Ground Control
Geotechnical design, ground support and monitoring to prevent rockfalls and wall failures.
Health & Safety
Everyone goes home safe and healthy, every day
Mining involves powerful equipment, unstable ground and demanding environments. A strong safety culture, effective risk management and constant awareness are what keep people safe.
Safety Culture
Safety is a value, not a priority
Priorities change with circumstances; values do not. That is why safety is treated as a core value that holds even when schedules are tight or costs are under pressure.
A strong safety culture is one where people speak up, where leaders spend time in the field listening, and where reporting a near miss is recognized as a contribution, not an admission of failure. Every person has the authority — and the obligation — to stop work they believe is unsafe.
- Stop-work authority for every person on site
- Visible, field-based leadership
- Just culture for reporting and learning
Risk Management
The hierarchy of controls
The most effective controls remove the hazard entirely. Personal protective equipment is the last line of defense, not the first.
Elimination
Remove the hazard completely, for example by redesigning a task so work at height is no longer needed.
Substitution
Replace a hazard with something less dangerous, such as a safer chemical or method.
Engineering controls
Isolate people from the hazard through guarding, interlocks, ventilation or remote operation.
Administrative controls
Procedures, permits, training, signage and supervision that change how work is done.
PPE
Hard hats, eye and hearing protection, respirators and high-visibility clothing as the final safeguard.
Critical Risks
Focusing on what can cause serious harm
Vehicle Interaction
Segregation of light and heavy vehicles, collision-avoidance systems and traffic management plans.
Energy Isolation
Lock-out, tag-out and verification before work on electrical, mechanical or hydraulic systems.
Explosives
Strict controls over storage, transport, charging and firing, with secure exclusion zones.
Ventilation & Air Quality
Engineered airflow underground and dust control to manage gases, heat and respirable dust.
Working at Height & Lifting
Fall prevention systems, certified rigging and planned lifts with competent personnel.
Occupational Health
Protecting long-term health
Not every harm is immediate. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica, noise, vibration, heat and fatigue can affect health over many years. Occupational hygiene programs measure these exposures and verify that controls keep them well within limits.
Health surveillance, fitness-for-work programs and support for mental wellbeing are part of a complete approach. Rotational rosters and remote work demand particular attention to fatigue and psychological health.
- Exposure monitoring for dust, noise and heat
- Fatigue management and fitness-for-work
- Mental health awareness and support
Workplace Awareness
Everyday practices that prevent incidents
Pre-start meetings
Each shift begins with a review of the day’s tasks, hazards and changes in conditions.
Take-5 risk checks
A short personal risk assessment before starting any task or when conditions change.
Permit-to-work
Formal authorization for high-risk work such as hot work, confined spaces and isolations.
Field verification
Leaders check that critical controls are present and working, not just documented.
Incident learning
Investigations look for system causes and share lessons across teams.
Emergency preparedness
Trained response teams, refuge chambers, drills and clear evacuation routes.
Safety FAQ
Questions about mining safety
What is a critical control?
A critical control is a control that, if absent or failed, would significantly increase the risk of a fatality or serious injury. These controls are identified for each major hazard and verified regularly in the field.
How does technology improve mine safety?
Automation and remote operation remove people from hazardous areas, while monitoring systems give early warning of ground movement or poor air quality. Learn more on our Mining Technology page.
Is safety training required for all workers?
Yes. Site induction, task-specific training and competency assessment are standard across the mining industry before people work unsupervised.
Join a team that puts people first
Mining careers are built on competence, care and continuous learning.