Health, Safety & People
Safety is the heart of everything the WA mining and resources sector does. CME’s Health, Safety & People portfolio examines critical health and safety issues, identifies opportunities for continuous improvement, and leads the development of unified responses on key issues impacting the resources sector.
Safety is the heart of everything the WA mining and resources sector does. CME’s Health, Safety & People portfolio examines critical health and safety issues, identifies opportunities for continuous improvement, and leads the development of unified responses on key issues impacting the resources sector.
Projects & Issues
- Reforms to the work health and safety legislation to support a risk-based approach for the WA resources sector, minimise unnecessary duplication and onerous compliance processes and continue to facilitate improvements in safety practices and outcomes
- Demonstrate sector’s proactive leadership towards mental health and wellbeing by ensuring the regulatory approach to mental health and wellbeing supports the sector as it continues to effectively enhance and manage mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in the workplace
- Ensure any regulatory changes to the management of occupation health and hygiene risks are based on sound evidence and continue to encourage a risk-based approach
- Facilitating collaboration and sharing of safety lessons and best practice approaches to safety management across the sector
- Working with industry and government to progress targeted analysis of incident data to identify trends and effective controls, and encourage continued performance improvement
Working Groups
CME’s Workplace Health and Safety Committee is supported by the several working groups, including...External Groups
The Workplace Health and Safety Committee provides guidance on CME’s participation on a number of external groups, including...Safe & Respectful Behaviours
The health and safety of our people, including their physical and psychological safety, is the number one priority for the WA resources sector. Alongside broader industry, CME’s members have been clear in their commitment to eliminate any instance of sexual assault, sexual harassment or other behaviours that threaten people’s personal and psychological safety at work.
The health and safety of our people, including their physical and psychological safety, is the number one priority for the WA resources sector. Alongside broader industry, CME’s members have been clear in their commitment to eliminate any instance of sexual assault, sexual harassment or other behaviours that threaten people’s personal and psychological safety at work.
Rebecca Tomkinson
CEO, The Chamber of Minerals and Energy
“We know that ongoing vigilance, sharing and learning will be key to demonstrating that our workplaces are safe, respectful and inclusive environments for all employees. As employers of more than 117,000 personnel, our industry takes this obligation very seriously. In turn, we accept the clear responsibility as employers to ensure worker safety, both physical and psychosocial. This is paramount and something industry continues to prioritise.
This commitment is reflected in the activities of CME’s Safe and Respectful Behaviours (SARB) Working Group, which was formed in mid-2021 to lead this important work and ensure best practice is continuously implemented at operations across WA.
The WA resources sector is taking active steps to address these issues while instituting best practice within workplaces to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.”
Industry Actions Document
A summary of the ongoing best practice and initiatives implemented by CME members at their respective workplaces.
Industry Alcohol Guideline
Providing best practice for both physical and psychological safety in the workforce in addressing alcohol consumption in employer owned and operated accommodation facilities.
Work-Adjacent Settings
Industry expectations for employers and employees, including guidance to those who are hosting events which target or invite employees of the WA resources sector.
2022 Industry Submission
CME’s 2022 submission to the WA Parliamentary Inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry.
2021 Industry Submission
CME’s 2021 submission to the WA Parliamentary Inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry.
Resourceful Mind
CME and Lifeline WA proudly launched the Resourceful Mind program in October 2021. Resourceful Mind is a mental health peer-support program that delivers virtual training and coaching sessions by Lifeline’s highly trained Telephone Crisis Supporters. These sessions aim to equip people in on-site communities, ‘Minders’ as they are known, with the skills and tools to better support and navigate conversations with their teammates going through a tough time and know where to go for help.
The program was run as a pilot by several CME member companies and validated by research undertaken by Edith Cowan University showing it was both fit-for-purpose and safe for all participants – Minders and the teammates they help.
The sector continues to support the Resourceful Mind program and is committed to the continuous improvement and evidence-based practices in the mental health and wellbeing of its workforce.
For more information about the Resourceful Mind program please contact Lifeline WA via training@lifelinewa.org.au.
CME was awarded funding from the WHS Implementation Peak Body Grants program (the Program). The Program was established to provide funding for peak employer and employee representative bodies to partner with the Government in supporting and educating Western Australian businesses and workers about the pending changes to work health and safety laws.
The below information sheets have been developed to support supervisors and leaders in the delivery of safety shares and toolbox talks. CME have engaged subject matter experts to inform the development of these information sheets.
Diversity & Inclusion
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is tangible and demonstrable. The WA resources sector strives to foster a positive, safe and inclusive work environment for all and to ensure that the diversity of our workforce is reflective of our community. It also remains committed to the continued implementation of actionable strategies to influence positive change, including a shift in the focus from recruitment to retention of diverse talent.
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The WA resources sector strives to foster a positive, safe and inclusive work environment for all and to ensure that the diversity of our workforce is reflective of our community. It also remains committed to the continued implementation of actionable strategies to influence positive change, including a shift in the focus from recruitment to retention of diverse talent.
Workplace diversity and inclusion drives creativity, psychosocial safety, strategic resilience, and innovative solutions. Diversity presents the opportunity for companies and organisations to leverage strengths through the differences that exist between people working within an organisation. Increased diversity enhances critical thinking, problem solving and has been shown to increase the attractiveness of companies and organisations to potential business partners, employees, and society as a whole.
CME facilitates a Diversity and Inclusion Reference Group, which features representatives from many of its 80 plus members, and also publishes a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Report every two years. The Diversity and Inclusion Report is based on data from the CME diversity and inclusion survey which analyses gender diversity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce data from participating WA resources sector organisations. The survey results not only provide a benchmark against industry averages but a longitudinal record for industry demonstrating the impacts of organisational policies, initiatives and leadership aimed at enhancing workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.
One of the biggest events on the sector’s calendar is the annual Women In Resources Awards dinner, which attracts more than 1000 people to celebrate the impact of gender diversity. The Inspiring Girls Careers Forum is another yearly event that showcases opportunities and careers in the sector to hundreds of female school students each year.
“The WA mining and resources sector is committed to growing diverse and inclusive environments that encourage all of our workers to be their full selves and chase their dreams.
Diversity makes organisations more productive, more socially responsible and more innovative.”
Rebecca Tomkinson
CEO, The Chamber of Minerals and Energy
Read more about diversity in WA mining and resources
Another new frontier for company chasing ‘mining’s impossible dream’
Trainees from all walks of life find new opportunities in WA mining sector
‘The real Aussie outback’: how Aditi and Abhishek found a home far away from home
How a child soldier found a new life in mining in Australia
Western Australia’s resources sector comes out in support of Breast Cancer awareness
Other Resources
The below supplementary resources have been developed by industry, government, and subject matter experts.
- Submissions
- 2022 Industry Submission to the Inquiry – CME
- 2021 Industry Submission to the Inquiry – CME
- WA Sexual Violence and Response Strategy Submission – CME
- Industry Alcohol Guideline – CME
- Respectful Behaviours Campaign – Compass Group
- Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report – Australian Human Rights Commission
- Industry Code on Eliminating Sexual Harassment – Minerals Council of Australia
- Respect@Work Industry Toolkit – Minerals Council of Australia
- Safe and Respectful Behaviours – 2022 Industry Activities – CME
- Gendered violence: Sexual harassment – Information sheet – DMIRS
- Gendered violence: Sexual assault – Information sheet – DMIRS
- Alcohol Policy in the Resources Sector – 360 Edge