Standard 11 Mining Induction

Transcription

1 Standard 11 Mining Induction Learner Guide Chapter 07 Environmental and Heritage Concerns

2 This page is intentionally left blank. Version No# Review Date Date Updated Validation Date Validation Team Details of Updates V1 06/10/ /01/2017 / / Document created. V1.1 06/10/ /01/2017 / / Document updated. / / / / / / / / / / / / Note: please change Version number and date on each document to reflect the Version Plate. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 2 of 18

3 Contents Environmental and Heritage Concerns... 4 Introduction... 4 Apply Environmental and Heritage Compliance Documentation... 4 Environmental and Heritage Documentation... 4 Identifying Environmental or Heritage Concerns... 5 Notifying Relevant Authorities... 6 Submitting Written Reports... 7 Enact Emergency Plan and Isolation Procedures... 7 Implementing the Emergency Plan... 7 Site Evacuation... 8 Isolating the Site... 8 Remove or Contain Site Contaminants... 9 Identifying and Addressing Site Contaminants... 9 Principles of Contamination General Safety Practices Manual Handling Biosafety Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Safety Data Sheets (SDS) Spill Responses Confirming Identified Issues Completing Documentation Records Maintenance Adhering to Environmental and Heritage Issues Task Organisation and Team Work Conforming to Environmental and Heritage Guidelines Open-Cut Procedures Mine Operational System Inform Authorities about Concerns Informing Authorities Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 3 of 18

4 Environmental and Heritage Concerns Introduction Welcome to this unit of competency, RIIENV201D: Identify and Assess Environmental and Heritage Concerns. The materials in this unit cover: Identifying site-specific environmental and heritage concerns. Assessing and responding to environmental and heritage concerns. Working within environmental and heritage guidelines. This unit is appropriate for anyone undertaking an operational role at worksites within the resources and infrastructure industries, including: Civil construction. Coal mining. Drilling. Extractive industries. Metalliferous mining. Apply Environmental and Heritage Compliance Documentation Documentation is essential to all aspects of every worksite. From environmental and heritage specifications through to construction and mine plans, you will encounter documentation that will outline what to do, when to do it and how to do it. Environmental and Heritage Documentation Environmental protection and management is vital for industry of all types. The Australian Government is committed to protecting and managing nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places. It also monitors the sustainable development of national resources and legislates to protect the environment in Acts such as the Environment Protection Act and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Relevant documentation on worksites is also commonly structured around guidelines for environmental and heritage protection and management provided by bodies such as the following: Environment Protection Authority (EPA) responsible for licencing and regulating air emissions, contaminated sites, hazardous materials (including dangerous goods), noise, pesticides, forestry activities, waste, water quality and state of environment reporting. Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) has environment protection and heritage (natural, historic and indigenous heritage) responsibilities. It includes National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs) for air, national pollution inventory, movement of controlled waste, used packaging materials and assessment of site contamination. National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) provides goals, strategies, guidelines and protocols for managing human activities that may affect the environment and for achieving desired environmental outcomes. Environmental and heritage compliance documentation details the legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures for identifying and assessing environmental and heritage concerns which may arise on the site during operations. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 4 of 18

5 Common environmental documentation will relate to factors such as: Drainage. Dust. Emissions. Flora and fauna. Hazardous chemicals. Noise. Runoff. Spills and spill management. Water quality. Heritage documentation covers items such as: Ancient fossils. Culturally sensitive sites and artefacts. Heritage legislation. Historical sites or homesteads Possible indigenous sites. These documents specifically outline both your organisational and personal obligations to protect the environment and any heritage items that may be found in areas of your worksite. As each state and territory can have different requirements, it is your responsibility to access, interpret and apply those relevant to your site before starting work. Identify and Report Environmental and Heritage Issues The nature of environmental and/or heritage concerns need to be accurately identified before action can be taken to address them in line with legislative requirements. These concerns also need to be reported to the relevant authority according to site procedures, regulations and other compliance requirements. Identifying Environmental or Heritage Concerns To identify the nature of the concerns you will need to determine the type of situation (environmental, heritage, safety, other) and any factors or issues that will need to be managed. Environmental concerns could include such things as: Possible harm to the environment. Inadequate cleaning up of waste or materials. Poor or non-existent restoration of the area to original conditions. Pollution of various kinds. Impact of works to both the surrounding environment and to people and fauna close to the works. There may be heritage concerns about damage or harm to significant natural, cultural or historical places or items. Heritage issues also concern the Aboriginal people and their rights and usage of land being used for construction, mining and access to worksites. Environmental or heritage concerns may come to light through: Visual identification. Site information and documentation. Site inspections. Concerns and issues raised during the planning process. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 5 of 18

