FAQs on structure of site operations in the Safety Regulation System

These changes give the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) the ability to analyse information across all mining operations, comparing information in a ‘like-for-like’ manner. For example:

• trends across operation types, locality and commodity
• which operation types lodge the majority of injuries or incidents
• how various operation types compare regionally

Combined operation (CO) – represents the overall mining operation. Can consist of one, or more, site operations (SGs):

• Site operation (SG) – reflects the major operation type(s) of the CO. There are six operation types – open pit, underground, processing, port, construction and services
  • Site part (S) – represents the major entities that make up each SG.  For example, at a processing SG the major entities may be the processing plant itself, any associated tailing storage facilities and loading facilities.

The majority of mining operations (approximately 80%) exist as a single site operation.

Approximately 20% of mining operations, for example, a larger mine, where there are significant underground, open pit and processing facilities will have multiple SG's in a single CO to reflect the size and complexity of the mines.

Hours worked are reported at an individual site operation (SG) level.

For mining operations with multiple site operations (SGs) the principal employer will be required to report their hours for each site operation. For example, a mining operation with two SGs – one for the open pit and a second for the processing plant – should report hours spent on pit-related activities against the open pit’s SG, and the others against the processing plant’s SG.

Where should contractor hours be lodged?

Where there are multiple site operations (SGs), contractor hours need to be reported against the relevant site operation. In circumstances where people work across multiple site operations (e.g. maintenance contractors) those hours may be apportioned across the relevant site operations.

How should support services be reported?

Where there are multiple site operations (SGs), support services hours (e.g. engineering, technical, administration, human resources, commercial and supply) need to be reported against the relevant site operation. In circumstances where services are provided across multiple site operations those hours may be apportioned across the relevant site operations.

Exploration activities under the control of a registered manager for a site operation should be reported under the relevant site operation (SG).

All other exploration activities should be reported against the exploration company.

Notifications (e.g. accident and incident reporting, statutory appointments) need to be lodged against the site operation (SG) to which they relate.  For instance at a mining operation with more than one SG if there is an incident or injury at the open pit, then the injury should be reported against the open pit’s SG.

Yes, a registered manager (RM) will be responsible for more than one SG when multiple SGs exist within a CO. This will apply where an RM oversees both underground and processing operations for a large mining operation, or oversees operations across multiple quarries.

If the RM needs to be responsible for SGs across multiple COs permission must be granted by the State mining engineer.

No, a CO is aligned with the definition of a mine under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act (WA) 1994 and so may only have a single RM.

If a Principal Employer wishes to appoint multiple RMs within a mining operation they can request from the State mining engineer that the mining operation be regarded as multiple mines.

Please refer to related information below: