Frequently asked questions on management and …

1 Government of Western Australia INFORMATION SHEET. Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Resources Safety Frequently asked questions on management and supervision at mining operations 1. Who establishes the standards of 2. W. hat key management and Under the duty of care legislation, safety within an organisation? supervisory personnel are needed supervision must also be provided to operate a mine in Western for all employees carrying out work The duties of the Principal Australia? at the mine. Employer, and any other employer as implemented by senior Before operations begin at a Key management appointments corporate management , are to mine, the Principal Employer must specified in regulations include an develop, authorise, provide and appoint a Registered Manager for electrical supervisor, mine surveyor, maintain workplace safety and the mine. high voltage operator, ventilation health systems to guide mine officer, radiation safety officer management and supervisors on The Registered Manager is and a person responsible for the how to run the mine safely.

2 Responsible on a daily basis for the general control of any construction control and supervision of the mine work at the mine. Corporate managers ( chief and should reside close enough to executive officer, company the mine to provide effective daily 3. W. hat personnel are required for directors, corporate advisors) must control and supervision . exploration operations ? ensure that sufficient resources, both monetary and human, are The Principal Employer must The Principal Employer (typically available to operate the mine in appoint a quarry manager for open the tenement holder) must accordance with the Mines Safety pit operations and an underground appoint an Exploration Manager and Inspection Act 1994 and Mines manager where underground to take control of exploration Safety and Inspection Regulations operations take place. The activities. Where these activities 1995, and the Principal Employer Principal Employer may authorise are associated with a mine, the has the power to issue instructions the Registered Manager in writing Registered Manager of that to the manager of the mine.

3 To appoint the quarry manager, mine may be appointed as the underground manager, alternate Exploration Manager. The systems, standards and manager and deputy manager leadership style established positions. As for a Registered Manager, the by corporate management are Exploration Manager must ensure fundamental in developing an Additional management compliance with the Mines Safety appropriate safety culture. appointments may be made and Inspection Act 1994 and by the Registered Manager to accompanying regulations. assist in maintaining compliance with the Act. Where additional For each field exploration appointments are made, the operation, the tenement owner Registered Manager must carry must also appoint a person who out regular checks to ensure that is responsible for the daily site the appointed persons carry out management of activities at that the delegated duties in accordance operation. This position may be with the requirements of the law. filled by the Exploration Manager if that person is on site managing the field exploration activities.

4 1. 4. What qualifications are required Quarry Manager's or a Restricted The intent is that on any working for a Registered Manager? Quarry Manager's Certificate. For day, these personnel are present to a quarry not using explosives, provide control and supervision at There is no statutory qualification the Restricted Quarry Manager's the mine site. prescribed for Registered Certificate may be annotated Only Managers. However, they need for non-explosive quarries . An accurate log of the periods of to be trained and assessed duty for each manager including as competent to carry out For a small quarry where the date, time and reasons for the the work. As a minimum, the explosives are not used, the District absence needs to be kept in the Registered Manager should be Inspector may approve the quarry mine record book. conversant with the Mines Safety to be operated without a quarry and Inspection Act 1994 and manager. 11. What are the management accompanying regulations, the risk requirements for the inspection of management approach and the For a small quarry where workplaces?

5 Hazards relevant to the operation, explosives are used, the State mining Engineer may approve the The Registered Manager must and have management and quarry to be operated without a ensure that each workplace at the leadership skills. quarry manager. mine is inspected at the prescribed 5. W. hat statutory qualifications intervals specified in the law. The are required for an underground For the above-stated cases where regulations stipulate the minimum manager? a quarry manager is not appointed, frequency of inspections required the responsibilities of the quarry for certain areas. For a mine employing 25 or more manager are undertaken by the people underground, the manager Registered Manager. For a quarry operation, at least one must hold a First Class Mine inspection in each working shift is Manager's Certificate. 9. W. hat qualification is required for required to be completed by the surface supervisors? quarry manager or the appointed For a mine employing fewer than competent person.

