from Newmont Jundee, the Company – Leviathan Gold Mine. Kambalda. Best New Captain to Justin Colwell from It was a double for the Mid West team Barrick Plutonic, and Individual Theory ‘We always need host sites and this captain and competition stalwart Ben to Mike Bowron from Oxiana Golden year the deadline was running short. Grove. The Search and Rescue event Ingham, who recently competed in Two days before the deadline, St Ives was recognised with the Best Scenario Victoria with his team, as he took out the put their hand up and I give a special Best Captain Award. Award. thanks to the Underground Manager Second place went to Agnew Gold, Thirteen teams competed in all: Geoff Newcombe for allowing us while the local team from Kalgoorlie • Agnew Gold access to the mine and his assistance Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) came during the event,’ he said. in third. • Barrick Granny Smith • Barrick Kanowna Mines Rescue ‘All the scenarios were realistic and Best New Team went to Jundee, with the standards continue to improve. I the team from Kanowna Belle coming • Cosmos Nickel Project in second in this category. • KCGM Rats know all the teams enjoyed the events immensely.’ Individual scenario winners were: • Lawlers Gold Mine • Leinster Emergency Services He said it was rewarding to see lots • Skills – Plutonic • Mincor Operations of new faces this year with new blood • Breathing Apparatus Skills coming in, as well as the old (familiar) – Golden Grove • Newmont Jundee Emergency faces. • Fire – Agnew Gold Response • Ropes – Kanowna Belle • Norilsk Nickel ‘Also many of the adjudicators stepped up into new roles, which was • Search and Rescue – Golden Grove • Oxiana Golden Grove appreciated,’ Mr Pannewig said. • First Aid – Agnew Gold • Plutonic Emergency Response Team. Again, senior staff from the Resources Safety Division of the Department of Real life drama on way to rescue comp Consumer and Employment Protection assisted in the smooth running of the Emergency rescue training kicked into large team, with each team having the annual underground competition. action for two teams on their way to the same sort of training and things just Resources Safety employees Underground Mine Emergency Rescue jelled,’ Mark said. Competition on the Sunday morning. assisting included Senior Inspector ‘The fire was put out, and the fellow, who Peter O’Loughlin as one of the Chief Members of the Norilsk Nickel Australia’s was in a critical condition, was flown to Adjudicators, Senior Inspector Jim Black Swan – Lake Johnston mines and, Perth. It was a miracle that he was still Boucaut and Senior Occupational shortly after, the Barrick Lawler rescue alive and it was an amazing effort from Health Inspector Terry Seifken teams came across the scene of a high two of our teams.’ speed traffic accident, providing support as adjudicators in the Emergency and first aid to the seriously injured ‘We say we train for a day we hope never Controllers Event, and Senior motorist. happens. Our people compete in realistic Occupational Health Inspector Gary scenarios, but this time it was for real.’ On arrival the injured party was found to be Hussey as an adjudicator in the blue in the face, not breathing and suffering Due to the traumatic experience, the Breathing Apparatus Skills Event. from head trauma, with the vehicle on fire teams were debriefed on Sunday evening. The Breathing Apparatus Skills Event from the impact of hitting a tree. Mr Pannewig asked the audience to was sponsored by Resources Safety At the awards ceremony later that day, allow the teams involved to deal with the and won by the Oxiana Golden Grove emotions, which often result when these competition committee chairman Mark team. Pannewig said the team’s emergency things happen. training kicked into action. The event, run by the Chamber of The teams received a standing ovation ‘They got the fellow out of the vehicle and when they entered the Australian Minerals and Energy, is largest of its got him breathing again. The people from Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame for type in the southern hemisphere. Barrick and Black Swan then formed one the weekend presentations.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 5 Underground Mine Emergency Response Competition

Training for the day

With a rescue team from Kanowna reasonably good chance of getting be extended if the unit still had an Belle competing only two weeks after people safely out. external supply of electricity. a fire resulted in 54 miners being His statements were echoed by Such chambers also contained evacuated to refuge chambers at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy blankets and food. gold mine, the relevance of intense Goldfields regional liaison officer competition and training was obvious. ‘With mains power you would only Matthew Payne, who said that with be limited by your water and food While no one was injured during rigorous training and the proper supplies,’ he said. the recent incident, workers were procedures in place, the recent fire evacuated to refuge chambers incident at Kanowna Belle was well The units are built in Perth by MineArc following a blaze that started in the managed. Systems, who also sponsor the engine bay of a 775 Caterpillar truck. competition, and the one pictured cost At the time, inspectors from around $100,000 – a small price to pay The miners were brought to the Resources Safety praised the safety for such a life saving unit. surface during the well-coordinated procedures in place. eight-hour rescue operation, which It is also a timely reminder to revisit included assistance from rescuers ‘There were no injuries because the Resources Safety’s guideline Refuge from the nearby KCGM and Black mine’s safety system was activated as chambers in underground metalliferous Swan mine rescue teams. soon as the fire began,’ a Resources mines. Safety spokesman said. A Barrick Australia Pacific The Western Australian guideline, spokeswoman said the evacuation St Ives underground manager Geoff believed to be the only one of its kind took all day because the miners had Newcombe invited ‘spectators’ to view in the world, was first published in rehearsed safety procedures that one of the mine’s rescue chambers 2005 by the then-Safety and Health meant each area of the mine was and said they were essential to ensure Division of the Department of Industry checked for further hazards before the the safety of workers if there were and Resources (now Resources miners left their refuge stations. problems underground. Safety Division in the Department of Consumer and Employment Rescue teams train for the day that ‘These units are actually built in Protection). things go pear shaped and, with the Perth, and this one is designed to right training and safety procedures in keep 12 people safe for 48 hours. It was designed to provide guidance place, the best outcomes will result. The Kanowna incident took about 12 on the safe use of appropriate refuge hours, so they weren’t really in any chambers as part of a response Following an underground mine danger, they just had to be patient,’ to hazards posed by irrespirable tour for the competition, organising Mr Newcombe said. atmospheres underground. committee chairman Mark Pannewig said the organisers put these He said the chamber would have The information was based on competitions together for training enough oxygen and water for about a series of risk assessments so if things went wrong, there was a six people for three days, which could undertaken between 1977 and 2003

PWL PWL

St Ives underground mine manager Geoff Newcombe in a refuge chamber

6 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Underground Mine Emergency Response Competition

at 13 underground mines in Western is necessarily conservative and its an additional safety margin of four Australia. These assessments recommendations are based on a hours is reasonable. were undertaken by individual worst-case scenario. It is stated the The technologies exist to support a mining operations independently of view is necessarily conservative and stand-alone operating time of 36 hours. Resources Safety. The guideline also the Department’s recommendations sourced information from fi re reports are based on a worst-case scenario. Hardcopies of the guideline can be from Western Australian, national obtained from Resources Safety by The stand-alone time is based on a emailing ResourcesSafety@docep. and international mining safety large rubber-tyred vehicle catching wa.gov.au or it can be downloaded in authorities. fi re while travelling in a main intake PDF format from www.docep.wa.gov. airway. The danger of re-ignition, a The guideline says that the most au/ResourcesSafety contentious issue associated with the tyre explosion or both may persist use of refuge chambers appears to for up to 24 hours, and it is deemed be the question of how long refuge unsafe to approach the vehicle for this chambers can reasonably be expected period. to support a full complement of While it could be possible to get past occupants while operating in stand- the burned-out unit and bring the alone mode. occupants of the refuge chamber or Because there is so much variation, chambers out on foot, it should not it may be diffi cult to establish an be assumed this would be viable in all incidents. acceptable duration guide. However, one of the principal recommendations Eight hours is a reasonable period in the Resources Safety guideline is to allow for clearance of the wreck that the supply of oxygen should be and restoration of normal services, available for 36 hours. Previously, bringing the total time before a the rule of thumb was a supply time realistic start of rescue operations to of eight hours. it is stated the view 32 hours. In Resources Safety’s view,

New technology assists rescue efforts

The evolving world of new technologies in Another advantage of the units is With vehicle charging units available making life in underground mine rescue that the cameras can detect different and weighing less than 2 kg, the safer. temperatures, which enables units are versatile and extremely fi refi ghters to identify hot spots so transportable. This year, thermal imaging technology they can be suppressed, reducing fi re was used by adjudicators to ’see through’ damage. smoke and fi re at the underground rescue competition fi re fi ghting scenario. The units assist in the RECEO chain Thermal imaging cameras use infrared of events used to control and evaluate technology to provide sight when visibility fi refi ghting – Rescue, Exposure, is hindered by fi re, smoke or darkness. Control/Contain, Extinguish, Overhaul. St Ives underground mine manager Like all electronic components, the Geoff Newcombe demonstrated the prices of the units continue to come effectiveness of the units during the down and they are expected to be a competition by showing how bodies could normal safety feature to assist rescue be identifi ed in otherwise ‘blind’ situations. in fi re situations. The increased visibility during a fi re Other features in the latest units emergency allows fi re fi ghters to include digital temperature quickly locate any casualty, a must in measurement up to 1,000°C and up PWL underground situations, and greatly to seven hours operating time image Geoff Newcombe demonstrates the reduces the amount of time casualties capture, with some models also effectiveness of the thermal imaging units are exposed to danger. allowing for video transmission. during the competition.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 7 Underground Mine Emergency Response Competition

REAL LIFE SCENARIOS

EVENT HEADQUARTERS

VOLUNTEERS

8 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Underground Mine Emergency Response Competition

HOST SITE

ADJUDICATING

RECOGNITION Photo’s courtsesy of Peter W Lewis of Peter courtsesy Photo’s

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 9 Natural hazards

Cyclone reminder

the deaths of the two workers during then decide to conduct an inquest, in Cyclone George, the State Government which case the WorkSafe report would issued a safety and health alert on form part of that inquest. emergency preparation for cyclones. The alert is an update of the April safety ‘In the meantime, we have decided bulletin, and takes into consideration to release a further safety bulletin to issues raised during the course of the raise some issues that came to light investigation into the deaths. during the investigation, with a view to preventing similar incidents in the WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne future.’ SH said that the report on the investigation had been completed. Safety and Health Alert 17/07 Tropical On 2 April 2007, following the tragic cyclones is available from the WorkSafe events at a rail construction camp near ‘The report has now been passed website at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au. It Port Hedland during Cyclone George, onto the State Solicitors Offi ce,’ Ms recommends that anyone considering WorkSafe and Resources Safety issued Lyhne said. ‘They will consider the construction projects in a cyclone-prone a joint safety bulletin on the potential fi ndings of the investigation and provide area should check which wind region the hazards and consequences associated legal advice with respect to potential site falls into. prosecution action. with cyclones. Information should be sought on the ‘The contents of the WorkSafe construction standards that must be Mines Safety Bulletin No. 79 Cyclone report will not be made publicly observed to ensure that buildings on – emergency preparation, planning and available because there may be a worksites in cyclone-sensitive regions preparedness is available from the risk of prejudicing any potential legal are adequately secured. Resources Safety website at www. proceedings. If this matter does go to docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety court, details will be aired in public in It is also important that emergency in the mining guidance material and the courts. procedures and plans are in place in publications section. regions that may be affected by cyclones. ‘Once any legal proceedings have been Workers must be given the appropriate On 19 November 2007, following completed, the report will be forwarded information on safety procedures and be completion of the WorkSafe report on to the State Coroner. The Coroner may appropriately trained to carry them out.

Lightning strike leads to tyre explosion

A signifi cant incident report made metres from the truck. There were by Anglo Coal’s Drayton mine in no injuries to personnel. New South Wales describes an incident on 29 November 2007 The company’s report made the where a Cat 789C rear dump following recommendations, to be truck was struck by lightning. The enacted immediately following a incident highlights the destructive lightning strike on trucks: impact that lightning can have on • area barricaded as a no-go tyres, and the resultant risk that a Guideline tyre explosion presents to anyone in zone; the vicinity. • incident reported to the mines During an afternoon storm, a Cat inspectorate; and 789C truck parked on the go-line • no-go zone in place for Tyre safety, fires was struck by lightning. Some four minimum of 24 hours, then and explosions minutes after the strike, three tyres on the near side exploded. reassessed. The resultant air blast and shock Resources Safety has published a wave damaged the truck and broke guideline on Tyre safety, fi res and several windows in surrounding explosions, which is available online buildings and the windscreen of a in the mining guidance material and publications section at www.docep. water truck parked nearby. Some SH rim components were found 300 wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety

10 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Safety case approach to safety management

Safety cases in the mining industry

The Mines Safety and Inspection Act although there are a number of A number of industry players, 1994 is currently undergoing a review specific SMS standards covering the particularly the larger companies, by Commissioner Kenner of the food industry, water quality, railways will already have such systems Industrial Relations Commission. and occupational health and safety well established, and will be able One of the issues to be considered (OHS). to satisfy any new legislative during this review is the introduction requirement – whatever form it An integrated SMS could be of a safety case regime into the finally takes – without much impact developed using Australian mining industry. on the way they are doing things now. Standard AS/NZS 9001:2000 (quality Others may need to do a fair amount The safety case methodology has management systems) as a basic of work to develop and implement been used for many years in complex framework, then applying AS/NZS such arrangements. high risk industries throughout the 4360:2004 (risk management), AS/ world and is well documented. The NZS 4801:2001 (OHS management While the introduction of a safety National Offshore Petroleum Safety systems), AS/NZS 14001-2004 case regime into the mining industry Authority (NOPSA), for example, has (environment management systems) is still some time away, Resources comprehensive guidance material on within that framework. The emphasis Safety recommends that all industry its website for the safety regulation and focus applied to each standard participants start thinking about how of the offshore oil and gas industry in would depend upon the activity, they will address the future – there’s Australia. This applies a well founded process, circumstance and location. a lot of research and reading to be traditional approach that identifies Obviously, there may be other done to find the solution that’s right the key elements of a safety case as: technical standards and codes of for each operation. practice to be given consideration • facility description; A recent paper by Alf Standen from and included in the framework. Corporate Incident Management • safety management system; Each of these well established Associates may be of interest as it • formal safety assessment; and standards has a number of common covers some of the key elements of elements and the Australian an SMS in more detail (see p. 12). • validation. Standard guideline HB139-2003 Another recent publication from provides comprehensive guidance Engineers Australia entitled on integration. This type of approach Safety case guideline: an engineer’s can be equally expanded into other perspective on the safety imperative aspects of an operation such as puts forward informative financial management, business commentary in relation to statutory continuity and disaster recovery as or common law safety cases, the required. impact of an adversarial legal system Using such an approach also and duty of care (see p. 16). provides the flexibility of a mix that The key element that can be allows easy adaptation over a large presented as the argument to range of operations in differing demonstrate appropriate safety locations. arrangements is the safety It is recognised that the current management system (SMS). An SH mines safety legislation is primarily SMS cannot be developed without focussed on occupational safety and in depth consideration of the health, therefore consideration of an activity, process, circumstance and environment management system location and a comprehensive safety in the SMS may be questionable. assessment. It could be argued that However, current environmental a fully integrated SMS that takes into protection legislation also account people, property and the applies to mining operations and environment, both on and off site, is a integration into the overall safety safety case. case may be a practical solution At present, there is no Australian to reduce duplication of effort or SH (or ISO) standard for a generic SMS, documentation.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 11 Safety case approach to safety management

The following paper was presented by Alf Standen at a skills development, and contributed to the development LexisNexis Professional Development conference on of competency standards for high risk industries, Mining and Resource Law WA, held on 24-25 October providing advice to the public and private sectors. 2007 for lawyers working in the mining and resources Alf has experience in building competence sector. It is reproduced here with his permission. demonstration systems relating to incident response Alf is Director and Consulting Partner at Corporate and emergency management within the safety case Incident Management Associates Pty Ltd. He is regime, currently being considered for the mining recognised for his work over 30 years in training and sector in Western Australia.

