WA Exploration Drilling CoP
Presenter Simon Ridge
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
1
What is in it for the exploration drilling sector?
A commitment to working with the sector to reduce
serious accidents and incidents, and tangible support
in achieving a positive cultural change.
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
2
What’s happening with serious injuries?
Number of serious injuries per million hours worked
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1994-95
1998-99
2002-03
2006-07
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
2010-11
3
Safety culture spectrum
Vulnerable
Rule followers
Robust
Enlightened
In denial
Deal ‘by the book’
Messengers ‘shot’
Conform to rules
Develop risk
management capacity
Whistleblowers
dismissed or
discredited
Target = ‘zero’
Enhance systems
Safety management
plan widely known
Reactive
Improve suite of
performance measures
Competent people with
experience
Develop action plans
Accountabilities
understood
Actively seek new
ideas
Advanced performance
measures
Messengers rewarded
Protection of the
powerful
Information hoarded
Responsibility shirked
Failure punished or
covered up
Repair not reform
Information neglected
Responsibility
compartmentalised
New ideas = ‘problems’
Monitor and review
progress
Clarify/refine objectives
New ideas crushed
Active leadership
Resilient
Strive for resilience of
systems
Reform rather than
repair
Responsibility shared
Regular reviews
Proactive as well as
reactive
Range of emergency
responses catered for
Failures prompt farreaching inquiries
Flexibility of operation
Consistent mindset is
‘wariness’
‘in disarray’
pathological
‘organised’
reactive
Sanction
Direct
‘credible’
calculative
‘trusting’
proactive
Encourage
Partner
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
‘disciplined’
generative
Champion
4
What about national harmonisation?
 Safe Work Australia
 National Mines Safety Framework
Promote and expand the role of risk
management
• Less reliance on detailed prescription in
regulations
• Operators will be required to demonstrate
an understanding of the hazards and risks
that apply to their sites
• Operators must eliminate risks or
demonstrate effective controls
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5
PHMPs for exploration?
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
How has the code been developed?
• Targeted at mineral exploration drilling in remote
locations
• Developed with industry input from various sources
– Working and focus groups
– 2010 and 2011 Exploration Safety Road Shows
– Industry comment sought early 2012
– ADIA Sundowner March 2012
• Designed for ease of use and risk-based approach
• Submission for national consideration
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
What does industry consider to be significant?

Promote a risk management approach for the guarding of machinery

Implement the OHS compliance strategy for mineral exploration and
drilling

Promote the use of traffic management and confined space audits

Raise awareness of seismicity issues and their potential
consequences for underground mines

Empower safety and health representatives
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
8
What does industry consider to be critical?

Support the advancement of a resilient OHS culture in mining

Promote the appropriate use of risk management tools

Ensure mines address OHS issues associated with the construction
phase of mining operations

Facilitate the introduction of principal hazard management plans
(PHMPs)
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
9
What other important issues did industry identify?
 Fatigue and working hours
 Alcohol and other drugs
 Workplace culture is about safety rather than production focussed
 Management and supervision
 More training (for new workers, contractors, supervisors, SHReps)
and a higher standard of training
 Vehicle and equipment management and maintenance
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
10
Mineral exploration drilling – draft code
Part 1
Risk management
approach
Part 2
Drilling hazards
Part 3
Emergency preparedness
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
11
Is the risk adequately controlled?
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
12
What’s involved in risk management?
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
13
Risk management process
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14
Consider the hierarchy of controls
 Elimination – remove the hazard by designing it out
 Substitution – replace the hazardous design component
with a less hazardous one
Most
effective
 Isolation – separate the hazard from people involved in
the work and those in general work area
 Engineering controls – built into design of plant,
equipment or process to reduce exposure to hazard
•
Administrative controls – work practices such as
procedures and training
•
PPE
What works?
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
15
What is in it?
Part 2 Drilling hazards
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Rotating and moving parts
Compressed air systems
Hydraulic systems
Hazardous substances and dangerous goods
Electricity
Manual tasks
Working at height
Falling objects
Working in hot environments
Fatigue and mental wellbeing
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
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What is in it? (continued)
Part 2 Drilling hazards
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Dust
Noise
Ionising radiation
Hot work
Extreme weather and bushfires
Light vehicle movement
Rig movement
Remoteness of exploration
Natural gases
Existing workings
Housekeeping
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety
17
When will the code be available?
• Approvals process
– MIAC endorsement (September?)
– Ministerial approval (October?)
– Published online within 48 hours
– Hard copy available within 2 weeks
www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSafety