The WorkSafe Commissioner has exempted the operators of small, lower-risk mines in Western Australia that meet all of the regulator’s criteria from full Site Senior Executive requirements, allowing them to appoint a Site Senior Executive (Restricted).
The Site Senior Executive is the person responsible at the mine. Normally, this role requires formal qualifications and a full examination. To support small, lower-risk mines, WorkSafe has developed a simpler alternative, the Small Mine Statutory Position Assessment (SMSPA), which offers a time-efficient and resource-friendly way for eligible operators to meet their regulatory obligations.
WA mining work health and safety law, which comprises the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 and codes of practice, applies to every mine, but the SMSPA allows the operators of small, lower-risk mines to meet their regulatory obligations proportionate to their risk levels. A simple sand pit on a farm doesn’t require the same systems or processes as an open-cut gold mine.
The exemption applies to the operators of mines that meet all the following criteria:
- engage in surface-only operations;
- employ five (5) or fewer workers;
- are not subject to levy requirements under the Mines Safety and Inspection Levy Regulations 2010 (that is, 5,000 or less hours worked per quarter);
- do not use hazardous processing chemicals, such as cyanide;
- do not use explosives; and
- do not engage in any dredging activities.
The exemption, which is valid until 1 April 2031, and the SMSPA, which WorkSafe developed following feedback from industry stakeholders, embody an agile approach that reduces administrative burdens on eligible operators without compromising safety. In the short term, WorkSafe will take an educational approach to the requirement for small, lower-risk mines to appoint a Site Senior Executive.
For more information about the exemption, including how to create an account to take the assessment, go to SMSPA's website.