3.2. On-site Implementation

The mining industry has progressively adopted risk management at a corporate, site, major mine process and day-to-day practice. The approaches vary in detail and formality but every mining industry site consider risks in some way when making important decisions. The degree to which the process is systematic, formal and accurate varies from site to site.

Current best practise is a fully integrated risk management system at a site. Integrated risk management involves the formal placement of risk management activities throughout the key management and engineering processes of the site, including day to day work planning and control. This is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8 Level of integrated risk management

Achieving an effective integrated risk management system requires evolution of the site’s culture and systems over time. It would be virtually impossible for a site with limited formal risk management approaches to attempt to apply integrated risk management systems. It is necessary for the systems to evolve through a series of stages and, importantly, the culture or people factor at the site must evolve in parallel. It cannot be underestimated, that this top down leadership approach is not one of delegation but of absolute ownership of the problem at the most senior levels; along with clear and definite demonstration and modelling of the required behaviours, by those in senior management.

A site that has fully integrated risk management will have a carefully designed set of expectations for risk assessment. The documented expectations would outline the principles and methods to be followed across the site, designed to suit the relevant decisions that are made by the site engineering, management, supervisory and individual workforce members. This information guides the site in the risk management process.

There should be a set of analytical tools for reviewing risks related to significant tasks. All the site risk assessment principles and methods outlined in a standard document.