Implementing the safety case regime – some key issues

Introduction operation are inherently hazardous when we ‘forget’ or when we’re or dangerous and may affect people contemplating actions that might be The safety case regime is not both on and off-site. That the sites outside the norm. We’re also forced uncommon in Australia as are hazardous is not important in to take these seriously when we’re anyone associated with either the itself – it is how we react to and contemplating the fallout from a hydrocarbons industry or within manage the hazards and risks particular incident or event that could a major hazard facility (MHF) will those hazards pose. Hazardous have had catastrophic consequences. know. Safety case regimes have a far industries inevitably find themselves Existing legislation such as the Mines longer history overseas, particularly the subject of or are subject to Safety and Inspection Act 1994 focuses in the United Kingdom where they the obligations of legislation and on creating circumstances under have been employed since the late regulation. This in itself should send which mines can operate safely and 1960s. In many respects safety cases production occurs in an environment as we know them have grown out of a message that says ‘this is different that doesn’t place employees at risk adversity, and probably the most easily and you need to think in different – the people on whom that production recognised of these was the Piper terms about your workplace’. depends. Alpha offshore platform disaster in the Relationships between the safety North Sea in 1988, which cost the lives case regime and legislation What does a safety case regime add of 167 men. by way of protection and is it worth In the hydrocarbons industry an the effort? At least one response is In his excellent paper, Safety cases: example of this obligation can be the considerable benefit deriving success or failure of May 2002, Peter found in the Management of Safety from the way the safety case process Wilkinson concluded by commenting on Offshore Facilities (MoSOF) causes organisations to consider that safety cases ‘… are not a panacea Regulations under the Petroleum the ‘what if?’ factor in more detail. and they will not prevent all major (Submerged Lands) Act 1967. Part 3 According to the 2004 WorkSafe accidents, nor less serious ones but relates specifically to safety cases Victoria publication Preventing major they do seem to help us reduce the and, in this section, the rules are chemical incidents: probability of a major event occurring laid down of what must happen and to mitigate the consequences of within an off-shore situation. Other ‘The Safety Case is developed by the those that do occur.’ legislation, land based, includes operator for their facility’s unique operations and situation. It sets It is against this backdrop that elements of the attributes to be out how the facility will be operated this paper is presented and it is found in safety cases, such as that safely. It can only be prepared after appropriate to comment at this early related to the protection and safety a full examination of the site’s stage that safety cases exist for a of persons at work – reducing, activities and with the involvement single reason – not the preservation eliminating and controlling hazards of employees from the different of plant or equipment; nor the safety through the mechanisms of workgroups and functional areas of facilities, though they are desirable the various occupational health of the site. Operators must then consequences – it is the ability for and safety acts throughout the ensure major incident prevention people to return home in no lesser Commonwealth. and control measures identified in condition than when they went to work. Legislation and regulation of course the safety case are implemented If we look at the sorts of industries imply ‘rules’ and ‘penalties’; it’s and fully functional. An effective that require safety cases, it’s quite what we have to remind us of our safety management system ensures apparent that aspects of their obligations in those moments they remain functional.’

12 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Safety case approach to safety management

In this sense, the safety case gives • design and operating philosophies Safety cases set out to prevent life to the expectations of legislation and operating envelopes; and major incidents through better and empowers organisations to management of safety systems and • safety design features to manage take responsibility for their activities emergency planning and as part of major accident events. and actions. From a regulatory that planning they also provide the perspective, it also means that The operating envelope is the set recipe for what will be done when regulators are able to focus on those of combinations of conditions that things go wrong. This necessitates aspects of an operation that are describe normal operations. In a detailed relationship between on- clearly critical controls. addition, there is often also a safety site and off-site emergency response margin between the design envelope capabilities. Since mine sites are and actual failure of the system. commonly located in isolated Critical aspects of the safety case areas it is easy to forget that it may Structurally, the safety be necessary to establish good Safety case regimes generally tighten management system (SMS) is the working relationships with State or the approaches that organisations all-embracing ‘glue’ that binds the Commonwealth agencies that have employ in addressing the safety safety case together. Through the vital roles to play in the emergency of persons on or near a site. In a SMS, all systems and procedures services and environmental areas. number of respects, the activities are brought together to facilitate a Building relationships between these undertaken as part of mining process identifying: and other agencies in advance can operations can impact on persons • continual and systematic considerably reduce response times in areas surrounding a site, and the identification of hazards to safety and increase effectiveness when interests of those persons are of and health; external interactions are necessary. equal importance. The general rule is that if you create the hazard then you • continual and systematic Recent tragic events in the mining must control the hazard, including assessment of risk of injury or industry as a consequence of the environmental hazards. illness; cyclone activity demonstrate clearly the necessity to have appropriate In essence, the safety case regime • the reduction of risks to emergency management and brings together the essential persons to as low as reasonably evacuation plans in place. It is components of an otherwise practicable; imperative that personnel can fragmented process, and provides • the inspection, maintenance and leave sites safely in an emergency a structure through which all the testing of control measures for situation, assuming that it is people associated with a site can those risks; appropriate to do so and, equally, have an impact on safety. Some of personnel responding to an these aspects are described below. • adequate communications emergency can gain access to with relevant facilities and The facility description can be affected areas. There also needs to installations; and considered to be a description of be back-up measures in case the the design and operating envelope • any other matters that are planned response or escape cannot of the site and all related activities. reasonably necessary. be put into place due to damage, The design envelope for a site, loss of communications or other co- equipment item or activity is the set The SMS must also specify the related event. These circumstances of combinations of conditions that performance standards that apply. clearly show the extent to which sites must embark on emergency describe the boundary between safe Conducting formal safety management plan development and unsafe operation. assessments is an ongoing process and practice their responses on site through which the site can identify The facility description should to develop the required levels of the hazards related to major events contain an accurate description of competence. the: on the site. The objective is to provide a detailed assessment of the Safety cases can require exercises • site, its purpose, layout and risks associated with those hazards be conducted within prescribed operation; and identify the control measures periods and these may include that will be used to reduce the risk • activities (current and planned) escape and fire or other emergency as low as reasonably practicable. that are covered by the safety case; drills. On mine sites this might This process needs experienced include preparation for events such • interaction between the operation people and should involve those as conveyor fires, fires on large and its surroundings, including with a practical understanding of earthmoving equipment, catastrophic the natural environment and other the site and its processes as well facilities, industries or activities as those experienced in the use of Continued on page 14... that are (or may be) present; analytical tools.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 13 Safety case approach to safety management

demonstrate trends or track types us that it is not just what people do ...from page 13 of incidents, injuries, or near- but how well they can do it that is misses for follow-up and evaluation important. As an example, Victorian failures of grinding or crushing and action. Workcover Authority’s guidance note plant, and vehicle accidents and MHD GN-3 relating to MHFs refers Safety cases are living documents incidents during maintenance of to ‘… the mechanism of a safety case reflecting a constant updating equipment. Drills and exercises are prepared and implemented by facility as circumstances (processes, a necessary adjunct to training and, operators outlining the means for equipment, systems) change. The once training has been successfully safe operation of their facility’. This auditing process is necessary to delivered, may be used to maintain implies people are actively involved confirm to the organisation (and the competence edge that allows in actions with which they are regulator) that the safety case is individuals to respond competently familiar and competent to undertake. functional in terms of meeting and safely. agreed elements of the operator’s Safety cases have to be developed, All organisations should have a systems and equipment, and the implemented, maintained and process for investigating incidents control measures relating to known audited by competent people. The relating to the workplace. In the hazards. Input through employees, component parts such as SMS, area of safety cases, however, contractors, safety and health formal safety assessments, and this needs to be a documented representatives, supervisors and hazard identification and mitigation detailed process that is capable management all contribute to the all need to be addressed by people of investigating everything from process of maintaining the validity who are able to, in the paraphrased minor to major incidents. Although of the safety case. words of the Commonwealth different legislation and regulation definition of competence, ‘apply These are some of the issues and knowledge and skill to the standard impose differing obligations on elements that make up the overall of performance required in the operators for incident investigation, safety case process, and they are workplace’. all such legislation and regulation critical to ensuring that safety make it an imperative to investigate cases are able to stand scrutiny and For example, the NOPSA Safety Case and report such instances to achieve the purpose for which they Guidelines of September 2004 state: regulatory authorities, usually were established. within a prescribed time frame. For ‘Principle SMS – 06: Appropriate example, the National Occupational Implications for personnel both and competent people must have Health and Safety Commission’s contributing to and working under participated in development and publication on Control of major a safety case implementation of the Safety Management Systems and in hazard facilities – National Standard An earlier section of this paper development and implementation [NOHSC:1014(2002)], National Code referred to the essential link of changes to the system.’ Note of Practice [NOHSC:2016(1996)] between safety cases and people. also that in the hydrocarbons encourages operators to complete If the mining industry adopts industry the permit to work all investigations within a period similar practices to other industries system is directly connected to the of 6 months (see Investigation and involved with safety cases, it is safety case through the SMS and, reporting of major accidents on probable that the people part of in the words of the regulations, page 77 of the code). the equation will be given a similar must ‘… identify the persons focus and priority. The key to other Accurate and comprehensive having responsibility under it, and safety case regimes is the way in reporting and record keeping are ensure that the involved persons which individuals are involved in the required for an effective safety are competent’; and management system. In some process and, indeed, a key feature of cases, there are requirements all safety case regimes is the need ‘Principle FSA – 03: Appropriate for records to be kept for various for effective consultation. Safety and competent people must have periods of time; for example, five cases are developed by people participated in development of the – others work under the auspices Formal Safety Assessment.’ years for safety cases falling under of safety cases and facilities are the jurisdiction of the National Also, in the words of the Victorian managed under their auspices. So Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority Major Hazard Facilities Regulations from beginning to end, the process [NOPSA; Petroleum (Submerged Guidance Note (Safety case outline, depends on people doing the things Lands) (Management of Safety on MHD GN-4, page 5, January they do in ways that can stand Offshore Facilities) Regulations 2006), ‘Once the work-scope has scrutiny by a regulator. 1996, regulation 27]. More been determined, the required important, however, are the regular This has ramifications for mining resources can be defined. The and routine analysis of those reports companies since the experience of resources required would mostly be and the gathering of data that can the hydrocarbons industry shows personnel, and the number, skills

14 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Safety case approach to safety management

and competencies of these personnel industry experience with safety What Peter’s paper pointed out was should be defined at an early stage, cases grows. The standards are that these benefits are achieved and linked to each task in which they written by industry personnel with through the process of organisations would be involved.’ the intention of providing some preparing the safety case and the nationally consistent benchmarks improvements in the hardware and The implication of these principles for personnel across industry. managerial arrangements identified is that individuals can be held They describe the attributes of as necessary. Also, that preparing accountable for their actions and, in knowledge and skill that should and reviewing safety cases provides the preparation of personnel within be demonstrated against specific both the driving force and framework organisations, a failure to recognise by which areas of improvement the competence implications can performance criteria and in the context of different organisations. can be identified and assessed, leave organisations and individuals and programs of action prepared. exposed to later criticism and The standards are not universal Finally, the paper pointed out that potential prosecution by regulators nor do they represent all aspects safety cases make it possible for the and litigation in the courts. of involvement in the safety case regulator’s interventions to be more To this end, it is important for the process – but they are industry efficient and effective. based and represent a clear industry to be willing to invest in To realise any of these benefits, intention by the industries that the resources necessary to enable however, rests on the necessity for a developed them to contribute to the its own people to play the primary detailed consultation with employees ability of personnel working within role in developing the safety case. A and with all stakeholders to the the safety case regime to do so variety of people need to be involved process. Without that input, it is competently. Competency standards – the input of people such as inevitable that key aspects will be are not generally compulsory for operators with hands-on operational overlooked thus potentially sowing use by organisations, though they or engineering knowledge of the the seeds of disaster. area under consideration and can be imposed through legislation health and safety representatives or regulation – they are, however, Finishing with a quote from PACIA’s throughout the process is vital. compulsory for registered training advice: According to the Plastics and organisations (RTOs) that seek • ‘Planning is essential – you Chemical Industry Association to acquire public funding for the must prepare a detailed project (PACIA), these people are invaluable delivery of associated courses. plan – the preparation of a safety to involve in workshops on hazard In conclusion case is a complex project to be identification, safety assessment and undertaken. Define the scope on the adequacy of control measures Whichever way the mining industry early – core scope, linked facilities (M Donnan, September 2003, PACIA chooses to go with the safety case and isolated facilities etc. The guidance note on industry lessons process, it should be borne in mind scope is important to help focus from developing and implementing the that people – and competent people your efforts and anticipate the safety case in Victoria). at that – are the key. It should also desired endpoints. be remembered that the time and PACIA also recommended that effort invested in the safety case • It is important to know what consultants be used with care. you are trying to achieve – what regime offer many benefits to Initially, of course, consultants and the end will look like, before organisations. Again in the words of industry were both learning about you can plan how to achieve Peter Wilkinson, ‘…the benefits of the process and how it would work it. Many companies had a very Safety Cases come in a number of in Australia. However, there is now a good plan of the steps, but didn’t areas. wider knowledge base and a greater clearly know the outcome they depth of experience available and, These include: were seeking to achieve. Avoid as PACIA pointed out, consultants getting bogged down in the detail should be used to inform the • an improved understanding of the – think about the bigger picture. process not own it – that’s the hazards and risks; Remember, you are building a organisation’s job. • an enhanced knowledge of the case for safety that explains why you are doing things’. Nationally, there are competency technical and managerial controls standards that relate to various required to manage them; and From an industry and organisational aspects of the safety case process • better oversight by the regulator. perspective, the safety case poses and these can be found in the challenges but offers considerable national training packages for the Taken together, these should lead benefits in terms of the improved mining; and chemical, hydrocarbons to the principal goal of a reduction safety of operations and subsequent and oil refining industries. More in the number and consequences of effects on people. And that’s what will certainly be developed as major accidents’. this is all about.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 15 Safety case approach to safety management Orebody modelling and strategic mine planning

