Alexander Dabner, an expert from SMI-ICE-Chile, presented a paper on controlling critical risks at the International Seminar on Mining Safety-ISEM 2024, held recently in Peru.
Alexander Dabner’s presentation was based on the International Council on Mining and Metals ICMM Guide and detailed the scope of each stage of critical control management. «So-called ‘critical controls’ are fundamental to prevent infrequent, but catastrophic, incidents. The ICMM guide provides step-by-step guidance on how to select, implement and monitor these controls to make mining safer and prevent disasters,» explains Alexander.
He highlighted Rio Tinto and Newmont Mining as examples of the benefits of applying good risk control: «Both companies have gone four years with zero fatal accidents, thanks to a clear focus on mitigating risks that could lead to a fatality, through our Fatal Risk Management (FRM) program.»
SMI-ICE-Chile’s mining safety specialist stressed the importance of being clear about what is and what is not a «critical control,» in order to efficiently manage time and resources, and not manage actions that do not represent a «critical control,» such as verification and support activities. «In contrast, a critical control is a physical object, human act or combination, which of itself arrests or mitigates an unwanted event and its performance is specifiable, measurable and auditable.»
Given the importance of this topic in today’s mining industry, next May The University of Queensland, in collaboration with SMI-ICE-Chile, will put theory into practice with the course «G3: GMIRM Risk Management Systems.” This learning experience will equip professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively manage critical controls in their operations.
