WA launches Mine Safety Management System code of practice

Western Australia’s Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has released the Mine Safety Management System Code of practice. This code of practice constitutes a central component of the risk management framework for mine sites. The Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 create a duty for the mine operator to establish and implement a mine safety management system (MSMS). This MSMS is the primary means of ensuring safe operations by providing direction to everyone at a mine site and must be in place before mining operations commence and also applies to exploring operations.

To assist mine operations to establish and implement an MSMS, WorkSafe Mines Safety has published a code of practice: Mine Safety Management Systems. Following extensive industry consultation and public comment, the MSMS code of practice has been approved by the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and endorsed by the Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) and the Work Health and Safety Commission (WHSC). MIAC Chair and Chief Inspector of Mines Christina Folley said that while most mining operations will have health and safety related policies, plans and processes in place, the MSMS combines all of these elements into an integrated system. “The MSMS enables persons conducting a business or undertaking to ensure there are no gaps in the management of all health and safety risks and that all of the elements work in a coordinated way,” Folley said.

The code was developed based on the publications ‘Code of Practice: Safety management systems in mines’ and ‘Guide: Preparing a principal mining hazard management plan’, produced by the NSW Resources Regulator. Through ongoing consultation with workers, the MSMS identifies the outcomes that a mining operation must achieve, rather than creating a set of rules to be followed. It recognises that no two operations are the same and that hazards will vary from site to site.

For more information visit Mine safety management system – code of practice.

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