Safety case guideline: an engineer’s Orebody modelling and strategic mine planning are arguably the backbone perspective on the safety imperative of the mining industry and represent an intricate, complex and critically The second edition of Safety case requirements, but also common important part of mining ventures. guideline: an engineer’s perspective law requirements, which focus on They have a profound effect on the on the safety imperative was ensuring all reasonably practicable value of a mine, as well as determining released recently by the Victorian precautions are in place. the technical plan to be followed from Chapter of the Risk Engineering mine development to mine closure. Society (RES), a technical society of ‘Acceptable’ to ‘not intolerable’ risk The Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers Australia. In order to meet the common law and Metallurgy recently released the duty of care, it appears that risk Safety management is moving second edition of Orebody modelling and from the isolated application of management is moving away from strategic mine planning, volume 14 in its strictly technical tools to a more the concept of ‘acceptable’ risk Spectrum Series on specialised topics. robust safety case approach that to ‘not intolerable’ risk. This is applies multiple assessment supported by the cessation of use Topics covered in this publication include: methodologies to demonstrate that of the term ‘acceptable risk’ in the both technical and organisational 2004 revision of Australian Standard • Why strategic risk management? risks are managed effectively. AS/NZS 4360. For risks not identifi ed • New practical conditional simulation methods and With the growing emphasis of as ‘intolerable’, the common law applications performance-based legislation, the principle applies, that is, the balance safety case is not only a mechanism of the signifi cance of the risk versus • Advances in conventional mining for achieving safety goals but has the effort required to reduce it. This optimisation and applications also become an important liability implies that there is no lower limit to • Integrated large-scale applications management tool. risk levels. • Geological uncertainty and mineral resources/ore reserves To act effectively as both a technical ‘Good practice’ versus ‘best practice’ and liability management tool, • Geotechnical risk and mine design All references to ‘best practice’ safety cases need to have an initial in the guideline now read ‘good • Case studies and blending argument for the approaches optimisation selected to demonstrate effective practice’. This distinction notes that while ‘best practice’ is something • New concepts, technologies and safety management. Three types directions. of risk are defi ned, and seven an organisation aspires to, ‘good paradigms for assessing downside practice’ is something it must legally The paper entitled Mine design in risk and three enquiry methods of achieve. Western Australia — a regulator’s ‘risk sign off’ are described in the perspective was written by Ian Misich, guideline. Focus on controls rather than risk Senior Geotechnical Engineer with assessment Resources Safety, and Patrick Burke, The second edition was prepared This change is supported by formerly of Resources Safety, and in response to signifi cant changes amendments to the Victorian has been updated by Ian to refl ect made to Australian Standard Occupational Health and Safety current departmental nomenclature AS/NZS 4360:2004 on risk Regulations (effective 1 July 2007), and website links. management and the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety which state that if, for a particular This second edition also contains Regulations 2007. As a result, four risk, accepted risk controls exist, three additional papers highlighting major changes have been made. then conducting a risk assessment new developments, including would only delay the implementation integrated mine evaluation and mine Statutory and common law safety of such controls. management under uncertainty; cases optimising ore extraction and in-pit The current version of the guideline The Victorian Chapter of RES dumping; and stochastic simulation focuses on statutory safety cases, prepared this guideline in accordance of orebody geology or wireframes with that is, ensuring all statutory and with Victorian legislation. However, multi-point spatial

professionals in other states should statistics. 2007 Planning Mine Strategic and Modelling Orebody Orebody Modelling and regulatory safety requirements are Strategic Mine Planning Uncertainty and Risk Management Models met. With safety cases increasingly fi nd this a useful guide to preparing a Visit www.shop. Number 14 SECOND EDITION being seen as liability management safety case. ausimm.com.au, Editor: R Dimitrakopoulos tools as well as safety management email publications@ The guideline is available for tools, a common law ‘duty of care’ ausimm.com.au or approach is now being taken. This purchase via the Engineers Australia telephone 03 9662 approach takes into account not website at www.engaust.com.au/ 3166 to order this only statutory and regulatory safety bookshop/epub.html#safetycase publication. Sponsors

16 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Review of Mines Safety and Inspection Act Comments sought Commission Stephen Kenner of the bring forward the 2009 review so that on working hours Western Australian Industrial Relations a number of other important studies Commission was appointed in October and reviews can also be taken into code of practice this year to conduct a review of the consideration,’ Mrs Roberts said. Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. The then-recently released Code of ‘For instance, we have recently held practice: working hours was considered Employment Protection Minister public consultations into the National in the afternoon session at the 2006 Michelle Roberts said Commissioner Mines Safety Framework, which I Mines Safety Roadshow. At the time, Kenner would bring considerable launched in Perth and Kalgoorlie, and it participants were advised that feedback experience to the statutory review is prudent to consider the national goals would be sought the following year. process, which will look into the and strategies and its draft legislation operation and effectiveness of the Act. when we are reviewing our own Act.’ The code was published by the Commission for Occupational Safety Commissioner Kenner has had a great ‘Commissioner Kenner will also be and Health (COSH) and endorsed by the deal of experience in the Western looking at areas that could be improved, Mining Industry Advisory Committee for Australian mining industry with his including alignment with the OSH Act,’ use in the mining industry. Copies were extensive consideration of mining and Mrs Roberts said. sent to mine and exploration managers related legislation including the Mining ‘We want to look at what amendments on the Resources Safety database, and Act 1978, Mines Safety and Inspection Act to the Act would be required to introduce made available on the Resources Safety 1994, Occupational Safety and Health Act the concept of a “safety case” regime, website. 1994 (OSH Act) and related regulations. similar to that already in place for the The code outlines employers’ duty of He is also chairman of the Western oil and gas sector, where the legislation care in relation to occupational safety Australian Coal Industry Tribunal, defi nes broad safety objectives and the and health risks that may arise from dealing with all industrial matters in operator develops the most appropriate working hours arrangements, and the coal mining industry in Western methods of managing risk.’ provides guidance on conducting a Australia. The deadline for submissions has been risk management process. It has now been available for more than a year ‘Under the Act, certain reviews are to extended to 5.00 pm WST, Thursday, so it is timely to review its usage and be carried out and I have decided to 31 January 2008. effectiveness, and COSH is seeking your comments. A survey form is available at www. Statutory review of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 worksafe.wa.gov.au and should be returned by Friday 1 February 2008. Call for submissions - The comments provided will be used to time extended evaluate the code and consider whether improvements should be made. A review of the operation and effectiveness of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (the Act) is being conducted by Responses will remain anonymous and Commissioner S J Kenner of the Western Australian Industrial Relations confi dential, and will only be used to Commission. evaluate the code. The review is also required to take into account the: • areas of the legislation that could be improved, such as the application to The code can be downloaded from rail safety, mine sites during construction and interaction with other occupational safety and health legislation; the WorkSafe website or www.docep. • goals and strategies of the National Mine Safety Framework; wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety in the • recent Hicks Feasibility Study of Resources Safety in Western Australia that mining section under ‘Guidance recommended the introduction of a safety case regime into the mining material and publications’, or industry; • recommendations outstanding from the Laing Report in relation to the purchased from WorkSafe by ringing review of Parts 3 and 4 of the Act; and the 1300 307 877. • recent review of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 by Mr Richard Hooker. Written submissions addressing the terms of reference for the review are invited from interested individuals and organisations. Further information, including the terms of reference, and how to make a submission, can be obtained at www.docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety or by contacting Ms Julie Steven on 08 9358 8079. Specific legal queries may be directed to: Ms Melina Newnan, Review Executive Officer, on 08 9358 8155. Written submissions can be lodged by: • email to [email protected] or • sending to GPO Box 2275, PERTH WA 6000. All submissions will be treated as public documents unless confidentiality is specifically requested. Submissions close 5pm Western Standard Time, Thursday 31 January 2008

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 17 Mine Safety Roadshow

Report Safety culture Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 318 pp. Safety culture was a prominent theme • Reason, J, 1997, Managing the In October 2007, Resources Safety took at the 2007 Mines Safety Roadshow, and risks of organisational accidents. the third annual Mines Safety Roadshow many participants were keen to obtain Ashgate, Aldershot, UK, 266 pp. to Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland, more information on this and related Tom Price and Perth. topics, as covered by the speakers. Human factors The roadshow presented information on The following list of resources found by • Diederik, PJ, Thierry, H, and Wolff, occupational safety and health issues ‘googling’ the internet is by no means CJ, 1998, A handbook of work and that affect the minerals industry, and the exhaustive, but does provide a good organizational psychology (2nd program was based on issues raised by starting point. edition). Volume 2: work psychology. the mines inspectorate that industry Safety culture Psychology Press, Hove, UK, 320 pp. needed to be aware of, and topics suggested at last year’s roadshow. • Fleming, M, and Lardner, R, 1999, • Shappell, SA, Detwiler, CA, Safety culture: the way forward. The Holcomb, KA, Hackworth, CA, There were over 425 participants Chemical Engineer, 11 March 1999, Boquet, AJ, and Wiegmann, DA, representing a range of industry p. 16-18. 2006, Human error and commercial perspectives, including safety and health www.keilcentre.co.uk/downloads/ aviation accidents: a comprehensive representatives, occupational health and Culture.pdf fine-grained analysis using HFACS. safety (OHS) professionals, supervisors DOT/FAA/AM-06/18, Office of • Hopkins A, 2002, Safety culture, and managers. About a third were safety Aerospace Medicine, Washington. mindfulness and safe behaviour: and health representatives. converging ideas? National Research www.faa.gov/library/reports/ Resources Safety staff, including Centre for OHS Regulation, Working medical/oamtechreports/2000s/ Martin Knee (State Mining Engineer) and Paper 7, The Australian National media/200618.pdf inspectors, were joined by Damir Vagaja University, Canberra. • Wiegmann, D, and Shappell, S., 2001, (ARRB Group) for the regional events. www.ohs.anu.edu.au/publications/ Human error analysis of commercial Damir presented information on road pdf/wp%207%20-%20Hopkins.pdf aviation accidents: application of safety on mine sites. • Johnsen, SO, Vatn, J, Rosness, R, the Human Factors Analysis and In Perth, Bert Boquet (Embry-Riddle and Herrera, IA, 2006, Cross border Classification System (HFACS). Aeronautical University, Florida) and Greg railway operations: improving safety Aviation, Space, and Environmental Rowan (CSIRO, Queensland) combined with at cultural interfaces. Cognition, Medicine, vol. 72, Martin Knee to present an expanded safety Technology & Work, Vol. 8 No. 1, p. 1006-1016. p. 76-88. Springer, London. culture session in lieu of the road safety Organisational culture session. Together with Allan Jackson www.springerlink.com/content/ (RTIO, Chair of The AusIMM OHS Taskforce) p31162u2524t17n7/ • The following paper also covers risk management. and Gary Wood (CFMEU), they convened • The following paper has an extensive a panel discussion on safety culture that reference list, including those Else, D, and Terrey, G, 2004, ranged widely and was well received. authored by KH Rogers on high Sustainable by design: an opportunity reliability organisations. In early November, the PowerPoint for Australia to navigate a path to presentations were made available on Pizzi, LT, Goldfarb, NI, and Nash, globally ‘fit for purpose equipment’. Resources Safety’s website as toolbox DB, 2001, Chapter 40: promoting a In SD04 Sustainable Development presentations, adding to those from culture of safety. In Evidence Report/ Conference, Minerals Council of previous years. Technology Assessment No. 43, Making Australia, Kingston, ACT. Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis www.minerals.org.au/__data/ Participants who responded on the survey of Patient Safety Practices, AHRQ assets/pdf_file/0013/6016/5B- forms suggested numerous topics for Publication No. 01-E058, Agency for 2ElseDennis.pdf future mines safety roadshows, MineSafe Healthcare Research and Quality, articles and other Resources Safety Rockville, USA. • Weick, KE, 2001, Making sense of publications and resources. www.ahrq.gov/Clinic/ptsafety/chap40.htm the organisation. Blackwell Business, Oxford, 483 pp. Based on feedback from this year’s • Roughton, JE, and Mercurio, JJ, 2002, roadshow, four venues are planned for the Developing an effective safety culture: The toolbox presentations based on 2008 Mines Safety Roadshow, covering a leadership approach. Butterworth- the safety culture presentations at Kalgoorlie, Bunbury, Karratha and Perth. Heinemann, Boston, 384 pp. the roadshow are available from www.docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety It is proposed that the regional events run ‘Swiss cheese’ model over two weeks in mid-late October 2008. in the mining section under ‘Guidance The Perth event is booked for Friday 24 • Reason, J, 1990, Human error. material and publications’. October, in Safe Work Australia Week.

18 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Mine Safety Roadshow

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MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 19 Road safety on mine sites Part 4

As part of our series on road safety within the mining formerly ARRB Transport Research), a public industry, traffic engineering expert Damir Vagaja looks company whose members are federal, state and at two topics in this issue of MineSafe – heavy vehicle local government authorities in Australia and New performance and signage on mine sites, with the Zealand. He is a member of Engineers Australia latter being a popular topic at the recent Mines Safety and the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Roadshow regional events. Management, and worked in the Western Australian Damir holds a BSc (Civil) degree, and is Mining and mining industry before moving into traffic engineering Resources Manager at ARRB Group (www.arrb.com.au; and safety.

Assessing heavy vehicle performance

Considering the unique remoteness new vehicle determined before a In fact, the speed required to cause of the Australian landscape, it is single nut and bolt are assembled. a vehicle to roll over is intimately not surprising that the Australian related to its rollover stability The simulations can also be used to transport industry demands many and to the road geometry, so any investigate the affects of variations innovative and unique solutions to conclusions of this type must also in loading conditions, engine and cope with this. consider vehicle stability and the driveline configuration, braking on road. Making assumptions as to the A key tool in the development of mine cycle time and fuel consumption on cause of an accident can hide the operations is vehicle performance various grades and bends. This can assessment. This may include be used to investigate the impact of true contributors, thereby allowing onsite vehicle testing and computer different traffic management models similar accidents to reoccur. simulation. (including give-way rules) on the While speed is an important factor Testing the dynamic performance productivity of a given operation. in many crashes, monitoring speed of typically large, innovative heavy Crashes, whether vehicle rollover, alone does not provide enough vehicles in the mining industry is an or collisions between vehicles or a information to assess the safety important step in improving the safety vehicle and pedestrian, can all result of a vehicle in operation. Vehicle and efficiency of mining operations. A from a poor performing vehicle. The rollover will result from excessive dynamic test can reveal safety issues costs associated with a crash are lateral acceleration, caused by a related to the applicability of a vehicle high and varied, with vehicle damage combination of speed and the profile type to a task. and repairs, payload loss, possible of the corner. The identification and understanding driver injuries, rehabilitation and Monitoring the lateral acceleration of these issues can assist mining downtime. on a vehicle’s route shows how close managers in deciding on the safest The ramifications of a crash may cost to its limits a vehicle is being taken, type of vehicle operation suitable for operators hundreds of thousands of indicating what is a safe speed for the meeting their freight requirements. dollars and, if the vehicle is at fault assessed vehicle to operate on that Computer simulations can be used and due diligence can’t be proven, road. leaves the operator open to a lawsuit. to test a vehicle in a similar manner. A methodical and scientifically based Virtual copies of existing combinations Vehicle rollover is a dire consequence approach to heavy vehicle design and can be created and tested, where of a poor performing vehicle. When a assessment can offer considerable they can be pushed to and beyond rollover occurs, it is often attributed safety benefits in a range of their limits without a safety risk to to driver error, typically excessive operational conditions. Typically, equipment or personnel. speed. While this may be true in such an approach also identifies Also, innovative combinations can many cases, it is a mistake to only various opportunities to also improve be designed, optimised and created consider speed or driver error as the the productivity and efficiency of an virtually, with the performance of a sole contributor to a crash. operation.

