Safer mine sites focus of forum

The forum was developed as a way to improve safety on Western Australia’s mine sites.
Date: Friday, 28 August 2015

The Department of Mines and Petroleum hosted the inaugural Registered Managers Forum in Perth on 19 August.

The forum was developed following a review of the department’s annual Mine Safety Roadshows as a way to work more closely with registered managers and drive safer outcomes on Western Australian mining operations.

Mines Safety Director and State Mining Engineer Andrew Chaplyn said the forum attracted more than 100 registered managers, quarry managers and operational managers from around the State.

“This event gave us an opportunity to speak to key industry influencers to discuss how we can work together to drive positive changes to safety culture across the mining sector,” Mr Chaplyn said.

“Some of the issues raised included questions around safety strategies, the roles of operators and regulators, and how can we all move safety forward.”

Mr Chaplyn also used the forum to highlight some of the lessons from the serious injury analysis report recently released by the department.

“This report helps increase our understanding about what causes serious accidents and how to prevent them having fatal outcomes,” Mr Chaplyn said.

“Producing this information has been an important focus for the department and is part of our commitment to providing information and analysis to the mining industry to help improve safety.”

Feedback from the forum also highlighted the importance of collaboration.

“Everyone involved in mining must commit to making a difference if the aspirational goal of “zero harm” is to become an imbedded reality,” Mr Chaplyn said.

DMP’s inaugural Registered Managers Forum was held earlier this month.