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CORESafety Module 9
This module focuses on operational controls and contract management. It highlights how safety and health must be fully integrated into the way mining operations are designed, maintained and managed. Instead of treating safety as a separate function, Module 9 shows how it becomes part of the everyday systems and decisions that keep a mining operation running smoothly.
Integrating Safety into Operations and Maintenance
Module 9 stresses the importance of organizing work in a predictable way, with procedures that guide both routine and high-risk activities. When formal regulations or design codes are incomplete or inadequate, companies should reference and follow internationally recognized standards such as ISO, ANSI, AS/NZS, or EN. This ensures consistent, reliable practices for both employees and contractors.
Safe Work Procedures and Permits
Safe work procedures are developed through risk assessments and should actively involve workers. These procedures provide the foundation for training and are monitored by supervisors.
Certain high-risk or non-routine tasks require permits to work, including:
If there is any uncertainty about whether a task can be performed safely, it should not proceed until that certainty is achieved.
Role of Line and Senior Management
Safety is recognized as a line function in Module 9. Line and senior management are expected to integrate safety directly into operations and maintenance, ensuring tasks are performed in an organized and predictable manner. This leadership involvement is crucial to achieving excellence in safety performance.
Data Collection and Management
Effective safety and health management relies on strong recordkeeping. Module 9 outlines the need to collect and maintain documentation such as:
Records should be scaled to the size and complexity of the organization, backed up in secure and accessible formats, and preserved without slowing proactive safety efforts.
Designing and Commissioning
Safety is most effective when it is considered at the design stage. New facilities, systems, and equipment should apply the hierarchy of controls and meet or exceed regulatory standards. Module 9 advises that safety and health considerations be built into all design reviews and commissioning processes so that operational risks are minimized across the entire life cycle of the facility or equipment.
Managing Contractors
Contractors are often engaged for high-hazard tasks, making effective contract management an essential component of Module 9. Companies should:
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Pre-screen contractors for safety competence
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Ensure project proposals include safety and health criteria
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Provide guidance and oversight to align contractors with company expectations
Expectations
There are 13 expectations in Module 9 that you should review and follow when implementing CORESafety at your mining operation. You can learn about these expectations by watching this episode of CORESafety TV and by going here on the CORESafety website.
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