Documents and Guidelines
DISCLAIMER
The Codes of Practice and supporting Guidelines are designed to promote health and safety standards within the New Zealand mining and quarrying industry. While MinEx has tried to ensure the Code and Guidelines will comply with applicable legislation, it is entirely the user's responsibility to ensure that their practices comply with all legal requirements, and users of the Codes and / or Guidelines acknowledge that MinEx has no responsibility or liability whatsoever in relation to the contents of the Codes, or in respect of anything done or not done in reliance on the Codes and / or Guidelines. Further, while the Codes provide an outline of relevant legislation, the information presented is in summary form only and MinEx makes no warranty as to its accuracy and completeness.
MinEx Guidelines
These guidelines have been superseded by the Health and Safety at Opencast Mines, Alluvial Mines Good Practice Guidelines. However, these documents contain information you may still find valuable.
MinEx Guidelines for the Control of Hazards in Stockpiles and Dumps
MinEx Guidelines for the Safe Use, Storage and Disposal of Explosives in Surface Mines and Quarries
MinEx Guidelines of Hazards Associated with Crushing and Screening Plant
MinEx Guidelines for the Control of Dust and Associated Hazards in Surface Mines and Quarries
MinEx Guidance on Worker Exposure to Hazardous Substances in the Extractives Sector
Other useful Guidelines
Health and Safety Reps Guidebook (A reference guide developed by NZISM)
Setting up a healthy workstation when working from home - WorkSafe
Managing Exposure to Heat in Surface Coal Mines and Surface Areas of Underground Coal Mines
Applying Quinlan's Ten Pathways in Western Australia's Mining Industry
Mining Equipment Human Factors Design for Workforce Diversity - ACARP Project 2021
Site Energy Isolation Self Audit - QNJAC
Review December 2019 of all fatal accidents in Queensland mines and quarries from 2000 to 2019 by Dr Sean Brady
Brady Review - by Dr Sean Brady Dec 2019
An Information Guide on Silica by Dr Mary Obele
The potential for worker exposure to crystalline silica is widespread within mining and quarrying. Very fine Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is particularly harmful to workers. It can be generated during drilling, blasting, crushing, cutting and transporting. The following is helpful information prepared by Dr Mary Obele, Occupational and Environmental Physician, and a GP.
Silica - Dr Mary Obele Nov 2019
A Guide to Worker Health in Extractives
As the sector’s national health and safety council, we see this guide to managing Worker Health issues as perhaps the most important document we can provide to the sector.
The reason for that is simple; although our sector, like all others, focuses on reducing injuries and fatalities, the truth is that around ten times more workers across the board die from industry-associated illnesses than die at work.
As a nation, we have to address that awful reality.
This MinEx guide is a step forward, at least for the extractives sector. You will find a host of useful advice and guidance on the risks posed by airborne contaminants, noise, temperature, fatigue and a range of other potential hazards.
A Guide to Worker Health in Extractives
Quarry Health and Safety Management Template for Quarry Operations
Quarries contain health and safety risks. If something goes wrong, quarry workers can be seriously or fatally injured.
Structure, organisation and some paperwork is needed to reduce health and safety risks at a quarry. A health and safety management system provides this and helps with decisions about what risk controls are used.
This document provides the outline of a health and safety management system. Following the guidelines and completing the templates so they apply to your quarry, will provide the management system you need to safely manage your quarry. If you already have a management system, you can use this document to identify gaps, and fill these gaps using these templates.
This document has been subject to a technical review by members of the MinEx Board and input from the AQA and IOQNZ. If you would like Word versions of the templates contained in this document, contact office@minex.org.nz
Am I a Quarry Operator?
There are many instances across New Zealand where companies engage in activities falling under the definition of Quarry Operations as defined in the Act. These operations are subject to a number of codes, guidelines and regulations that companies need to be aware of and to follow.
The industries where confusion is most likely are:
- Earthmoving whether it be via contractors or a company’s own equipment
- Forestry operations
- Road construction
- Farming.
The three main issues all quarry operators need to be aware of are:
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You will need to have a person in charge of each quarry site that holds a Certificate of Competency (CoC) issued by the Board of Examiners.
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Your operation falls under certain sections of the 2016 regulations referred to above.
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You will need to be aware of and should follow a number of WorkSafe guidelines and approved codes of practice, the most important of which is the WorkSafe good practice guideline entitled: Health and Safety at Surface Mines, Alluvial Mines and Quarries issued in November 2015.