6 25 underground, the manager may There is no specific qualification be the holder of an Underground defined for a surface supervisor. For underground non-coal Supervisor's Certificate. operations , at least one inspection Where a statutory qualification in each working shift is required 6. W. hat statutory qualifications is not required, the supervisor is to be completed by a person with are required for an underground required to be competent to carry a First Class Mine Manager's supervisor? out the task. A competent person Certificate or an Underground is defined in section 4 of the Mines Supervisor's Certificate. The To be an underground supervisor Safety and Inspection Act 1994 underground manager may direct ( shift boss), the person must as a person who is appointed or that more frequent inspections are hold an Underground Supervisor's designated by the employer to required. Certificate ( shift boss's ticket). perform specified duties based on knowledge, training and For all other workplaces, at least 7.

7 H. ow many underground experience. one inspection is required during supervisors are required for an each working day. underground mine? 10. May a mine be operated without the appointed key management 12. May an employee carry out work The number will depend on the persons? without supervision ? level of risk, size and nature of the mine and the number of shifts No. In a commute schedule, No. The relevant employers must worked in a day. alternate managers need to provide information, instruction, be appointed for the three key training and supervision to enable 8. W. hat statutory qualifications are positions when the duty holders employees to work in such a required for a quarry manager? are rostered off. manner that, as far as practicable, they are not exposed to hazards. For a quarry employing 25 or In a residential situation, when a more people where explosives Registered Manager is expected Under the employees' duty of are used, the manager must hold to be absent for more than a day care, they must comply with a First Class Mine Manager's for any reason, other than being the employer's procedures and or an unrestricted Quarry rostered off, a deputy manager instructions, ensure their own Manager's Certificate.

8 Where no needs to be appointed. safety, and avoid endangering any explosives are used, a Restricted other persons by their actions or Quarry Manager's Certificate is When a quarry manager or omissions. acceptable. underground manager is expected to be absent for any reason, other For a quarry employing fewer than than being rostered off, a deputy 25, the manager must hold a First manager needs to be appointed. Class Manager's, an unrestricted 2. 13. What level of supervision is 14. What considerations must both For an incomplete task from required for work being carried out the manager and a supervisor a previous shift, explain at the mine? make while allocating a task for its the correct status. Review safe execution? and revise the original risk The level of supervision depends assessment if necessary. on the state of knowledge, The details will vary depending Develop and provide written qualifications, experience and on the complexity of the task but procedures for non-routine training of employees, as well some general points to consider tasks.

9 As the nature of the task and are listed below. associated hazards. Provide ongoing instructions to Explain the task in sufficient deal with changing conditions. Untrained employees should details and check if the be under the close personal personnel involved have 15. What are the best safety controls supervision of a competent person understood it. that management and supervisors until they are trained and assessed can use to provide and maintain Ensure there is adequate as competent in the work being safe workplaces, plant and number of people to do the carried out. systems of work? task. Where employees have been Allocate personnel who are The Mines Safety and Inspection trained and assessed as competent to do the job. Where Act 1994 and accompanying competent in dedicated safe work necessary, they must hold the regulations provide a framework procedures, the employee may statutory licence or certificate to guide management and carry out the work without close to undertake the job.

10 Supervisors through their safety personal supervision . However, Allocate sufficient time to obligations. the supervisor should oversee complete the task. The fundamental requirements compliance with the procedures Provide resources ( space, are clearly summarised under through task observation or other equipment, tools, substances) the objects of the Act, which are regular contact throughout the that are suitable for the task. contained in section 3. A primary shift as required. Consider environmental factors aim of the legislation contained in Where the work cannot be ( light, wind, noise, dust, rain, section 3(1)(c) is to eliminate risks carried out in accordance with contaminants) and adjoining or provide and impose effective the procedures or a hazardous activities as these conditions controls. situation or occurrence occurs, the may change. Where the risks cannot be supervisor and manager must be Carry out a risk assessment eliminated, effective controls immediately notified so that they to identify the hazards and need to be developed and used.