Safety and health conference The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA is presenting the Driving a Safer Future - 2008 Safety and Health Conference on 10-11 March 2008. The conference is aimed at developing effective risk communication and risk awareness programs. Further information is available online at www.cmewa.com.au

20 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Road safety on mine sites Part 4

Effective road signage

Signage is an important part of the visible at night and during other low- on the through road. The warrants road network as it advises drivers of light situations. for the installation of stop signs are all kinds of regulations or potential outlined in AS 1742. Roadside signs should be installed at hazards. Intersection and speed signs a minimum height of 1.5 metres for are most commonly used. Reflective bidirectional hazard markers light vehicle roads where there are no should be installed in accordance with However, signage at mine sites is pedestrians and no parked vehicles AS 1742 behind the terminating leg of T- commonly not addressed centrally and expected. If there are pedestrians junctions in order to minimise the risk of consistently. The use of roads within or parked cars in the vicinity of vehicles overrunning the intersection. the mine site can change and the signs, then the signs should be two signing is often not updated to reflect metres high. However, some signs Speed limits the current road conditions. There is on medians may need to be installed rarely a signing maintenance program at heights less than 1.5 metres. Signage for speed limits should or central point for ordering signs to For haulage roads, the minimum installed on mine access roads in ensure that they conform to the basic installation height of signs should be the same manner that they would be standards of: 1.8 metres. installed on public roads. Drivers within the mine site should expect to see the The required size for a sign depends • size; same standard of signage on the mine on the legibility distance of the • reflectivity; roads as on the public road network legend and the time taken by a and should drive accordingly. • fit for purpose; driver to read the information on • easy to read and understand; and the sign. Australian Standards Consistency of signage is important use a letter coding for sign sizes, to convey the correct message to the • where possible, conforming with where A is the smallest. Size B driver. Recommendations for speed the Australian Standards. will be suitable for most mine site signage include: applications. However, the large Standard signage size C (used on freeways in public • using multiplies of 10 km/h; road situations) may be desirable in Where possible, all traffic signs on • installation on the left side of the some circumstances to improve the mine sites should be installed in road – and ideally on both sides of conspicuousness of the sign, such as accordance with Australian Standard the road; and at intersections used by haul trucks. AS 1742.2:1994 Traffic control devices • on long stretches of road, repeater for general use. Stop, give way, no entry and advanced signs installed at spacings of 500 pedestrians and zebra crossing Road users usually best respond to metres. warning signs are usually provided traffic controls that they encounter on the left side of the roadway. Where In terms of speed management overall, in normal circumstances. It is additional emphasis is required or factors to be considered include: important, therefore, that the use of where there is risk for signs to be non-standard signs is restricted to obstructed (e.g. vegetation, sun light, • appropriate speed limits taking those applications where the required passing vehicles), it is recommended into account message cannot be adequately that the signs are duplicated on the – consistency conveyed with a standard sign. right side of the road. – practicality All signage identified that is non- – relevancy standard or in poor condition should Intersections be replaced with standard equivalents • limit the number of speed limits to Intersections are an important area where available. A list of standard three or four (e.g. 10, 20, 40, 60 km/h) where signs are required to regulate signage is provided in Australian the safe movement of traffic and • prepare speed zone maps Standard AS 1742.1:2003 General provide the priority to drivers. introduction and index of signs. • monitoring and enforcement All intersections should be posted All damaged and faded signs should • consideration for changing with give-way signage as described be replaced with new retroreflective environment in Australian Standard AS 1742 (Set) signage with reflectivity to Australian – unsealed roads (e.g. dust, rain, Manual of uniform traffic control Standard AS/NZS 1906.1:2007 wind) devices. Retroreflective materials and devices – always drive to conditions. for road traffic control purposes – Stop signs should only be used when retroreflective sheeting as a minimum there is inadequate sight distance for Continued on page 22... so their colours and shapes are highly drivers to see approaching vehicles

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 21 Road safety on mine sites Part 4

...from page 21 KEEP LEFT NO Non-standard signs used on mine sites Custom (non-standard) signs should ENTRY only be used when the desired message cannot be conveyed by a standard sign. Keep left No entry When designing custom signs, it should be noted that a message is best conveyed R2-3(L) R2-4 through a graphical representation. Should a descriptive sign be required, the Australian Standards should be followed. As a general guide, have a maximum of five words per line up to a maximum of five lines of text and use a text size that is GIVE legible at the required speed limit. STOP WAY The minimum reflectivity of custom signs should conform to AS/NZS 1906. High reflectivity materials should be used for signs that are more important and located in areas where dust is a problem. Stop Give way R1-1(L) R1-2 Sign clutter Extraneous signage or sign clutter reduce the effectiveness of the message conveyed by each individual sign. If signs are perceived as no longer relevant, the risk of an overall reduction in compliance with traffic signs site-wide is increased, even with the important warning signs. Only relevant signage should be displayed that clearly conveys the desired message, with the aim of increasing compliance Pedestrian crossing ahead Pedestrians with the road rules. W6-2 W6-1 Maintenance and inspections In order to maintain the road network in a safe condition, signs should be regularly maintained and inspected as part of an overall road and footpath asset management system. The system should record the condition of signs, noting any works that are required, including: • replacement of sub-standard signage and delineation; • requirement for washing of signs and delineation; and • trimming of vegetation adjacent to roads and footpaths that may be obscuring signs. The system should record the requirement and subsequent removal of temporary signage provided in emergencies, and include a reporting system for recording and actioning NM details of damage that occur between inspections. Public example of sign clutter

22 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Occupational health news

Help sought on hazardous manual tasks

The Health Management Branch manual tasks resulted in 437,852 As part of the identification process, at Resources Safety wants to hear compensation claims in Australia. an analysis of the accident and about hazardous manual tasks you This figure represents 41.6 % of all injury data is currently underway. have identified in your workplace and compensation claims for that period. Consultation with mining industry any innovative solutions you have The direct cost, not counting indirect stakeholders will add to the findings implemented that have made manual impacts (including long-term impacts of the statistical review. Hence, we tasks less hazardous. on the quality of life of the injured want to hear from you. worker) was $11.965 billion. Overexertion or strenuous movements Have you identified hazardous have consistently been the most In collaboration, Resources Safety and manual handling tasks in your common type of accident in the Western the New South Wales and Queensland workplace or been involved in the Australian mining industry, representing occupational health and safety design, construction, commissioning almost one third of all accidents. These regulatory agencies are currently or maintenance of any equipment, types of accidents predominately occur undertaking separate projects plant, work surfaces, work practices from employees undertaking hazardous aimed at reducing musculoskeletal or systems that have made manual manual tasks. Most of the injuries disorders from performing manual tasks less hazardous? Please contact resulting from these accidents are tasks within the mining industry. The Lindy Nield by email (lnield@docep. musculoskeletal disorders of the trunk first stage of this project is to identify wa.gov.au) or phone (9358 8088). or back, arms and legs. hazardous manual tasks that result in injury to mining industry employees. Please share your knowledge and The Australian Safety and Once hazardous manual tasks are innovation with us. Your contribution Compensation Council (ASCC) reported identified, the aim is to identify and will help to reduce the incidence and that, between July 1997 and June publicise solutions to reduce the risk severity of disabling and lost time 2003, workplace injuries related to of musculoskeletal disorders. injuries.

What are hazardous manual tasks? • repetitive or sustained movements; • nerve injuries; Manual task is a label given to any • application of high force; • muscular and vascular disorders activities that require a person to use • exposure to sustained vibration; as a result of hand-arm vibration; and their physical body (musculoskeletal • involve handling of a person or system) to perform work. This animal; or • soft tissue hernias. includes work that involves the use • involve handling of unstable or Hazardous manual tasks are a main of force for lifting, lowering, pushing, unbalanced loads that are difficult cause of work-related musculoskeletal pulling, carrying, moving, holding or to grasp or hold. disorders or, to look at it another way, restraining anything. It also includes musculoskeletal disorders are a major work that involves repetitive actions, What are musculoskeletal disorders? type of injury resulting from hazardous sustained postures and involves manual tasks. concurrent exposure to vibration. Hazardous manual tasks can This replaces the previously used lead to a variety of injuries and More information? term manual handling. conditions collectively referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) In August 2007, the Australian Safety and Almost every activity involves some including: Compensation Council (ASCC) declared form of a ‘manual task’. To distinguish the National Standard for Manual Tasks between those that are potentially a • sprains and strains of muscles, ligaments and tendons; (2007) and the National Code of Practice problem and those that are not, the for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal term hazardous manual task is used. • back injuries, including damage to Disorders from Performing Manual Tasks Hazardous manual tasks refer to any the muscles, tendons, ligaments, at Work (2007). manual task that involves certain spinal discs, nerves, joints and characteristics that increases the risk bones; The code of practice provides practical of injury. These characteristics include: • joint injuries or degeneration, guidance on how to manage risk arising • repetitive or sustained including injuries to the shoulder, from performing manual tasks at work. application of force; elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, The standard and code of practice can • repetitive or sustained awkward hands and feet; be downloaded from the ASCC website postures; • bone injuries; at www.ascc.gov.au

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 23 Occupational health news

Keep your cool • preventing heat-related illness; • heat cramps treatment; • know what heat-related terms • self–care at home; Resources Safety is regularly contacted, mean; particularly over the summer months, • next steps; • stages of heat-related Illness; and regarding posters and other resource • prevention; and material on sun safety, heat-related • general care for heat emergencies. illnesses and urine charts for monitoring • outlook. hydration levels. Heat cramps Heat stress Although we do not have such material eMedicine Health – Heat cramps ourselves, the internet has a wealth Construction Safety Association of Ontario of publicly available material that may www.emedicinehealth.com/heat_cramps/ www.csao.org/t.tools/t6.news/heat_stress.cfm be helpful for companies to either use article_em.htm directly or modify for their own purposes. Members of the Occupational Health and Some of these are listed below. To quote this webpage, heat cramps Safety Council of Ontario have developed a are painful, brief muscle cramps that Heat stress awareness guide, Heat stress Note that some of the sites are North occur during exercise or work in a hot awareness tool and Heat stress poster to American and therefore care should environment. Muscles may spasm or provide information and advice on managing be taken with some units, such as jerk involuntarily. Cramping may also and controlling heat stress in the workplace. temperature, and emergency phone be delayed and occur a few hours later. numbers. Also be aware that some The Heat stress awareness guide helps material is copyright and there may be Heat cramps usually involve the employers and workers learn how to prevent restrictions on how it may be used or muscles fatigued by heavy work such heat stress. The guide: distributed. as calves, thighs, abdomen, and shoulders. • summarises the causes, symptoms, and treatment of heat-related illness; Heat-related illnesses You are most at risk doing work or • demonstrates how to use the Humidex The American National Red Cross activities in a hot environment—usually during the fi rst few days of an activity to assess heat stress hazards; and www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/heat. you’re not used to. You are also at risk if • outlines specifi c actions for managing html you sweat a great deal during exercise and controlling heat stress. and don’t drink enough or drink large Normally, the body keeps itself cool by amounts of fl uids that lack salt. It includes a self-audit checklist, a sample letting heat escape through the skin heat stress policy and an outline of the or by evaporating sweat (perspiration). This webpage covers: essential elements of a heat stress program. When these mechanisms are faulty or insuffi cient, the person may suffer a • heat cramps causes; The Heat stress awareness tool can be used heat-related illness, which can become • heat cramps symptoms; to assess the risk of heat stress at your serious or even deadly if unattended. workplace. Measure the temperature and This webpage has information on: • when to seek medical care; humidity, then refer to the Heat stress action

Health management online updates

MineHealth CONTAM Telephone: 9358 8108 Facsimile: 9358 8094 The health assessment form, which The CONTAM system procedures were Email: [email protected] was previously provided to health clinics also recently updated and are available in pads, is now available online from online. The publication is the mining the Resources Safety website at www. section under ‘Contaminant monitoring docep.wa.gov.au/Resources Safety (CONTAM)’. in the mining section under ‘Health surveillance system (MineHealth)’. Queries Guide to health surveillance system The Guide to health surveillance system Feedback on the information contained for mining employees for mining employees was recently in the updated documents is welcome, updated and the latest version can be and should be directed to the CONTAM downloaded from the same section. Manager, Resources Safety:

24 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 November 2007 Occupational health news

SS AWAREN RE ES ST S T TO A O E re L H tu chart to determine the appropriate including: ra pe + m 80 Cut out How to find the Te ) Once cutting and folding is complete, e (% wedge. temperature c y 79 la it 0- & humidity: insert wheel so that the coloured side p d 7 k i r 9 o m 6 • Check a workplace shows through the cut-out wedge. u 0- W 6 thermometer & course of action to protect yourself. H 9 -5 hygrometer 0 5 • If working outside, listen to 9 Insert fastener at small black dot Am I Hydrated? -4 broadcast reports or visit 0 www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca below the wedge to hold together, • controlling exposure; 4 Urine Color Chart and rotate wheel. Heat stress action chart Conditions/actions listed below apply to unacclimatized workers. There is also a useful frequently asked Never ignore symptoms. Refer to Heat Stress Awareness Guide for extra clothing and/or radiant heat conditions.

This urine color chart HUMIDEX is a ACTION RECOMMENDED • protective clothing; LOW • Post heat stress alerts Cut along vertical edges. The simple tool your can use30-37 to• Drink water questions (FAQs) section. assess if you are drinkingMEDIUM • Reduce physical activity 38-39 (e.g., slower pace, more breaks) enough fluids throughout • Drinkday a cup to of water every 20-30 minutes MODERATE • Further reduce physical activity stay hydrated. 40-41 • Drink a cup of water every 15-20 minutes HIGH • Severely curtail physical activity • sunscreen; 42-44 • Ensure sufficient rest/recovery time • Drink a cup of water every 10-15 minutes If your urine matches EXTREME the • Hazardous colors to continue physical activity 1, 2, or 345+ you are numbered 5251A CSAO (04/07) © 2007, WSIB Ontario. Printed in Canada.

