South Australia Statutory Requirements

Who is the Regulator?

In South Australia, SafeWork SA regulates mine manager competency under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) (WHS Regulations).  This is a result of the introduction of the Work Health and Safety (Mine Manager Variation) Regulations 2020 (SA) (the WHS Variation Regulations). 

The Department for Energy and Mining, through the Mineral Resources Division, is the state's agency responsible for the administration and management of mineral resources and regulation of South Australia's mineral exploration and mining sectors under the Mining Act 1970  and Mining Regulations 2020.

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Mine / Quarry Manager Competencies

Under the WHS Variation Regulations, a mine operator, in appointing a person to be a manager of a mine or quarry must be satisfied that the person meets the general competency requirements. These include:

• having the relevant training, qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills to manage and supervise the relevant mining operations,
• having knowledge of the legislated work health and safety requirements, and
• being capable of managing hazards in mines.

Mine Manager Appointed at all Times

A mine operator must ensure that they have a competent mine manager appointed at all times in relation to the mine. More than one (1) person can be appointed as a mine manager to cover temporary absences of the mine manager. The onus will be on the mine operator to make sure that each mine manager meets the competency requirements.

IQA Education and Membership

The IQA provides training to ensure a quarry manager maintains the required competencies for quarry sites with 20 or more workers and less than 20 workers, by:

• Providing a competency framework which identifies five essential competency areas relevant to all levels of the quarrying industry to align your education and training to.
• Providing training to ensure a quarry manager maintains competencies. 
• Delivering industry specific education and training courses covering a range of topics relevant to the industry.
• Maintaining a rolling schedule of all courses. In addition, the IQA can deliver corporate programs of any course specific to a site or organisation.
• Providing guidance on planning your training to maintain competence.
• Providing access to accredited training required for quarry manager certification via Registered Training Organisation (RTO) partnerships. 
• Offering an education calendar which is regularly updated with new and/or additional courses. 

 

Quarry sites with 20 or more workers	Quarry sites with under 20 workers
A degree in mining engineering or Diploma in Surface Operations Management	None prescribed, must meet general competency requirements.

Quarry sites with 20 or more workers

Under the WHS Variation Regulations, a mine operator, in appointing a person to be a manager of a mine or quarry with 20 or more workers must be satisfied that the person meets the following:

Type of Requirements	General Competency Requirements
	The mine operator must be satisfied that the person: has the relevant training, qualifications, experience, knowledge, and skills to manage and supervise the mining operations carried out at the mine, and has knowledge of the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 and the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (particularly Chapter 10), and is capable of managing hazards at the time. Mine operators, in satisfying themselves that a person has knowledge of the WHS Act and the WHS Regulations (including Chapter 10): Can consider people that have previously passed the mining/law exam for their mine/quarry manager certification as having sufficient knowledge, or must individually assess any person who has not passed this exam to determine if they have sufficient knowledge. For example, a mine operator could develop an assessment module/adopt an industry module on this legislation.
Prescribed Experience	Has at least three (3) years experience in quarrying during which the person had: one (1) year quarrying operational experience, and experience supervising quarry operations.
Prescribed Qualifications	Holds a degree in mining engineering or Diploma in Surface Operations Management

Quarry with under 20 workers

A mine operator will need to independently assess if a person is competent to be a mine manager at a quarry site with less than 20 workers. While the legislation does not require specific qualifications, we recommend the following:

• Certificate IV in Surface Extraction Operations for lower risk operations, and a
• Diploma of Surface Operations Management for higher risk operations are good benchmarks.  

Equally, the mine operator has the responsibility to ensure the person appointed remains competent.  Therefore, ensuring there is evidence that the person regularly updates their skills, and has current knowledge and skills to undertake the role at the site they are managing is important.

Accredited Training

The IQA has partnerships with RTOs who offer the mandatory units of competency (accredited training) and can assist you in enrolling in the required units.  Accredited training includes:

• RII60215 Advanced Diploma of Extractive Industries Management 
•  RII50120 Diploma of Surface Extraction Operations
•  RII40120 Certificate IV in Surface Extraction Operations
•  RII40920 Certificate IV in Drilling Operations
•  RII30120 Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations

Through these partnerships the IQA is supporting access to full qualifications or units of competency. The IQA can provide advice on the requirements in each state regarding accredited training for quarry manager competencies. 

Managing Multiple Mine / Quarry Sites

SafeWork SA has developed a process to enable mine operators to apply for an exemption to allow for the appointment of a mine manager across multiple sites.

Applications will be considered on a case by case basis, taking into consideration:

• the number of workers employed at the site
• site supervision arrangements that will be place at times where the mine manager is not on site
• information provided on how the appointment mine manager will undertake regular inspections across multiple sites
• information provided on how the mine manager will be appointed, their roles and responsibilities; and
• which sites are proposed to be covered.

Demonstrating Competence

A mine operator will need to independently assess the competence of a person to be a mine manager.  A mine operator must ensure that they assess a person's competence to manage the site and maintain adequate records of their training and experience.  While there is no definitive way records are to be kept, a mine operator must keep a record of:

• the appointment of each mine manager
• individual record of the mine manager (kept for the duration of the person's appointment as mine manager, and for at least two (2) years after the person ceases to be a mine manager at the site) in relation to:
  • formal qualifications
  • relevant training and professional development
  • past experience
  • knowledge and skills
  • knowledge of the requirements of the Act and regulations 

The IQA can support individuals to plan and maintain records of training to support competency requirements.

Enforcement

SafeWork SA’s determination about the competence of a person to be a mine manager will form part of its broader assessment of a mine site. Accordingly, SafeWork SA inspectors will:

• examine and determine mine manager competence against the applicable competency requirements in the WHS Variation Regulations and in any gazette notices. It will consider how the mine operator has satisfied themselves that the mine manager meets these requirements
• inspect the safety management system
• inspect records of any training provided to a worker.

 

Stay up to date through membership, attending Branch events, subscribe to the South Australia monthly newsletter, and regularly check the IQA website for available courses.

Please contact the IQA on 02 9484 0577 or [email protected] for more information on courses to maintain competency requirements in South Australia.