6 Environmental issues can be diagnosed through observations, laboratory testing, inspections or other site-approved methods. You will need to be able to identify a problem, potential hazard or change in the environment or materials on your worksite in line with organisational and/or site procedures. Basic diagnostic techniques can range from a visual inspection through to soil, water or compaction testing. A common basic diagnostic technique is observation and awareness, i.e. recognising that something may be in the wrong place, something does not look right or a change has occurred. Heritage issues will normally need to be diagnosed through a visual inspection of the area by an authorised person. You may, however, come across an indication that the area may have heritage significance and you should alert your supervisor immediately. Indications could include: Marks on trees. Local knowledge. Archaeological objects. Other agreed indicators It is necessary for each site to have a procedure for both identifying concerns and reporting them. If you are unsure of how your site requires the identification and notification of concerns, speak with your supervisor. Care must be taken to address possible environmental concerns as well as to respect the rights of the indigenous population. Notifying Relevant Authorities When an environmental or heritage issue is identified, you must follow site procedures, regulations and other compliance requirements for bringing it to the attention of the relevant authorities. Authorities may include: Environmental groups or government agencies. Experts such as scientific, historic, technical or biological specialists. Local aboriginal leaders. Site management, safety or environmental managers Team leader. Other authorised personnel/workers. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 6 of 18

7 You will be informed of the relevant notification procedures and requirements during your site induction. These will normally outline: Possible items that may be found: Who to report to if you find something you believe may be a heritage item. Who to report to if you encounter a possible environmental situation. What type of report is required, e.g. verbal or written. What to do to keep the area or item safe until it can be assessed. Submitting Written Reports You may be required to submit a written report to the relevant authority. Some sites use checklists or other pro formas. These are easy and quick to complete, and could be similar to a hazard report or incident report in format. If you have to create a report, it is important to remember the following simple guidelines: Keep it clear and simple. Check for errors. Choose the appropriate style, tone and language. Follow organisational and/or site layout and content requirements. Each worksite will have slightly different communication systems and reporting requirements, which will be discussed during your induction. If at any time you have suggestions for improving either the site communications or task efficiency, you should speak with your site supervisor, team leader, training officer or other designated staff. Enact Emergency Plan and Isolation Procedures If an environmental or heritage concern or issue is identified it may be necessary to enact any relevant emergency plans. This may involve evacuating all or part of the site or implementing isolation procedures. Implementing the Emergency Plan The emergency plan for your worksite is essential in guiding preparedness and responses to a range of emergency situations. The plan aims to ensure the safety and security of all members of the worksite and it should be easily accessible for all workers. On smaller worksites the emergency plan may be kept only in the office area, while on larger sites copies of the plan should be available at various locations and work areas. Mine sites have specialist mine emergency response teams. If you have an interest in emergency management or response, speak with your supervisor about training. Effective emergency plans are normally written in an easy-to-follow format with direct instructions about what to do. While the plan for your site should require minimal interpretation, you may still need to make decisions about when and how to enact the plan in order to minimise damage to the worksite or environment and/or save lives. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 7 of 18

8 When making decisions you will need to be aware of the relevant legislation and regulations. You will also need to balance the requirements of the situation with the site policies, procedures and expectations. Decisions may include whether to evacuate the entire site or to lock down one area but evacuate other areas. You may have to decide whether or not to stay in place. This could range from not evacuating at all, protecting in place or locking down certain areas or buildings. You may also decide that it is best to isolate the site. Before making a decision you will need to look at all aspects of the situation to determine the most appropriate options as outlined in the emergency plan. You will then be able to either decide on the best response strategy yourself or do so in collaboration with your coworkers and/or the emergency response team. Site Evacuation Evacuation is the controlled removal of people from harm s way. It can involve removal of either all or some of the people from the site. The decision to evacuate will need to made quickly but only after a comprehensive hazard and risk assessment. In some situations such as fire, chemical spill or building collapse, evacuation is the only sensible option, but you should be aware that sometimes evacuation may not be safe or practical. To avoid the common hazards of emergencies and evacuations, you must know, understand and adhere to the emergency response plans that have been developed for your organisation. Isolating the Site Having implemented your site s emergency plan, you may also be required to enact the relevant isolation procedures listed in the plan. Isolation procedures are those actions taken to keep people or other objects away from the protected area or accident/incident scene. This is to maintain personnel/worker and public safety and to preserve the actual site. To isolate an area or accident site, it is necessary to stop access to the area for anyone except emergency services personnel. Isolation procedures may involve: Preventing access to the site. Fencing off the immediate area of hazard. Evacuation from the area. Controlling all traffic around the site to maximise safety for all. Removal of contaminants or hazards. Construction of diversion works or channels to carry away run-off. Fire breaks or other fire retardant procedures. Covering materials to prevent contaminants getting to them. Your worksite may require you to erect barricades to keep bystanders out of the area. These barricades could involve: Portable fencing. Road barricades and barrier boards. People on the scene. Ad-hoc materials found on the site such as other vehicles, fences, gates, tents and other found items. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 8 of 18