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3 C you may need to check your hydration 1 This webpage lists the symptoms and The Australian Army Cadets, status using another tool like o Handout #15: Hydration Check: Body actions to take for heat exhaustion and Australian Defence Force Weight Log. heat stroke, and has a downloadable Cadets poster with the same information. www.aac.adfc.gov.au/uploads/ Heat index response plan Administrator/ArmySafe%20Po stersv3.0.pdf Urine colour chart North Carolina Department of Labor Rice University - Am I hydrated? (NCDOL) The Australian Army Cadets has made available an online poster as part of www.owlnet.rice.edu/~heal103/ www.nclabor.com/pubs.htm#Posters its heat injury management policy. docs/Am%20I%20Hydrated%20- This website has a number of heat- The poster has tips on preventing heat %20Urine%20Color%20Chart.pdf related publications, including illness and how to spot symptoms, and posters. The Heat kills poster has includes a urine chart and chart for hot Rice University’s Department recommendations for employers to weather casualties and injuries that of Kinesiology has the syllabus control and prevent heat illness. covers heat exhaustion and heat stroke. material for a 2006 course called Heal 103 on its website. One It includes a notation to remember the of the topics is hydration, and Sun safety measures acronym H-E-A-T when training in hot the supplemental reading and weather: Queensland Government, Department information provided includes a of Employment and Industrial Relations • H – heat category; page entitled Am I hydrated? Urine – Workplace health and safety colour chart. • E – exertion level; www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/subjects/ Similar charts are provided in sunsafety/measures/index.htm • A – acclimatisation; and toilet facilities on many Western This webpage has useful information on • T – time of heat exposure and Australian mine sites to be used as sun safety measures that can be taken, recovery time. a ‘hydration ready reckoner’.

Back issues of MineSafe

Resources Safety has back issues of MineSafe magazine covering the past two years or so and is happy to send them to anyone who can use them.

If you would like to avail yourself of this offer, just send an email to ResourcesSafety@docep. wa.gov.au indicating which issue or issues you would like and how many copies. Remember to include your postal details.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 25 Occupational health news

Sun safety measures

The following information was originally • Provide laminated windscreens • Ensure that personal protection published by the State of Queensland, and tinted side windows to trucks equipment does not create a hazard Department of Employment and Industrial or vehicles. in itself. For instance, disposable Relations in 2005. It is reproduced with overalls with plastic lining do not permission. • Where possible, mechanise allow sweat to evaporate, thereby physically demanding tasks. increasing heat stress in a hot Controlling exposure • Take rest or meal breaks in shady areas. climate.

At any time when your shadow is smaller • Drink plenty of cool water. Sunscreen than you, there is a risk of UV radiation exposure. Every workplace should carry • Gradually adjust your workload • About 15 minutes before you go out out its own assessment of sun exposure, when starting or returning to work under the sun, apply a sunscreen with identify tasks that place workers at risk in hot conditions. Generally, the a very high sun protection factor (at and control the degree of exposure. process takes about a week. least a 15+ broadspectrum sunscreen, but 30+ is preferable). The skin should • Wear personal protection (sunscreen, • In extreme conditions, wear specialised be dry. sunglasses and suitable clothing), liquid or air cooled clothing. take precautions and set limits during • Screen workers for heat tolerance. • Apply extra sunscreen or zinc cream summer’s highest risk time – between to vulnerable places such as the nose, 10 am and 2 pm (or between 10 am • Follow a doctor’s advice before lips, ears, bald head, neck and back of and 3 pm in western Queensland). working in hot conditions if you are the hands. [Advice from The Cancer Council Western on medications such as sedatives, Australia: Most of the day’s UV occurs tranquillisers, antidepressants, • Reapply sunscreen at least every two between 10 am and 3 pm so this remains amphetamines, antispasmodics, hours if you perspire or get wet. an important time to minimise sun diuretics or medication affecting • Select a gel- or alcohol-based exposure, with or without daylight saving.] blood pressure. sunscreen if you are handling tools. • Reorganise work schedules so that • Have a plan in place for treating These sunscreens will not make outdoor tasks are done early in the heat affected workers. hands as greasy as a cream-based morning or late in the day. sunscreen. Protective clothing • Rotate or job-share tasks that involve • Generally, you need to apply about 35 direct sun exposure. • When working in the sun, always ml of sunscreen to ensure there is an wear protective clothing. Protective adequate barrier between the skin and • Implement easy ‘sun smart’ policies clothing includes: the sun. (such as a directive that workers drive with their vehicle windows up – a hat with a broad brim (7.5 to 8 cm) • Provide an adequate supply of between 10 am and 2 pm). or a flap at the back to shade both sunscreen and zinc cream at the the face and back of the neck; workplace at all times. • Plan the work around the movement of the sun. For instance, do outdoor – a hardhat with a brim added; • Carry a clear lip balm that contains work on the western and northern side sunscreen, and apply it regularly. of a building in the morning, and work – a loose-fitting, long-sleeved, on the eastern and southern sides in collared shirt; Hydration the afternoon. – a shirt made from a dark, close Our body can sweat about one litre an • Where possible, do not work in an weave fabric (a dark colour gives hour performing heavy work, however environment heated by several sources better protection than a light we often drink less fluid than we need (such as burning off under a mid- colour or white); because our thirst response lags behind summer sun). – woven, rather than knitted, fabrics; the actual level of dehydration. Most heat-related illnesses are caused by • Use trees, buildings and temporary – loose trousers; dehydration. shelters (such as awnings or tarps) to shade the work area and/or rest area. – sunglasses with side protection • Drink 150 to 200 ml of cool fluids every (look for the Australian Standard 15 to 20 minutes, rather than consume • Insulate plant and equipment to AS 1067 Sunglasses and fashion a 1 litre drink every now and again. reduce radiant heat emissions. spectacles); • Choose water or a sports drink rather • Where possible, fit a shade to – safety glasses designed to minimise than tea, coffee or milk. equipment and machinery (such as UV radiation exposure to the eye; tractors and small earthmovers). • Increase your intake of fluids if your Do not remove shielding that is – garments with a UV protection urine is dark (the normal colour provided on plant or equipment. factor (look for this label). should be pale yellow).

26 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Safety and health representatives section

Which form?

• Add a little extra salt to food if you As required in the Mines Safety • were downloaded from the are acclimatising to hot working and Inspection Act 1994, a person WorkSafe website (including conditions, however do not take salt conducting an election for safety and ‘election’ and ‘registration’ tablets. health representatives must: forms); • If you suffer dehydration, do not (a) give notice of the result to — • are derived from other sources recommence work until you are fully (i) a person elected as a safety (e.g. produced in-house); or rehydrated. and health representative; • have been superseded (e.g. and Training Department of Minerals and (ii) the employer concerned; Energy, Department of Industry Workers exposed to the sun as part of and and Resources). their work should be educated about the (b) give notice of the result to the In addition to these forms not dangers of UV radiation exposure and State mining engineer in the being prescribed, they commonly how to identify early signs of skin cancer. prescribed form and provide do not contain all the particulars • Know how to self-screen for skin such further particulars as are required to complete the newly cancers. prescribed in that form. elected representative’s entry in the mines safety database. • Be trained in the correct use of The prescribed form is that personal protective equipment. available from the Resources Safety From 1 January 2008, the website at www.docep.wa.gov. submission of non-standard • Implement a ‘buddy system’ where au/ResourcesSafety in the mining forms will delay processing of workers and supervisors in hot the election information while environments look out for early signs forms section, listed as Notifi cation the prescribed form is sent to the of heat illness in their workmates. of election of safety and health representative(s). person conducting the election for • Implement an acclimatisation resubmission. program that gradually adjusts It is the responsibility of the person For further information or to workloads for new workers and those who conducted the election to submit the correct completed returning from holidays. complete and send the form to Resources Safety. Even if no ballot form, contact Tse Yin Chang, • Include sun safety information in is required (i.e. same number of Publications and Promotions induction training. nominations as positions available), Administrative Offi cer at: the form must still be completed and Resources Safety, DOCEP sent in. Locked Bag 14 CLOISTERS SQUARE WA 6850 Despite a low-key campaign over several years to encourage Phone: (08) 9358 8178 compliance, Resources Safety Fax: (08) 9358 8188 continues to receive a large number of Email: ResourcesSafety@docep. non-standard notifi cation forms that: wa.gov.au

L5 WestCentre 1260 Hay St West Perth PO Box 294 West Perth 6872 1300 307 877 Fax: 9321 8973 [email protected] Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 Safety and health representative (Section 56(10)(b)) ELECTION NOTIFICATION Form NOTE: The person who ran the election must notify the Department and the elected SHR’s employer of the outcome. Please use one form per elected safety and health representative and forward completed form to WorkSafe and a copy to the relevant employer. Notification of election of The following person was elected as a safety and health representative 100 Plain Street, East Perth WA 6004 Surname: Given names: ssafety and health representative(s) Tel: 08 9358 8079 Fax: 08 9325 2280 Email: [email protected] Workplace address: (if different from employer’s www.docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety main street address below) Suburb/town Post code: To the State Mining Engineer The employers details Employer name: ACN, ABN (business or company name) or ABR 1. Notice is given that I conducted an election for safety and health representative(s) on / / Postal address: Post code: and the person(s) named in the Schedule(s)1 to this notice was/were elected. Main street address: L5 WestCentre 1260 Hay St West Perth PO Box 294 WestSuburb/town Perth 6872 Post code: 2. Other information relating to the person(s) elected is also set out in the Schedule(s). In providing some of that 1300 307 877 Contacts: Tel Email Fax information I have relied on information given to me by the person(s) elected. Fax: 9321 8973 Safety and health representative [email protected] The election details 2 3 3. I have given notice of the result of the election to the person elected and the employer concerned. REGISTRATION FORM Date of the election: day / month/ year If you have been elected as a safety and health representative (SHR) in your workplace then register to receive your badge, Name of the person who Name of the organisation who a SafetyLine Magazine subscription, the handbook and a CD with codes of practice and guides. This registration puts you on conducted the election: conducted the election: Signature of person who conducted the election Date / / the mailing list to receive regular OSH information via email or post. Surname Given names Contacts: Tel: Fax: Surname: Address where the election was held: Official title Given names: Date of birth day / month/ year Male:" Female:O" SCHEDULE Occupation: 1. Details of person elected Contacts: Tel: Fax: Email: Surname Given names Your workplace address: (if different from employer’s Tel Fax Email main street address below) Suburb/town Post code: Occupation Please indicate: Which workplace location/s and/or Period in current position Period with current employer which group of people you were elected to represent. 2. Employer details Name of employer Training: " attended 5 day course " attended transitional training " have not attended Business address Your employers details Employer name: (example: business name, company name) Suburb/town Postcode Sector: " private sector indicate number of employees" < 20 " >20 <50 " >50 <100 " >100

Tel Fax Email " government sector indicate " local " state " federal Please tick the category " accommodation/café/restaurant " finance/insurance " property/business services 3. The elected person was elected for the following mine or mines (name and location, nearest town and postcode) which best describes the " agriculture/forestry/fishing " government " retail trade employer’s industry. " communication services " health/community services " transport/storage " construction/building " manufacturing " utilities - electricity/gas/water " cultural/recreational services " mining " wholesale trade " education " personal/other services " other Postal address: Post code: to perform functions in respect of the following matter(s), area(s) or kind(s) of work Main street address:

Suburb/town Post code: P Contacts: Tel: Fax: 4 Email: O OR the elected person was elected for the following group of employees Note ACN or ABN or ABR 1 If more than one person was elected, attach a separate Schedule for each person. 2 Such notice to be given within Your signature 4. The elected person 7 days after the election was completed. Date: day day month month year year (a) has not been previously elected as a safety and health representative, or 3 References in this form to an employer may include a principal — see section 55B of the Act. has been previously elected times as a safety and health representative Date you were elected: day day month month year year 4 Under section 55B(3) of the Act, a (b) has attended, or has not attended contractor or a person employed by a contractor may be treated as an Name of person/organisation who conducted the election an accredited introductory training course for safety and health representatives employee, if a scheme so provides. KH Expiry of term: In two years, from the date of your appointment, you will be automatically taken off the SHR mailing list. If you are re-elected you will need to complete a new form. If you leave your current employment before your term expires or you resign as an elected safety and health RSDApr07_145 representative, please inform WorkSafe by post, telephone or email. For your convenience a resignation slip is provided with your confirmation letter.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 27 Safety and health representatives section

Lindsay Robinson attended the 2007 Mines Safety Roadshow held in Bunbury and commented that he has been a safety and health representative for Bemax (formerly Cable Sands Pty Ltd) for many years. He kindly accepted an invitation to write about his experiences for MineSafe. Lindsay clocks up 14 years as SHRep

Bemax Resources Limited procedures and evacuation, alcohol and cheap pallet trolley that can (incorporating Cable Sands Group) is and other drugs, harassment and manoeuvre heavy wooden pallets a mineral sands company operating in discrimination, and various employee to reduce the potential lifting the South West of Western Australia, assistance programmes. and dragging injury hazard. This with a dry plant situated in Bunbury innovation was recognised with a Other body injury preventative courses and outlying operating mine sites. A participation certificate. I have attended include ergonomics, mine site was recently commissioned safe behaviour safety and risk taking, at Ginkgo in New South Wales with a Other simple designs to eliminate advanced resuscitation, skin and sun non-magnetic fraction portion of the or minimise potential hazards in the safety, and hand, eyes, hearing and work place have been implemented concentrate trucked to Broken Hill handling and back safety awareness for upgrading, before transporting in Technical Services. An example including manual handling and is a plastic bucket lid opener, which to Bunbury for final separation into respiratory training. products such as rutile, leucoxene has reduced the risk of repetitive and zircon. Over nearly 20 years in the mining hand injury or strains. A flux fume industry, I have experienced a huge exhaust system has been installed I am a metallurgical technician in the shift in safety towards seeking out any to reduce eye and skin irritation. Technical Services Department with potential hazards that may arise. over 14 years’ experience in exploration In summary, I guess that I must and technical services, including three Apart from the monthly safety have safety in my veins, as I have years in Support Services. I have been inspections conducted in various not only been a safety and health a safety and health representative for areas, ‘Fresh Eye’ inspections are representative for 14 years in the 14 years. completed on a regular basis at the mining industry, but was also an mine sites. Quarterly occupational active participant in the Royal The company has supported me in safety and health meetings are Australian Surf Life Saving for many ways, through attendance at attended to discuss any new or nine years. safety functions and training courses potential hazards that may arise. including the introductory safety and In the sixties, a small group of health representatives course, the In 2006, both Technical Services and us amateur boaties was sipping updated provisional improvement Support Services for the South West a few beers one Sunday after a notices (PINS) course and an internal operations reached their ten-year fishing trip and decided to start audit training course. Safety and lost time injury (LTI) free milestones. up a boating club that fosters safe The company acknowledged these emergency training is ongoing at boat handling and comradeship. achievements by hosting a celebration Cable Sands for all employees. These This club is very active today, with dinner for section employees and their sessions cover topics such as first a large membership, clubrooms, partners. aid, radiation, safety management radio communications and social systems, high voltage isolation, fire Early in 2007, the company entered functions. It has an excellent record fighting including hazardous chemical the Chamber of Minerals and Energy’s in the safe keeping of skippers fires, environmental, job safety analysis 2007 CME Safety and Health Innovation and crews who venture into the (JSA), chemical approval, emergency Awards with a simply designed unknown seas.

