WorkSafe has released a suite of educational materials—guides and self-assessments—to help Western Australia’s mine operators manage hazards and contractors so that they are better equipped to comply with the State’s workplace health and safety laws.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, WA mine operators must have a mine safety management system (MSMS) in place for all of their sites, including exploration ones. An MSMS is a framework that enables mine operators to follow a systematic, risk-based approach to workplace health and safety. An MSMS integrates all elements of risk management in one overarching system.
However, some risks are greater than others. Some risks have the potential to create incidents with deadly consequences. WA’s laws classify these heightened risks as principal mining hazards and define them as having a reasonable potential to cause multiple deaths in a single incident or a series of recurring incidents. When such hazards exist, it is essential that mine operators incorporate management plans for addressing them into their site’s MSMS.
Intended as starters for WA mine operators with limited experience in risk management and as refreshers for companies reviewing their existing plans, WorkSafe has published a principal mining hazard management plan (PMHMP) guide and accompanying self-assessment tool. The guide sets out the steps for identifying principal mining hazards, selecting appropriate risk management processes, evaluating the recognised dangers and adopting the best control measures. The self-assessment tool explains how to gather evidence of compliance, evaluate compliance levels and formulate corrective action plans to ensure compliance.
Other new additions to WorkSafe’s collection of reference texts are its MSMS self-assessment tool and contractor management guide. The engagement of contractors at WA mine sites establishes mutual obligations and arrangements among duty holders to ensure the maintenance of safe workplaces. These shared responsibilities require information, consultation, cooperation and coordination because the parties cannot absolve themselves of their health and safety obligations—no matter how long and intricate the chain of contracting or subcontracting.
Tony Robertson, Director WorkSafe Mines Safety, said that assisting WA mine operators to adhere to the State’s legislation was key to improving workplace health and safety practices in an inherently dangerous industry that employs thousands of local workers.
“Failing to plan is planning to fail, and that’s not an acceptable approach for the WA mining sector to adopt when the lives of so many of the State’s workers are on the line,” Mr Robertson said.
“WorkSafe’s role is to drive positive workplace health and safety change in WA through education, specialist advice and, when necessary, enforcement. WorkSafe’s hope is these easy-to-use materials provide WA mine operators with specialist advice to support voluntary compliance.”
WorkSafe launched its new guides and self-assessments at its 23 July 2025 forum for site senior executives in WA’s mining industry, an event at which Queensland-based critical risk management expert Christian Young delivered the keynote address and Dwaine Jones, Deputy Chief Inspector at the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, provided his insights from Australia’s east coast.