The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s (CME) Health, Safety and People (HSP) portfolio is dedicated to promoting the physical and psychological well-being of the state’s resources sector workforce. Covering key areas including work health and safety legislation, psychosocial safety, occupational health and hygiene, and diversity and inclusion.
The team works closely with member companies and government to address critical health and safety issues, support continuous improvement through sharing safety lessons and best practice, advocate for efficient regulatory and policy frameworks, and lead the development of responses that articulate CME’s policy positions to key challenges impacting the industry.
A core part of the team’s function is the production of the biennial Diversity and Inclusion in the WA Resources Sector Report. Informed by data from member companies, these reports not only highlight the significant efforts of industry to growing diverse and inclusive environments, but a longitudinal record of the impacts of organisational policies, initiatives and leadership aimed at enhancing workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.
Via the HSP team, CME is a proud partner with Lifeline WA on the Resourceful Mind program – a peer-support initiative developed with, and for, the WA resources sector. The program trains designated workers as “Minders” to act as the essential first contact person for colleagues to reach out to for support. This offers workers a supportive confidant to help them navigate both personal and professional challenges.
The HSP team also plays a critical role in representing the WA resources sector on the following tripartite statutory bodies:
- Work Health and Safety Commission
- Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee
- Legislative Advisory Committee.
Key focus areas
- Advocate for a risk-based approach to work health and safety legislative and policy frameworks to support effective and efficient use of industry resources, and minimising unnecessary duplication and onerous compliance processes
- Demonstrate the sector’s proactive leadership in fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces, alongside initiatives that support the psychosocial safety, mental health, and overall well-being of the workforce
- Advocate that any regulatory changes to the management of occupational health and hygiene are based on sound evidence and continue to encourage a risk-based approach
- Facilitate and support industry collaboration and sharing of safety lessons and best practice approaches to health and safety management across the sector
- Work with industry and government to progress proactive analysis of incident data to identify trends and effective controls, and encourage continued performance improvement.