Bemax Resources - Cable Sands, Technical Services Department. Ten years LTI free on 1 April 2006 Back row (left to right): Michael Hodgens, Lindsay Robinson, Corina Hall, Ian McNeill (Operations Manager), Anita Commisso, Matt Giacci, Peter Holtzman. Front Row: Mini Camons, Dianne Needham, Heather Hutcheson, Cherry Lucas, Michelle Molloy Lindsay moving a wooden pallet Closer view of the pallet trolley Photo’s courtsesy of Bemax Cable Sands of Bemax Cable courtsesy Photo’s

28 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Safety and health representatives section

Peter is the new Kalgoorlie Employee’s Inspector of Mines

Kalgoorlie resident Peter Green has and employers alike and have the Peter believes that in today’s mining recently been elected as the new experience in all aspects of mining to industry training is paramount and Employee’s Inspector of Mines for fulfil my obligations to this position,’ that ‘ignorance equals risk’. Therefore, the Goldfields region. Peter said. if you as an employee are not sure of your job or have had inadequate He has been involved in the mining Following his successful election, training – don’t industry most of his working life Peter has pledged to uphold the do it. and holds an impressive array existing standard of inspections and of qualifications, including an to be accessible to every employee in ‘You should first Underground Shift Supervisor’s ticket, the Kalgoorlie Inspectorate. seek assistance a Restricted Quarry Manager’s ticket and further Peter’s role as an Employee’s Inspector anda Certificate IV in Workplace training from of Mines will mainly involve inspecting Training and Assessment. He has also your supervisor mines for compliance with the Western studied for a diploma in occupational and workplace Australian mines safety legislation. health and safety. trainer,’ he said. He will also liaise with safety and health ‘Having worked in Western Australia representatives, employees and offshore in three different and management of mine sites. countries, I fully respect the existing mines safety legislation in Western He remains focused that all employees Australia. I feel I have both the people should continue to work in a safe and skills to communicate with employees healthy environment.

Nominations sought for Pilbara position

Early in 2008, the Electoral Commission the industry, using the experience and centres around the State. Resources will call for nominations for a new technical knowledge they have gained Safety has offices in Collie, Kalgoorlie, Employee’s Inspector of Mines for the through the earlier part of their career. Karratha and Perth. Karratha Inspectorate, which includes Alternatively, working in the regulatory So if you are suitably qualified, want a both coastal and inland Pilbara regions. area can be a great stepping stone for change in lifestyle and have a desire to Employee’s Inspectors are elected experienced people looking to eventually put something back into the workplace, by people employed at mines in their move back into industry at a senior please consider a role as an Employee’s region. They are then appointed by management level. Inspector of Mines. the State Mining Engineer, with new Another advantage is the family-friendly Further information, expressions of elections held after four years. hours of work and flexibility allowing for interest and nomination procedures can They must have a certificate of better lifestyle choices. be found by calling Mary at Resources competency as an underground Safety’s Collie office on 9734 1222 or Resources Safety, a division of supervisor and at least five years’ Electoral Commission Returning Officer the Department of Consumer and experience in underground mining. Cathy King on 13 63 06. Employment Protection, is responsible The position offers a range of for the safety and health regulation of employment benefits, including mining, minerals processing, dangerous occupational allowances, housing goods (explosives and other chemicals) subsidies, living expenses and and major hazard facilities, with the additional leave. division promoting best practice in the areas of safety and health with Many people who have worked in the companies and their employers. mining industry get great satisfaction from putting something back as a safety The department has some 1,000 staff in NM expert, and improving safety within total, and has offices in key economic

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 29 Safety and health awards

Technology for safer mining wins inventor award

A Western Australian invention is set to their deterioration without shutting a add millions of dollars in extra revenue mill down for extended periods. to the global resources sector. Scanalyse’s MillMapper uses a specially Premier and Science and Innovation calibrated 3D laser scanner to collect Minister Alan Carpenter recently superior data on grinding mill liners. announced Scanalyse as the winner of the WA Inventor of the Year 2007 for its The innovative technology will allow the revolutionary device, the MillMapper. capture of real-time data, which will help increase throughput levels and improve Scanner in a mill The MillMapper is an innovative the knowledge of wear liner shapes. technology that maps the inner workings ‘This year’s award has recognised four ‘The unique technology that Scanalyse of a grinding mill on a mine site, helping innovative technologies – MillMapper, has developed will save hundreds to increase safety and saving time and the CryoCell® Technology, T-Line Safety of thousands of dollars per year in money for the global resources industry. System and the Core Level Indicator reduced maintenance costs and System,’ he said. Liners have a relatively short life span and increase mill throughput resulting in there is currently no way of monitoring millions of dollars of extra revenue for ‘These inventions are set to benefit the a mine site,’ Mr Carpenter said. onshore and offshore resources industry and further cement WA’s position in the ‘The State is experiencing global resource services sector.’ unprecedented growth in the resources industry and the role that technology The Premier said the Inventor of the Year plays cannot be underestimated – it Award was part of the State Government’s underpins everything we do.’ commitment to Western Australia’s vital science and innovation sector. The Premier said the calibre of entrants in this year’s Inventor of the The program aims to co-ordinate Year Award was outstanding. activities that promote the development of innovation across the public, private He said this year’s award was and education sectors. particularly good news for the State’s resources industry, with four innovative For more information on this year’s technologies that were designed to winners and runners up, visit

Peter Clarke, Scanalyse CEO, showing the software help the industry winning an award. www.doir.wa.gov.au/inventor of Scanalyse courtsesy Photo’s

WA alumina company recognised as OSH leader

Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd has won the the Minerals Council of Australia, said, across three complex and discrete minerals industry’s highest accolade ‘The MINEX Awards are designed to sites. – the 2007 MINEX Award – the National demonstrate this industry’s commitment Minerals Industry Safety and Health to its number one value of zero harm in ‘Worsley exhibits a well structured, well Excellence Award. the workplace and the communities in resourced commitment to safety and which we operate. health with a high degree of employee Worsley Alumina is a joint venture participation,’ Mr Lenegan said. company operated by BHP Billiton, with ‘We consider there is no greater three sites located in southwestern stewardship responsibility than the safety ‘The level of management commitment Western Australia. The sites are and health of our people.’ is outstanding, with health and safety separated by hundreds of kilometres, fully integrated into all operations with with the bauxite mine at Boddington, the According to the Mineral Council of a high degree of participation by all. alumina refinery at Collie and the port Australia’s November media release, ‘The company has clear measures facilities at the Port of Bunbury. Worsley Alumina impressed the evaluators and judges with its leadership of competency and continuous At the 15th Annual Awards dinner, and safety culture applied through its improvement goals with management Mr Charlie Lenegan, Chairman of consistent use of systems and procedures committed to long term objectives. The

30 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 Safety and health awards

Technologies to design an automatic 2007 Work Safety Awards winners device to lift heavy equipment out of the cleaning tank. The four winners of the prestigious 2007 Pilbara Constructions Pty Ltd. Work Safety Awards Western Australia The award for best individual Pilbara Constructions works were announced in late October. contribution to safety and health was continuously to improve safety won by Mr Bill Towie from the Forest Pilbara Constructions Pty Ltd, Port of practices and has an excellent record in Broome, Monear Pty Ltd and Sundowner workplace safety. Products Commission. Mr Towie – the Technologies, and Bill Towie from the Commission’s safety and training Forest Products Commission were the When the company’s safety and health consultant – has worked continuously winners of four award categories and are management systems were assessed to increase awareness of workplace automatically entered into the national under the WorkSafe Plan assessment safety and health by introducing many Safe Work Australia Awards. system late last year, Pilbara initiatives designed to reduce the risk Constructions scored the perfect 100 of injury. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina per cent in each of the five key elements Lyhne said that the four winners were of assessment process. Winners of the national Safe Work terrific examples of the many excellent Australia Awards will be announced workplace innovations and occupational The award for best public sector early in 2008. safety and health systems being leadership for injury prevention and developed in Western Australia. management was won by the Port of ‘Each of the category winners of the Broome. 2007 Work Safety WA Awards is a very ‘These awards provide the opportunity worthy winner, and each now has the for innovative Western Australians The Port’s proactive approach to safety opportunity for their achievements to to gain national recognition for their and health management attests to its be recognised across Australia,’ Ms achievements,’ Ms Lyhne said. strong commitment to providing a safe Lyhne said. work environment for all employees. ‘They recognise outstanding occupational ‘WA has already established safety and health management, solutions The award for best solution to an somewhat of a proud tradition at the and innovation in WA workplaces that identified workplace safety and health national level, with two of the three WA issue was won by Monear Pty Ltd and reduce the risk of work-related injury entrants in the Safe Work Australia Sundowner Technologies. and disease. Awards winning their national ‘Awards such as these are all about Monear provides cleaning services for categories last year. commercial kitchen and bakery utensils encouraging best practice in safety and ‘I heartily congratulate the winners, health, and the winners are leading the and equipment, much of which is along with everyone else who way by making a significant contribution extremely heavy. nominated for the awards, and to reducing the injury toll in workplaces.’ In order to lessen manual handling encourage businesses of all sizes to The award for best workplace safety and injuries from lifting heavy equipment, nominate for the 2008 Work Safety health management system was won by Monear worked with Sundowner Awards Western Australia.’

business integrated approach with Mt Whaleback has considerable is exemplary – translating to both active and continuous improvement strengths in safety and health families of employees and the wider represents industry leading practice.’ management, made more remarkable community through significant by the enormous scale of the operation complementary programs. Health and safety systems are and the large number of employees. embedded in Worsley Alumina’s Loy Yang Power’s coal mine in overall business planning cycle The judges were extremely Victoria’s Latrobe Valley received an whereby strategic considerations are impressed with the strong leadership, ‘Encouragement’ award. The MINEX applied to risk profiling, interventions commitment and the substantial judges considered that if the site and initiatives, appropriate resourcing amount of resources made available follows through on the significant and a commitment to both capital and across the site to achieve continuous commitments it has made on the road operational funding. safety and health improvement. to continuous improvement, it will The judges also gave a ‘Highly Mt Whaleback’s risk management reach a level of maturity in its safety Commended’ award to Mt Whaleback systems are strongly embedded in the and health management that next iron ore mine located in the Pilbara company’s operation and the focus year and the following years is likely and operated by BHP Billiton. on employee health and wellbeing to be outstanding.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 31 Safety and health awards

Dangerous Goods Safe Driver of the Year

The Parmelia Hilton was the venue for the professionally for four and a half 2007 WA Road Transport Industry Awards years, accumulating about one million evening held on 27 October. Hosted by the kilometres during that time. Initially WA Transport Forum, the gala event was employed as a dangerous goods driver attended by over 400 people from various for Coogee Chemicals, he is accredited sectors of the transport industry. for all dangerous goods classes other than explosives. Resources Safety sponsors the ‘Dangerous Goods Safe Driver of the In his four years of dangerous Year’ category of the WA Transport goods transport with Coogee, Jason Forum’s awards. This award recognises transported bulk corrosive chemicals the knowledge, safe practices and to the northeastern Goldfields and was SL diligence of dangerous goods drivers incident free. The safety knowledge Philip Hine (right), Director of Resources Safety’s working within the dangerous goods and bulk transport skills he obtained Dangerous Goods Safety Branch, with Jason Clifton, transport industry. The judging panel through mentoring by senior drivers in 2007 Dangerous Goods Safe Driver comprised Stephen Lane (Resources the company have stood Jason in good enjoyed several stints of dangerous goods Safety), John Rossiter (Main Roads) stead. driving with Boral Resources and its and Tony Watson (WA Police). The runner up for the award was predecessors. Currently, he is involved The winner of the 2007 award was Quentin Salt of Boral Resources. in driver training and mentoring, where Jason Clifton, owner-operator of Clifton Quentin has been involved in transport he brings an extensive knowledge of Transport. Jason has been driving for 32 years, during which he has procedures and driving skills to his work.

Mine plans in a digital era Scanning of the mine plan collection The first of the projects is to scan the The Department of Consumer and Tenement holders may request access existing mine plan collection. Scanning Employment Protection, through to the plans submitted for their mine commenced in August 2007 and is Resources Safety, is custodian of site. The plans may be useful as a record expected to be complete in March 2008. about 25,000 mine plans dating of historical mining activity in an area Scanning of the collection will provide back to the late 1800s. The plans – particularly where ground changes numerous benefits to Resources Safety have been submitted on a variety of hands – and to assist in locating old and its customers, including: media including paper, blueprint and workings for both safety purposes and in • less damage to hardcopy plans from transparency. order to re-enter the workings. continuous handling; Under the Mines Safety and Inspection Copies of plans that may be provided • reduced manual processes for Regulations (1995), companies must simply reflect what was submitted at Resources Safety; provide the State Mining Engineer with the time so the Department strongly plans at certain phases of the mine’s life recommends extreme care in any use • backup copy in case of loss or cycle. Submitted plans are catalogued in that may be made of them. In other degradation; Resources Safety’s mine plan database. words, the Department and mines • improved response time for plan The plans must be produced to the inspectorate are unable to guarantee the requests; and standards and at the intervals specified accuracy of the plans, either at the time in the regulations and the Mines Survey that they were originally made or as an • easier access to or provision of the Code of Practice. An authorised mine accurate reflection of the current state plans to customers. of workings – and copies of plans are surveyor must certify the plans. Digital submission of mine plans provided on this basis. A mine plan generally comprises The second project is to allow Until recently, mine plans were required several sheets and may include: submission of mine plans as digital to be lodged in hardcopy format only. portable document format (PDF) files. • overall site plans; However, these are cumbersome to store • cross sections; and subject to deterioration over time. The State Mining Engineer has issued Resources Safety recently embarked on a general exemption to allow PDF • level plans; and two projects to improve management of submission of mine plans. The general • pit plans. the plans and customer service. exemption specifies the standards

32 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 When the best laid plans go awry

The following article was submitted by Patrick Burke, Group Safety Manager Compliance with Macmahon, to share a commentary on how something unexpected can affect a job, despite everyone’s best intentions and an intense focus on planning before proceeding.