9 Isolation procedures may require you to erect a cordon. This involves placing tape around the whole area or marking the exclusion zone using other resources such as rope, tree branches, pieces of timber, etc. Your site may have legislative requirements for isolating particular areas of environmental and/or heritage significance. Methods will vary depending upon the size of the area that needs to be isolated. Site procedures, policies and plans will list all relevant requirements for isolation activities. They will also instruct you how to notify the relevant authorities. For legal and insurance reasons your organisation may also require you to contact your supervisor or other relevant personnel/workers before any further action is taken. In addition, emergency response procedures may require you to take photos or videos of any evidence that you find. Isolation procedures can vary greatly depending on the situation, the site, the organisation and any legislative or regulatory requirements. You will need to familiarise yourself with the requirements for your site. Remove or Contain Site Contaminants Contaminants on the site will need to be identified and then removed or contained and managed, depending on the substance and site requirements and procedures. Identifying and Addressing Site Contaminants It is important that you are able to identify site contaminants. Site contaminants may include: Diseased vegetation. Oil spills. Chemical spills. Hazardous substances. Material or substance leakage into ground water areas. Saline water. Waste materials. Dangerous goods. Some substances such as waste materials will need to be removed from the site. They are normally collected in one location and removed on a set schedule according to the waste management plan for the site. Other materials such as chemicals may have to be removed by trained personnel/workers or a specialist company. When removing materials from a site you will need to ensure you protect yourself through the use of appropriate PPE that is tailored to respond to the potential hazards posed by the contaminated materials. Before removing a contaminant, it is necessary for you to refer to the procedures for the site and consult with your supervisor to determine if the best response is to remove or to contain and manage. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 9 of 18

10 Principles of Contamination Environmental protection aims to stop land from becoming contaminated and also to ensure that land and water that have already been contaminated are properly managed. Agencies and bodies concerned with protecting the environment provide guidelines for assessing site contamination. Assessments may include the following principles: Individual responsibility. Best practice. Environmental impact. Heritage sites. Education. Implementation of jurisdictional responsibility. Availability of site contamination information. Risk assessment. Attainment of environmental outcome. Site assessment. Human health. Cultural and spiritual significance. Community consultation. Planning. Regulatory control of site contamination. Data collection and chemical analyses. Objectives of site assessment. Specialist areas. Prevention of contamination or further contamination. The best person on the site to help identify any contamination principles that might apply to the contaminated area or materials is the site environmental management officer. In some situations, some substances are more likely to do harm if they are disturbed. These contaminants will therefore have to be isolated, contained and managed as appropriate. Other materials are best removed to minimise continuing damage to personnel/workers and the environment. Your site environmental officer will be able to help you determine which action is best for each different type of contaminant. It is best if nothing is disturbed until the environmental officer has inspected the area. This means that, if the site has not yet been isolated, you should do so, following the required isolation procedures (outlined in the previous section). Safe Work Practices Safe work practices are the recognised or recommended way of dealing with any potential hazards found on your site. Each site will have different requirements and practices but they will all be aimed at keeping you as safe as possible for the conditions on the site. Each safe work practice should be documented and fully explained. Your site induction will outline the safe work practices you are expected to adhere to. They may also be known as safe work methods, job safety instructions or other site-approved names. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 10 of 18

