Everything you need to know about e-permits to work in mining
Mining is a thriving industry in Australia. With so many mining businesses working with staff split across different locations, having technology that aids safety procedures is very helpful. Technology allows team members to communicate effectively from afar, and ensure that paperwork like permits to work are valid.
An e-permit to work or electronic permit to work system offers new ways to manage work safety and get documents to the right people quickly.
No more hold ups due to lack of paperwork, and no more compliance issues from missing or lost permits to work. Imagine if your team could validate and issue permits to work from the palm of their hand, all while creating a digital trace to cover their back?
Well, they can with e-permit to work software. Here’s everything you need to know…
Mining is a high risk industry where permits to work are vital
Mining is a very high risk industry, whereby people need permits to work to ensure their safety on site. With so many roles that require specialist training, mining sites can be a recipe for disaster if permits to work aren’t properly monitored.
The process of extracting minerals from the surface of the Earth is high risk, and involves being both underground and working with heavy machinery. This makes the need for permits to work even more vital.
Geographical challenges make paperwork a hassle
Not only is mining a higher risk industry than most, but it also has unique geographical challenges. Mining sites are often split across various locations, with people who manage and sign off permits to work not necessarily being on site at any given moment.
This means that workers sometimes get into sticky situations where they need permits signed off quickly, by someone who isn’t necessarily on site at that moment. This can cause all kinds of problems, and without the help of technology, workers can be put in compromising positions.
This is where e-permits to work are vital for the mining industry, and can enable businesses to maintain health and safety measures and provide people with a safe place to work. They help mining businesses stay on top of their permits even when they are geographically spread out.
E-permits to work solve mining-specific problems
E-permits to work are ideal for a variety of industries, but arguably mining is one of the industries that benefits most. This is because they solve many problems for mining businesses, including:
- Issuing permits across various sites.
- Minimising permit delays that cost mining businesses money.
- Allowing people to sign off permits digitally, in real time.
- Signing off rights to work with hazards, temperature risks, dangerous fumes, electrical hazards, mechanical hazards, height dangers and many more risks that may be posed by a mining environment.
- Providing a digital trace that enables businesses to cover themselves in the event of an accident.
Incomplete permits to work can cost more than just time and money
Ultimately, the main thing you need to know about online permit to work software, is that without it you may be putting your people at risk. In a mining environment, a paper-based system is no longer regarded as the best way to monitor permits to work.
Incomplete, late or missing permits to work can cause businesses a lot of time and money, and have legal implications. However, the major risk of incomplete permits to work in a high risk industry like mining is serious injury or even death of your people.
Thankfully, as technology has developed, fatalities within the industry have fallen. In 2003, there was an average of 12.4 worker fatalities per 100 000 workers, and in 2015 that had dropped to 4.4 (Safework Australia). This is still significantly higher than other industries, but it goes to show that as technology develops, we are finding new ways to develop safety protocols.
For those businesses who are still lagging behind and working with a paper based permit to work system, it’s really time to reassess and consider an eptw system. Not only because your business will save time and money, but because it will protect the health and safety of your people. This should ultimately be of utmost importance.