Day 1 Days 2-3 of 4000°C. Lances are manufactured in varying lengths, enabling an operator to At about seven thirty on an August The following day, the crusher power cut material at a safe distance. The very evening in 2006, the gyratory crusher on system was isolated and a safe work high temperature and possible ejection of an iron ore mining operation in Western procedure developed to enable the hot material from the work piece mean Australia’s Pilbara region unexpectedly removal of rock material from the vicinity that appropriate personal protective ceased working. It was presumed that of the mantle. A major component of the equipment (PPE) must be worn. a piece of steel or similar object had safe work procedure was a job hazard become jammed between the crusher analysis (JHA) to ensure work could By about 1.30 pm, the platform was ready mantle (cone) and concaves (shell). Earlier proceed safely. and lancing equipment was on site. The Process Manager called a meeting of all in the day, the crushing crew had noticed Initially, the rock was removed by an involved to discuss the job, conduct a risk various pieces of steel being detected excavator operating from outside the assessment, complete a JHA and raise a and removed by the tramp steel system crusher but it soon became necessary hot work permit. There was a significant located at the outlet from the crusher. for personnel to enter the bin so a body of knowledge and experience confined space permit was raised. A A feature of modern gyratory crushers is within the group, which engendered small excavator was lowered into the the ability of the operator to alter the ‘gap’ considerable confidence in the risk crusher to continue ore removal, a task between the mantle and the concaves by assessment they carried out and the which was finally completed by manual raising or lowering the mantle using an arrangements that were made. hydraulic power system. The crushing effort and water jetting. During this crew initially attempted to release process, a safe act observation (SAO) The gyratory crusher was a relatively new the blockage by doing this but were was carried out by management with installation and was experiencing some unsuccessful. no significant issue being identified. teething troubles, one of which was the The whole operation of clearing the failure of the mantle position indicator obstruction was characterised to work properly. This led to uncertainty throughout by a conservative and careful as to whether or not the mantle was required to be complied with when approach to matters of safety and health. fully resting on the hydraulic system or if submitting PDF plans. indeed it was being ‘held up’ by the GET. Day 4 Resources Safety now requests that Consequently, it was decided to attach all mine plans be submitted as PDF On the morning of the fourth day of the the work platform to the concaves only in files, together with a hard copy when clearance operation, an excavator bucket case the mantle, when freed, dropped. required under the regulations. ‘digger’ tooth and its adaptor, which had attached the tooth to the bucket, were The operators Further information found jammed firmly between the mantle Neither the boilermaker who was The general exemption is available on and concaves. The term applied to this to operate the lance nor the leading the Resources Safety website at www. type of equipment is ground engaging hand fitter who was to assist him had docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety tool (GET). experience in the task. However, both in the mining legislation and policy The crew concluded that the obstructing were experienced boilermakers and had section under ‘General exemptions’. steel would have to be cut using a participated in developing the safe work procedure to remove the GET. The Mines Survey Code of Practice thermic lance. It was acknowledged is also available online from the at this time that a temporary platform The JHA recognised the possibility of Resources Safety website in the would have to be provided for the rocks falling into the work area from mining guidance material and lance operator to work from. Platform the bin floor so a temporary fence was publications section or in hardcopy construction commenced immediately attached to the top of the concaves above format by telephoning 9358 8154 or and lancing equipment was procured the platform. emailing ResourcesSafety@docep. from off-site. wa.gov.au Both operators were provided with full A thermic lance is basically a steel welding leathers and the lance operator Enquiries about mine plans should tube containing a cluster of metal rods wore a welding hood and ‘bump’ cap. be directed to Resources Safety’s through which a stream of pure oxygen is The JHA had identified the possibility Geographic Information Systems passed. It is lit by heating the end of the of the lance operator being affected by Analyst, Louise Fogarty tube with an oxy-acetylene torch before fumes from the burning material and, (phone 9358 8115, email LFogarty@ introducing the oxygen. When the oxygen docep.wa.gov.au). is turned on, the tube and the rods ignite, Continued on page 34... creating a temperature in the vicinity

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 33 with molten metal. Analysis of a piece as they did. An event of this nature was ...from page 33 of the material later recovered from the apparently outside the understanding base of the crusher – believed to be the of some very knowledgeable and consequently, he was wearing a half-face missile that struck the lance operator experienced people. From a statistical respirator fitted with P2/P3 cartridges. and weighing about 0.48 kg –indicates perspective, the fact that it has now that it was molten when it struck him. happened indicates that it can, and The tooth was lanced first as it was probably will, occur again. smaller than the adaptor and offered The eventual ejection of the adaptor an opportunity for the operator to gain body is believed to have occurred when Based on the lessons and experience some experience with the lance. This the metal cooled sufficiently for it to gained to date, the crusher operating was successful and the tooth fell away. loosen. The pressure it was under due crew at the mine has evolved a detailed to being wedged between the cone and procedure for the use of the platform. The incident the concaves forced it out with great This procedure, like the platform design, violence. This seems to be confirmed by is freely available to anyone who wishes Lancing of the adaptor then commenced. the hydraulic pressure increase in the to use it (contact Patrick at PBurke@ The intention was to lance a channel in mantle support system after the event; macmahon.com.au). the exposed metal surface to allow the in other words, the mantle dropped. adaptor body to ‘close’, thereby relieving the pressure being exerted on it and, In an effort to establish the cause of hopefully, allowing it to loosen. It was the ejection, the adaptor was sent to a decided to approach the lancing from the laboratory for analysis and assessment. ‘closed side setting’ to ensure that if the It was determined that the adaptor did GET was ejected, it would be projected not have any gas inclusions or casting away from the operator. This part of the faults that might have initiated sudden process was completed successfully failure. The possibility that water or and, believing the work to be finished, mud may have been present causing The incident was captured on video the operator turned the oxygen supply the event was also eliminated. off and stood up. He lifted his welding helmet and made a comment to his Previous experience with removing colleague. As he did this, a loud bang trapped metal from gyratory crushers was heard and a shower of sparks using thermic lancing did not suggest emerged from the vicinity of the GET. that an ejection event of this nature could occur. Those witnessing the event observed a large glowing object among the sparks Lessons learnt that appeared to strike the operator on the head before continuing over the west Although preventing the ingress of such Metal fragments believed to have struck lance operator wall of the crusher housing. The lance material into the crusher is clearly operator was knocked unconscious the best solution, it was accepted to the ground. His colleague was that this may not always be possible. unaffected and immediately went to his Consequently, a means whereby lancing assistance. The operator’s injury was could be undertaken safely had to be later found to be a spider web fracture to found. the left side of his skull. The flying object Various types of ad hoc working damaged his welding helmet and left platforms are in use but it is burn marks on his bump cap. questionable whether they would be An additional event not initially identified robust enough to withstand the impact was that, at some point subsequent of an object such as the adaptor body. Yellow arrow indicates where the adapter was to the spark incident, the adaptor was The crusher maintenance team at trapped in the crusher. Red arrow points to where the adaptor eventually landed ejected violently from where it had been the mine designed a platform that trapped, rebounding on the crusher they consider would afford adequate spider structure and ultimately landing protection from this kind of event – the on the lance operators working platform. man injured in this event contributed to There is a clearly discernible dent on the the process. A structural engineering structure where the adaptor struck. consultancy refined the design and a unit has been manufactured. The design Contributory factors has been recommended by the crusher manufacturer and the platform is being The precise cause of the incident could deployed at other Australian sites. not be ascertained but it has been postulated that as the ‘channel’ was cut The most concerning issue to emerge in the adaptor, the molten slag may have from this incident is probably the failure initially ‘crusted’ over. As the assembly of an informed and arguably exhaustive cooled, the confined slag burst through risk management process to identify of Macmahon courtsesy Photo’s the crust, showering the surroundings the possibility of matters unfolding Lancing platform developed after crusher incident

34 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 2007 South West Emergency Response Skills Challenge

Sandstormers perform well at SWERSC

The great value derived from a locally • Verve Energy For the individual scenarios, the results were: run, realistic, relevant and practical • Talison Minerals – Greenbushes Fire Fighting emergency response event, led the Operations. Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Worsley Alumina - Boddington Bauxite Mine The teams participated in seven Western Australia (CME) to run the HazChem/BA South West Emergency Response Skills scenarios, with functional fitness Iluka Sandstormers Challenge (SWERSC) for its second year being a new feature of the Challenge. on 20-21 October 2007. The event was spread over two days, First Aid allowing time for social networking on The 2007 event was envisaged as Wesfarmers Premier Coal the first evening through a fun mixed- an opportunity to consolidate the teams event. Team Skills achievements of the inaugural 2006 Iluka Sandstormers SWERSC. The principles underpinning SWERSC were unchanged from last year, Rope Rescue This year’s event, again held at the with the key aim of creating the Australind Senior High School, involved Talison Greenbushes right environment to lift the skill seven teams (up from six last year) of levels of all emergency response Functional Fitness emergency response personnel from personnel involved. As always, healthy Talison Greenbushes and Iluka mainly local resource operations: competition is a great motivator, but Sandstormers (equal first) • Iluka Resources adding to the trophy collection is not Theory the prime consideration. • Tiwest Wesfarmers Premier Coal • Worsley Alumina – Boddington The team judged to have performed For further information, contact Matt Bauxite Mine best overall was Iluka Resources’ ‘Sandstormers’ team,, with the overall Granger, South West Regional Liaison • Worsley Alumina Refinery runner-up being the Talison Minerals Officer with the CME (telephone 9791 6707, • Wesfarmers Premier Coal – Greenbushes Operations team. email: [email protected]) Photo’s courtsesy of CME courtsesy Photo’s

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 35 Significant incident reports

• There were no safe working connection – serious accident, issued All significant incident reports and procedures for unblocking a sample 23 February 1998; bulletins are available online at www. hose and for installing a wear bend. – No. 109 Fitting of tile boxes on drilling docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety • The safety devices for securing the rigs, issued on 9 October, 2001; and wear bend to the cyclone in case of a – No. 119 Driller’s offsider blasted with failure of the bolts and nuts were not Mines Safety sample dust under pressure, issued connected at the time of the accident. Significant Incident Report No. 145 on 4 November 2002. Released 20 November 2007 • There was no proper engineering design for the wear bend if subjected Mines Safety Driller’s offsider struck to high pressure compressed air Significant Incident Report No. 146 by dust deflector box or during the drilling process. Released 12 December 2007 “wear bend” Recommendations Hazard posed by cyclone

Incident • A properly engineered design draw in RC drilling process must be undertaken for A driller’s offsider was fatally injured when all components subjected to high Incident he was struck by a “wear bend” that became pressures and forces during the A reverse circulation (RC) drill rig was detached from the cyclone at an exploration RC drilling and sampling process. drilling a grid of 40 to 50 metre deep holes drilling site. The wear bend is a steel Approved fabrication drawings should at an exploration site in Western Australia. attachment built for connecting the sample be provided to the persons carrying The holes penetrated the groundwater table. hose to the cyclone. It is reinforced with out the fabrication work and the thick metal blocks to withstand the abrasive work should be checked to ensure it In dry ground, the sample splitter nature of the drill cuttings on the return complies with the design. beneath the cyclone was used to collect a side of the reverse circulation (RC) drilling • Safe work procedures must be representative sample fraction. During this process. The wear bend weighed about 40 kg. developed for activities associated process, the large plastic sample bag had The wear bend assembly broke away from with the drilling operation. The been sucked up inside the base of the the welded flange on the cyclone as the use of inspection reports and splitter by the dust suppression fans on a driller was attempting to clear a blockage incident reports, backed up by a number of occasions. When this occurred, in the sample hose by using high pressure detailed maintenance system, are the offsider instinctively reached up inside compressed air. The driller’s offsider was valuable tools to identify hazards in the splitter and pulled the sample bag out. component design and operation. standing next to the sample hose. He was When wet ground was encountered, or when struck by the wear bend and sample hose, • Equipment inspections using water was injected into the drill string, the and suffered fatal head and other injuries. checklists must be carried out sample cuttings tended to block the splitter. at least daily and signed off by This led to the splitter being removed from Causes and contributing factors an appointed supervisor. Defects the base of the cyclone and the large plastic identified must be acted upon in a sample bag being held over the mouth of a • High pressure compressed air was used timely fashion. Follow up checks short adaptor cone beneath the cyclone draw. in an attempt to clear the blockage. should also be made to ensure The cyclone draw is a sliding steel plate • Employees were not standing clear of that the work is carried out without that controls the discharge of the sample the sample hose while the driller was exposing employees to hazards. cuttings from the cyclone. attempting to unblock the sample hose. • In developing safe work procedures, • The wear bend became detached from particular attention should be paid While drilling was in progress, with the the cyclone as an insufficient number to actions recommended in the splitter off, the plastic sample bag was again of bolts and nuts was installed. following Mines Safety Significant sucked up, this time inside the cone and into Incident Reports: the draw. The offsider did what he had done • The bolts and nuts used to attach before — reached up, this time inside the the wear bend to the cyclone were – No. 3 Compressed air hose cone, to pull the sample bag out. too small for the intended application connection – fatal accident, issued and were pulled through the bolt 29 September 1989; At the same moment, the driller, while holes on the cyclone. – No. 92 R C drill rig 3” sample hose looking at the controls, closed the draw.