11 Some examples of safe work practices include: General safety practices. Manual handling. Biosafety. Hazardous substances and dangerous goods. Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Spill responses. General Safety Practices General safety practices may include: Always wear the right PPE and clothing provided by your employer/pcbu. Follow safe/standard operating procedures. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working with a hazardous substance or dangerous goods. Do not keep food or drink near the substances. Wash your hands and face and other exposed areas with soap and water before going to the toilet or eating and drinking. Manual Handling Manual handling safe work practices include: Eliminating manual handling tasks from your work processes as much as possible. Using approved manual handling equipment where available. Avoiding repetitive movements and postures. Using safe manual handling methods when manual handling can t be avoided. Avoiding over-bending your back. Using team lifts of heavy objects. Bending with your knees not your back. Biosafety Bisosafety involves controlling biological hazards to ensure that safe and productive work practices are carried out, and that exposure to biological hazards is minimised or eliminated. Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Hazardous substances are substances that have the potential to harm people s health. They can be solids, liquids or gases, and when used on a worksite, they are often in the form of fumes, dusts, mists and vapours. Examples of hazardous substances include: Acute toxins, e.g. cyanide. Substances that are harmful after repeated or prolonged exposure, e.g. mercury and silica. Corrosives, e.g. sulphuric acid and caustic soda. Irritants, e.g. ammonia. Sensitising agents, e.g. isocyanates. Carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), e.g. benzene and vinyl chloride. Dangerous goods are classified on the basis of immediate physical or chemical effects, such as fire, explosion, corrosion and poisoning. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 11 of 18

12 There are nine classes of dangerous goods: Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5 Class 6 Class 7 Class 8 Class 9 Explosives. Gases (flammable, compressed/non-toxic, poisonous). Flammable liquids. Flammable solids. Oxidisers and organic peroxides. Toxic substances. Radioactive substances. Corrosive substances. Miscellaneous dangerous goods. An accident involving dangerous goods could seriously harm you or your co-workers and cause damage to property or the environment. They therefore need to be handled very carefully. For some hazardous substances and dangerous goods and materials you will need to undertake specialist training as they require very specific handling techniques. Other chemicals or potentially dangerous materials may be handled in accordance with the Safety Data Sheet for that product. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (formerly MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet) is a detailed document outlining the risks and hazards associated with handling chemicals or other materials. It will outline any specific safe handling methods that are required. A Safety Data Sheet will be issued by the manufacturer and may or may not include material handling methods. It is important that hazardous substances and dangerous goods in workplaces are used strictly according to the manufacturer's or supplier's written instructions. Any risk controls specified by the SDS and the procedures developed by the worksite must also be closely followed. Spill Responses Each site will have specific procedures for responding to spills and they generally reflect: The nature of the materials you are dealing with. The resources available on site. The training of the personnel/workers on site. Applicable legislation and regulations for your location. The consequences of chemicals or other materials spilling on site can be extremely serious. The substance may escape into storm water drains and pollute local waterways. It may run off the site directly into rivers, creeks or lakes. It may also contaminate the soil and other areas on site. A quick response is therefore vital. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 12 of 18

13 If, as an untrained person, you find a spill or are involved in an incident that results in a spill, you need to: Isolate the area. Warn others working in the area of the spill. Notify your supervisor. If required under your emergency response procedures, you may need to notify other authorised staff, or your supervisor may do this. When responding to hazardous chemicals, goods and materials, the primary requirement is to know and follow your site procedures. Confirm Issues and Complete Documentation Once you have received the relevant permissions and clearances that you may enter the site and/or contaminated area, you will need to confirm the environmental or heritage issues that have been identified. Confirming Identified Issues In order to confirm the type and scale of the problems, it is necessary to carry out an inspection of the site. This will normally be conducted with your supervisor and/or the site environmental officer. While carrying out the inspection, you or your associates may identify additional problems. The nature of these concerns will need to be reported to the relevant authority and it may even be necessary to implement the emergency plan again, including isolation procedures and dealing with any additional contaminants. When conducting your inspections of the site, it is essential you follow all site procedures, including OHS/WHS, site and equipment safety requirements, safe work practices, hazardous goods handling techniques, etc. Once all heritage and environmental issues have been identified and confirmed, they can be managed in accordance with legislative, regulatory and community expectations, including taking into account the future use of the land. Completing Documentation Upon confirmation of the environmental and heritage issues on your site, all required records and documentation must be completed promptly and accurately. This documentation may be required by: Your site and/or company. The Environmental Planning Authority (EPA) in your state or territory Legislation. Emergency Response authorities. Australian Standards compliance. Local Councils. Government departments. Heritage groups. Utility companies. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 13 of 18

