WorkSafe WA’s New Guide to Managing High-Risk Hazards in Mining Operations

 
 

Nearly a third of Australia’s operating mine sites are in Western Australia, and according to the state government, it is estimated that nearly 135,693 onsite full-time employees were employed across these mines in 2024 alone. From deep underground mines to remote exploration sites, the scale and the complexity of mining operations across the state have created a broad number of safety challenges which are constantly evolving. 

The Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 require all mining operators to implement a Mine Safety Management System (MSMS) on all their sites, including exploration sites, to minimise the risks of safety hazards. Every plan is required to include a Principal Mining Hazard Management Plan (PMHMP) that addresses the identification and management of Principal Mining Hazards (PMH), which are defined as risks that have the possibility of causing multiple fatalities through a single incident or by recurring incidents. (Source: WorkSafe WA) 

The new Principal Mining Hazard Management Plan (PMHMP) guide and a self-assessment template released by WorkSafe Western Australia provides guidance for mine operators on the PMH risk management process and requirements. 

Let’s get a brief overview of what the guide entails in this article. 

What is a principal mining hazard? 

Under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, a principal mining hazard at a mine is categorised as “any activity, process, procedure, plant, structure, substance, situation or other circumstance relating to the carrying out of mining operations at the mine that has a reasonable potential to result in multiple deaths in a single incident or a series of recurring incidents.” 

The term ‘reasonable potential’ is deemed as the likelihood of an incident occurring, not just a theoretical possibility but the actual possibility based on the nature of the hazard and operational context. Hazards which workers are exposed to repeatedly and have a reasonable potential to cause multiple fatalities over time are also considered as a PMH. 

Read the full guide for more details.  

Types of principal mining hazards 

Principal mining hazards (PMHs) may change depending on the nature and location of mining operations. Some well-known hazards mentioned in the PMHMP guide are: 

  • Ground instability or geotechnical instability that can cause ground collapse 

  • Inrush of substances such as water, gas or mud that can suddenly enter the mine 

  • Mine shafts and winding systems that can create risks to structural integrity 

  • Areas where mobile plants operate, such as loading zones  

  • Uncontrolled explosions or fires 

  • Gas outbursts 

  • Spontaneous combustion, which is common in underground coal mines where coal can ignite without an external flame 

In addition to these common hazards, the guide also includes other potential PMHs that operators must be aware of. These include: 

  • Airborne contaminants like dust, asbestos, radiation 

  • Isolated working conditions which can result in delayed responses to emergencies 

  • Electrical hazards 

  • Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, storms 

  • Working at heights or confined spaces 

How to identify principal mining hazards (PMHs)? 

Identification of PMHs must be done by skilled and experienced individuals who are familiar with the operations of the mine site. According to the PMHMP guide, principal hazards can be identified using several ways. These include: 

  • Reviewing existing risk assessments 

  • Consultation with workers 

  • Analysing and addressing worker complaints and suggestions 

  • Reviewing past safety records 

  • Conducting safety audits and workplace inspections  

It is important to remember to assess hazards individually as well as take into consideration on how they might interact with each other. This is because while some hazards may not be fatal in isolation, they might create significant risks when combined with another hazard. 

For more details on identifying hazards, refer to the full guide. 

How to conduct a Risk Assessment on an identified hazard? 

Once a principal hazard has been identified, a risk assessment is necessary to understand and investigate the likelihood of it occurring. This can help operators to take necessary steps to reduce or eliminate the risk. This can be done through a bow-tie diagram, which is a common method used in the mining industry to document risk assessments. 

Other than the bowtie method, the PMHMP guide also lists some other risk assessment techniques operators can use, such as Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), Human Error Analysis (HEA), Event Tree Analysis (ETA) and Workplace Risk Assessment and Control (WRAC).  

For more details on conducting risk assessments, refer to the full guide. 

What is a principal mining hazard management plan (PMHMP)? 

A PMHMP is a type of formal document that describes how a mining operator would manage risks of an identified principal mining hazard. It must include a clear description of the PMH that it will address, an explanation of how the associated risks were assessed and a detailed outline of the chosen control measures and how they will be implemented in practice.  

More information on choosing control measures can be found in the PMHMP guide. 

It is important to remember that PMHMPs must be created for each individual principal mining hazard that was identified. Once created, mining operators must then ensure that all PMHMPs of that site are included in its overall MSMS. 

How can I know if my PMHMPs are compliant? 

The self-assessment template which was released by WorkSafe Western Australia can be used by mine operators to assess if their PMHMPs are compliant with the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act). 

For more information on PMHMPs, visit the WorkSafe Western Australia website. 

Alicja Gibert