36 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 The sliding steel plate of the draw trapped • adding hydraulic interlocks to During the transfer operation, a ram three fingers of the offsider’s right hand. prevent operation of the draw solenoid valve failed to fully reposition On opening the draw, it was found that under certain conditions a diverter gate used to direct ammonium the three fingers had been amputated. nitrate between silos. This led to The original adaptor cone is shown ammonium nitrate backing up, then in photograph 1. Cause falling down the elevator shaft and A new cone was fabricated that is much bogging the bucket elevator. The sliding draw, beneath the cyclone, longer than the original cone, The drive pulley of the belt-driven bucket as shown in photograph 2. is a potential pinch point. With the elevator continued to rotate even though sample splitter in place, this potential In addition, two hydraulic interlocks the elevator was bogged, resulting in pinch point cannot be accessed. were installed to prevent inadvertent slippage and the generation of sufficient With the splitter off, the length of the cone operation of the draw. heat to cause the belt to catch fire. beneath the cyclone was such that it was The facility was promptly shut down, the fire possible for a person to reach up inside extinguished and the area cooled with water. the cone and place their hand in a potential pinch point — the path traversed Causes by the sliding steel plate of the draw. Thus, when the splitter was not in use • A ram solenoid valve on the diverter gate was defective and failed to fully it was possible to access this potential reposition the diverter gate. pinch point. • The under-speed detector on the belt Comments and preventative action was linked only to an alarm and not to a system designed to automatically Exploration companies and drilling shut down the facility. companies must review their RC drilling Photo 1: Sample bag attached to original cone • Due to nuisance tripping, the facility procedures to ensure that employees was being operated in ‘manual mode’, engaged in RC drilling operations are not intended to be used only during exposed to the particular hazard posed by testing and commissioning activities. a sliding draw beneath the sample cyclone. In this ‘manual mode’, all alarms are The two main reasons for error are overridden. that as creatures of habit we do what worked last time and we skip steps Recommendations when we are in a hurry (Flight Safety • Facility inspection and maintenance Australia, Nov-Dec 2003, p. 38-41). programmes must ensure the reliable This needs to be recognised by operation of all items that either directly employers and employees alike. or indirectly play a role in maintaining safe Where there are slight changes in operations (e.g. solenoids, level gauges). work procedures — in this situation, Photo 2: New cone, which is much longer than the original cone • A shut down system should be in with and without the splitter installed place and operate in the event of belt — the exposure of employees to hazards under-speed. can change dramatically. What may Dangerous Goods Safety have been a safe system of work with • There should be controls to prevent Significant Incident Report No. 01-07 the splitter installed was not when the safety features, such as alarms, Released 26 September 2007 splitter was removed. being improperly overridden. • When operating a facility in ‘manual With the splitter removed, the offsider Ammonium nitrate mode’, the operation should be did what worked last time, when the storage facility bucket attended at all times. sample bag got sucked up, the offsider • Training provided to facility operators instinctively reached up this time inside elevator fire should cover safe facility operation, the cone to retrieve the bag, and require an appropriate with disastrous results. Incident understanding of its safety features. The control measure adopted was to On 22 November 2006, ammonium • Operating procedures should require engineer out the hazard by: nitrate was being transferred into a silo the clearing of ammonium nitrate bucket • making it much more difficult to storage facility at a mine site by means elevators, augers and other transfer access the potential pinch point; and of a belt-driven bucket elevator. equipment immediately after use.

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 37 • Physical injury intimidating of harassing and FAQs about bullying that you would like it to stop • Reduced quality of home and The following frequently asked questions family life • Sometimes people are not aware of how their behaviour towards others are available on the Resources Safety • Hypersensitivity website at www.docep.wa.gov.au/ can be perceived. The person may ResourcesSafety in the mining FAQs section • Post traumatic stress syndrome not realise their behaviour offends • In extreme cases, risk of suicide you, so it is important to approach Resources Safety also has two publications the person and let them know how on this topic – a code of practice on Other effects you feel. You could also ask someone Prevention and management of violence, else (eg. the grievance officer or aggression and bullying at work and a Other effects of bullying can be human resources officer) guideline on Dealing with bullying at work. considerable direct and indirect cost to approach the bully on your behalf for organisations. There may be a or to mediate or facilitate a face-to- What is workplace bullying? high turnover or low morale in areas face discussion and find a solution where bullying occurs. that is acceptable for anyone involved Workplace bullying can be defined as repeated, unreasonable or inappropriate In addition to the direct cost of recruiting • Use a counselling service if available behaviour directed towards a worker, or and training new staff or remediation through your workplace. This may a group of workers, that creates a risk to to resolve the problem, there can be: help you to develop ways of dealing health and safety. • Lost productivity that occurs when with a bully or the effects of bullying people are absent from work or not A workplace situation can be identified More formal procedures may be working to full capacity as bullying if a worker or workers are: required if the informal procedures are not successful or in situations where • Harmed • Cost associated with counselling, mediation, compensation claims the allegations are more serious and • Intimidated and possible legal action there has been less favourable treatment • Threatened or actual physical or psychological harm. • Other effects could be a reputation This should be confirmed by preliminary • Victimised for poor management of workplace enquiries before a formal investigation bullying, difficulties with recruiting • Undermined is undertaken. staff and the business may be • Offended affected by a poor image If the employer concludes that a • Degraded formal investigation is warranted, • Humiliated What can you do about workplace a person who is not involved in that bullying at the workplace? particular incident should undertake the whether alone or in front of investigation. Natural justice must be co-workers, visitors or customers. Every situation is different, however observed in all dealings with persons bullying can be stopped. How you While some workplace bullying may accused of workplace bullying. handle bullying will depend on your involve verbal abuse and physical violence, particular work environment and the bullying can also be subtle intimidation What is natural justice? nature of the bullying. If you are with inappropriate comments about bullied you can take action informally Natural justice must be observed in personal appearance, constant criticisms, or follow a more formal approach. all dealings with persons accused of isolation of workers from others and workplace bullying for two reasons. unrealistic, embarrassing or degrading The following informal steps are work demands. Workplace bullying can recommended as a first approach in Firstly, it is essential that people be also be carried out via letters, email dealing with most bullying cases: protected against false and malicious and telephone text messages. • Check for policies and procedures accusations. Persons may be falsely that deal with the prevention of accused of workplace bullying because What are possible effects of workplace workplace bullying. This could be of a desire on the part of the other bullying? a specific workplace anti-bullying persons to harm them or an over-reaction to a trivial or isolated incident. Indeed Health effects policy or procedure, a grievance procedure or an issue resolution false accusations can be part of the The reactions of individual workers procedure bullying process in itself and people will vary. It is possible that workers could be accused of bullying as a means • Seek advice, for instance from the of covering up bullying by someone else. who are bullied will experience some contact officer or grievance officer, of the following health effects: safety and health representative, Secondly, if a person accused of • Stress, anxiety or sleep disturbance safety and health officer, human bullying is denied natural justice, resources officer or union official then any action taken against him or • Ill health or fatigue her may be overturned should he or • Keep a detailed record of what • Panic attacks or impaired ability to she appeal against it. Therefore he or happened, including place, date, make decisions she escapes punishment even if the time, persons and what was said original accusation was correct. • Incapacity to work, concentration or done. Ensure that records are problems, loss of self-confidence accurate Natural justice is generally considered and self-esteem or reduced output to include the following rights to: • Consider approaching the bully and performance and make it clear to the bully that • Be fully informed of the complaint • Depression or a sense of isolation you found the behaviour offensive, against the person accused,

38 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 including being told the name of workplace culture if any, and notify the employee(s) of the the person making the complaint • Feel that nothing will change outcome. To be able to investigate raised • Reply in full to the complaint concerns and resolve issues at the • Feel that their opportunities for workplace the employer has the right to • Be considered innocent until promotion in the organisation or ask for more detailed information. proven to be guilty the industry will be affected Employers are also required to attempt • representation by a person of his Some workers may not be aware that to resolve safety and health issues or her choice the organisation they work for has raised in the workplace in accordance • Have information about the established bullying prevention and with relevant procedures. This includes complaint restricted to those who management procedures and that reported workplace bullying issues. are directly involved be given the their reports will be dealt with in a benefit of any reasonably doubt proper manner. What are duties of employees under the Act in relation to bullying? • Have all mention of the matter Even if a person does not complain about removed from his or her personal workplace bullying, there may still be Employees should take reasonable records if the case against him or offended or affected by the behaviour and care for their own safety and health at her is not proven the behaviour may still be unacceptable. work. They should also avoid adversely • Be informed of any rights of appeal What are the duties of the employer affecting the safety or health of any that may exist against any decision under the Act in relation to bullying? person in the workplace through any act made on the matter or omission. Every employee must be The Mines Safety and Inspection Act made aware of their duty not to place 1994 requires employers to ensure so What isn’t workplace bullying? the safety and health of others at risk by far as is practicable a working engaging in bullying or, where they are An isolated incident of inappropriate environment in which employees are in a position of authority, to take steps or unreasonable behaviour may be an not exposed to hazards. to stop bullying if and when it happens. affront to dignity at work but as a one- Workplace bullying should be treated Employees should follow the employer’s off incident it is not considered to be as any other hazard at the workplace. safety instructions, cooperate with their bullying. However, since an employer has If unreasonable or inappropriate employer on work-related safety and a general duty to provide workers with behaviour, or the potential for such health matters, use personal protective a safe workplace and systems of work, behaviour is identified, there is a high equipment provided and report to their single incidents of this type risk of psychological and/or physical employer any work-related injuries should not be ignored. harm. Therefore steps should be or anything that they consider to be a It is important to differentiate between taken to stop the behaviour. hazard in their workplace (which could a person’s legitimate authority at work include bullying). It is the duty of the employer to so far and bullying. All employers have a as is practicable ensure that adequate If an internal workplace bullying legal right to direct and control how systems are in place to prevent or stop complaint has been lodged within a work is done, and managers have a the bullying behaviour. To address workplace the complainant is protected responsibility to monitor workflow and workplace bullying, or the potential for by qualified privilege, provided the give feedback on performance. bullying, employers should: complaint is not malicious, the facts If a worker has obvious performance • Consult with employees and safety presented in the complaint are true, problems, these should be identified and health representatives the complaint is made in accordance and dealt with in a constructive way with workplace procedures and it is that does not involve personal insults • Implement adequate policies and not discussed with people who are not or derogatory remarks. In situations procedures, which could include directly involved in the resolution of where a worker is dissatisfied with grievance procedures, a bullying the complaint. management practices, the problem prevention policy or procedures for Qualified privilege is a concept that should also be raised in a manner that reporting and investigating comes from common law. It protects does not involve personal abuse. workplace bullying issues an individual from a possible • Appoint a contact person, grievance defamation charge under certain Why does bullying go unreported? officer or mediator as a first contact circumstances; that is, where a point for enquiries, concerns and Workers are less likely to report bullying person makes a statement or receives complaints and cooperate in inquiries if they: information from another as part of • Provide information and training on carrying out public or private duties. • Don’t recognise bullying behaviour the relevant policies and procedures • Have a lack of knowledge about Who can lodge a workplace bullying • Monitor indicators or workplace bullying behaviours and their effects OSH enquiry with Resources Safety? bullying, including absence from • Are unsure about the correct work (sick leave, workers OSH enquiries procedure compensation leave, long service Before lodging an OSH enquiry the • Don’t know where to seek help leave, unpaid work), turnover of staff and results of formal exit interviews employee should first try to resolve the • Fear retribution from the bully workplace bullying within the workplace or bullies If a bullying concern is reported to the through the informal or formal employer, the employer must within • Feel intimidated or embarrassed reasonable time investigate the matter Continued on page 40... • Believe that bullying is part of the that has been reported, determine action,

MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007 39 As part of the investigation the inspector or unreasonable behaviour that ...from page 39 will discuss the most appropriate adversely affects the safety and approach with the person who is health of other persons at the process. The employer should first get allegedly bullied at the workplace. workplace an opportunity to investigate hazards at If the Inspector and complainant agree the workplace. If the workplace bullying to further investigate the concerns, the We have a bullying culture at work. matter remains unresolved or the inspector will ask the bullied person to Is that acceptable? complainant feels that he or she could give consent to discuss the concerns of not report the workplace bullying to alleged bullying at the workplace. Workplace bullying behaviour is not acceptable at any workplace. Even anyone in the workplace an OSH enquiry The inspector cannot disclose that a if a person does not complain about may be lodged with Resources Safety. (bullying) complaint has been made, workplace bullying, they may still be unless the complainant has agreed Any person may lodge an OSH enquiry offended and affected by the behaviour with Resources Safety in relation otherwise. Therefore, it becomes and the behaviour may still be to bullying. To be able to conduct an difficult to investigate an alleged unacceptable. investigation into workplace bullying workplace bullying complaint when contact details of the person(s) who is/ no contact details are provided to Some individuals may initially be are allegedly bullied should be provided Resources Safety. more tolerant of bullying than others. to Resources Safety. This does not mean the potential for What is the role of a Resources The investigating inspector should be harm is diminished. Bullying should Safety inspector when investigating a not be regarded as normal workplace able to: workplace bullying OSH enquiry? behaviour. Bullying can be stopped, and • Contact the person who is allegedly The inspector will first contact the it should not be tolerated in any form. bullied person who has lodged the OSH enquiry • Obtain further details about and obtain further details about the What other legislation may be the alleged unreasonable and alleged bullying behaviour from the applicable to a workplace bullying? inappropriate behaviour at the bullied person(s). The inspector may ask workplace and any other relevant for a brief written overview of bullying Dealing with workplace bullying may information incidents, including place, date, time, involve laws other than the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. • Discuss the most appropriate persons and what was said or done. Some of these laws are listed below: approach The inspector will discuss the most appropriate approach. • When bullying involves direct or It is Resource Safety's role to ensure indirect discrimination on the that the employer and the employee If both inspector and complainant grounds of race, sex, marital status, meet their obligations under the Act. agree, the inspector will contact the pregnancy, impairment, religious It is not the role of an inspector to employer and discuss the raised or political conviction, age, gender become involved in the specifics of bullying concerns at the workplace. workplace bullying or to mediate If applicable the inspector can also history, sexual orientation, family between the target and the perpetrator. arrange meetings with the alleged responsibility or family status, perpetrator, witnesses and other sexual or racial harassment, or Issue resolution relevant persons. spent conviction in accordance with the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, the Employers are required to attempt to It is the inspector’s role to establish if the employee may lodge a complaint resolve safety and health issues raised employer and the employee meet their with the Commissioner for Equal within the workplace in accordance obligations under the Act. It is not the Opportunity with relevant procedures. If an issue role of an inspector to become involved in remains unresolved and there is a risk the specifics of workplace bullying or to • Should an employee consider he or of serious and imminent injury or harm, mediate between the bullied person and she has been dismissed as a result either the employer, the employee or the alleged perpetrator. of making a complaint in relation safety and health representative may ask Depending on the outcome of the to bullying, or is forced to resign an inspector to visit the workplace. An investigation and the circumstances due to the effects of bullying the inspector will then attend the workplace the Inspector can take one or more of employee may be entitled to lodge and take whatever action under the Act the following actions: a claim under the unfair dismissal he or she considers appropriate. provisions in the Industrial • Take no action Relations Act 1979 Can Resources Safety investigate an • Provide information on workplace anonymous workplace bullying OSH bullying • The Public Sector Management enquiry? Act 1994 governs the behaviour • Issue improvement notice(s). of public sector employees and The Resources Safety inspector should For instance, under certain bullying can be a breach of the be able to obtain further details from circumstances the employer Western Australian Public Sector the person who is allegedly bullied could be directed to ensure that Code of Ethics at the workplace. This is necessary adequate systems are in place to gain a better understanding of to prevent or stop bullying, or to • Any physical assault and sexual the inappropriate and unreasonable investigate the hazards reported by assault are criminal matters and behaviour at the workplace and the an employee. The perpetrator could should be referred to the Western actions already undertaken. be directed to stop the inappropriate Australia Police

40 MINESAFE Vol. 16, No. 3 — December 2007