How to Conduct Effective Safety Audits in Your Mining Operation

When it comes to mining, safety audits are a must-have for finding lurking dangers, and safety regulations are upheld with the help of routine safety audits.  

Effective mine safety management systems are created and supported through audits. 

They are a non-negotiable part of a thriving, efficient, secure mining operation, enabling proactive scans for hidden risks and improvement opportunities to prevent incidents before they become tragedies. Let’s review the best practices for conducting well-planned and prepared safety audits.

Establishing The Safety Audit Purpose and Scope

Regulations and industry standards are the guiding principles for ensuring audits align with established best practices.

Working out which areas warrant scrutiny and determining whether it will target specific concerns, or an all-encompassing sweep create a clear purpose and defined scope.

Is there a specific area of concern, like a new processing plant or a recent incident? Focusing on a defined area allows a thorough assessment of potential hazards particular to that location or process.

You can conduct a comprehensive enquiry into one department at a time or the entire operation, where all mine safety management systems are examined, from equipment and procedures, confirming routine inspections are being carried out, recorded and actioned, to workforce training and emergency protocols.

A clear purpose and defined scope transform your safety audit from a checklist exercise into a targeted and worthwhile investigation, unearthing potential hazards before they blindside an operation. Your audit then becomes a powerful education and performance tool for mine safety management systems and standard operating procedures.

Conducting a Comprehensive Risk Assessment

Risk-based focus prioritises areas with the highest inherent risk or where recent incidents offer clues. A risk-based approach maximises the value of resource allocation so that time and energy are spent where it matters most.

A collaborative approach enables the audit to address the most relevant concerns, involving key stakeholders from different departments and levels to identify critical areas and problems.

Building a Robust Action Plan Post-Audit

Highlighting hazards is only half of the exercise. An effective audit’s true power lies in its action plan, which becomes the roadmap to transforming identified risks into actionable steps and applying them to business as usual if required.

Prioritise identified hazards based on their severity, likelihood of occurrence, and potential consequences using the tried and proven S.M.A.R.T method, which makes actions Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Rather than say “improve PPE,” specify which equipment needs upgrading or replacing and a realistic timeframe for completion. 

Assign ownership for each action item that leverages the expertise of different staff and departments and involves workers to take responsibility. Decide what staffing, budget, and equipment you will need. Allocate what’s required to implement each item, like providing training for new equipment or reallocating the budget towards upgrades.

Tracking Progress and Championing Safety

Action plans need flexibility. Treat them as a living document. Regular progress monitoring and effectiveness evaluation through established metrics and worker feedback help ensure everything’s running smoothly and adjustments are made when needed.

Communication is everything, as we’ve discussed previously. Informed teams are empowered teams whose commitment and support create the much-desired culture of continuous improvement through transparency and dialogue. Share progress updates, celebrate successes, and openly discuss challenges.

A Safer Future For Australian Mining, One Audit At A Time

Ready to make safety audits a cornerstone of your operation’s success?

We are your onsite professionals for critical risk management, health and safety training, consulting, and audits. Phone us on 1300 024 482 for support with investing in effective audits.