A must have for mine operators: Deploying a Mine Safety Management System (MSMS)

The following article is an abridgement of an announcement originally published on the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety website.

Mine operators "lacking a proper understanding"

The WorkSafe Mines Safety inspectorate has noticed a trend of mine operators lacking a proper understanding of the requirement to develop a Mine Safety Management System (MSMS), and mines that have not adequately implemented the MSMS.

All mines have been required to have a fully developed MSMS by 31 March 2023. This includes site-specific documentation, risk assessments, controls, structures, and statutory appointments, all of which should be fully documented with processes in place to implement the MSMS.

Adapting the MSMS Framework

Where there is a common MSMS framework in place for mine operators with more than one mining operation, this framework must then be adapted for the specific hazards and risks at each mine site. A common or generic MSMS generally does not meet the requirements of managing hazards and risks across different workplaces.

Next Phase Expectations by 31 March 2024

By 31 March 2024, all mines must have a deployed and functioning MSMS. The framework and associated components must be fully implemented and operational.

The MSMS must be readily available to any worker at the mine, enabling them to understand the hazards, risks, and controls in place to ensure their safety.

The Mines Safety inspectorate will take regulatory action where appropriate if it is identified that the MSMS has not been fully developed as required.

Further Information

For more information, refer to:

• the Mine Safety Management System: Code of Practice
• the Content of Mine Safety Management System information sheet
• the Overview of the Mine Safety Management System Code of Practice information sheet, and
• the Mine Safety Management Plans video.

Note from the editor

For mine sites that have not yet implemented an MSMS, or are not confident that their current MSMS will pass muster, get in contact with a myosh consultant today to fast track a solution. Choose from ready-made modules for Incidents, Hazards, Actions, Documents, Training Management, Contractor Management, Inspections, and more, that can all be rapidly configured to fit your exact mould. The myosh team can also create fully custom modules for unique needs, with a very short turnaround time-frame on the order of days.

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Sources

Mine safety management system by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 8th January, 2024.

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Updated with correction on 16/02/2024: a previous version of this article erroneously stated that the deadline for an MSMS development was extended from March 2023 to March 2024, instead of explaining that the 2023 deadline related to developing the system and the 2024 deadline related to the implementation.