14 Types of Records and Documentation The records and documentation you need to complete may include: Environmental management forms for tracking all environmental impacts within the worksite. Heritage impact forms to track and trace all situations that may have heritage significance or importance. Site-based incident forms for recording the details of any incident, accident or problem on the site. Organisational incident forms these are normally a summary of the site-based forms and are used by large companies to monitor trends that may require an organisation-wide response. Safe work guides these may require the input of details about instructions or procedures that were used in response to new situations or circumstances. These details can then be used to amend or update existing SOPs or safe work practices. Pro forma checklists specially designed for recording any issues or concerns, in line with site requirements. Risk management checklists for determining the level of risk in various situations. Hazard reporting systems these tend to be intranet-based systems that can be accessed from any computer on the site so that anyone can enter the details of a hazard they have identified. This ensures a central database of hazards is created for the site allowing the safety officer or manager to generate regular reports. While workers on site are expected to keep detailed records of the activities undertaken during their shifts, particular attention will need to be given to documenting any problems faced during the shift and the actions that were taken to address them. Make sure you are familiar with the organisational and/or site requirements and procedures for completing records and documentation so that you know: What forms or documents to use. What information and details are needed. The timeline for delivery. Where or to whom to submit your paperwork. Records Maintenance Records maintenance procedures aim to capture, maintain and provide access to records. These requirements will vary depending upon your site s record keeping system. It is essential that your documentation is accurately completed and filed or archived as required. Some records will need to be kept for a set period of time for legal purposes, while others will only be retained briefly. Records maintenance ensures that records and documents are current and active and can be used in planning, budgeting and OHS/WHS management. It also allows organisations to maintain security systems to protect their stored information from unauthorised access, misuse, disclosure, disruption, modification, perusal, recording or destruction. Records security might include: Physical controls to protect the workplace environment and infrastructure. Administrative controls, such as policies and procedures. Logical controls such as software or data to monitor access. Access control. Network security. Application security. Encryptions. You will need to be familiar with the records maintenance and security procedures for your worksite. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 14 of 18

15 Adhere to Identified Issues and Conform to Guidelines It is important to organise your work activities so that you can operate within the environmental and heritage guidelines that apply to your site. Adhering to Environmental and Heritage Issues Environmental and heritage guidelines will be structured around the particular issues that have been identified and confirmed on your site.these guidelines may be issued from a federal, state or local government level but will be applied specifically to your site. They will determine the plans, policies and procedures that you need to follow. Work requirements will have been communicated as part of your original site induction process and any new requirements will generally be advised through a site toolbox meeting or via noticeboards and/or amended work instructions. Task Organisation and Team Work To ensure that you complete all your assigned tasks safely and efficiently, you will be required to organise your work activities. Your daily and weekly tasks might be scheduled for you by your supervisor. You may have to do it yourself; if so, use a system that works best for you. Some people prefer a handwritten checklist, others a computerised diary entry. Flexibility is important when organising and prioritising your work so that you can adjust your schedule if a more urgent task needs to be completed. Another aspect of your work is the ability to listen, to communicate clearly and to be tolerant of others. This is particularly important when working within teams to achieve safety and environmental outcomes. You need to take the time to ensure that your fellow team members are aware of all the relevant safety requirements so the team can work together safely and effectively. Respect and self-control are also important in coordinating work activities with your team members. You are all working to achieve the same outcome so be prepared to listen to other people s opinions and also to air your own views in a respectful and considerate way. Speak with your supervisor if you are unsure of how to adhere to any of the procedures that have been specially developed to manage the environmental and heritage issues relating to your area of work. Conforming to Environmental and Heritage Guidelines All personnel/workers need to make sure that they know and understand the requirements that apply to work operations on the site. This will ensure that all tasks and activities conform to the relevant environmental and heritage guidelines. These guidelines commonly include policies and principles for future land use and management, which involves the critical challenge of reconciling conflicting goals and uses of the land. Diverse goals for the use of land could include: Resource-extractive activities, e.g. forestry, agriculture, grazing, and mining. Infrastructure for human settlement, e.g. housing, transportation, and industrial centres. Recreational activities. Services provided by ecological systems, e.g. flood control and water supply and filtration. Support of aesthetic, cultural, and religious values. Sustaining the complex composition and structure of ecological systems. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 15 of 18

16 Information gathered about land use in all areas urban and rural can be used by industry and governments to: Develop effective use of Australia s natural resources. Combat salinity and desertification problems. Maintain and improve water quality. Control rates of soil erosion. Control acidification. Reverse nutrient decline. Control carbon losses. Control greenhouse issues. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for your site should contain responses to any environmental and heritage concerns. To avoid degrading or destroying the environment in sensitive areas, it is essential that future land use principles are always considered when undertaking any planning for work on your site. The main focus of future land use principles is to try to ensure the land is maintained in the best possible condition to allow for a variety of options once the worksite has closed and the area is returned for other uses. Operational Procedures and checks are important because they cover all environmental and heritage requirements before work commences, and ensure the current environmental and heritage issues have been formally assessed. Open-Cut Procedures Open-cut or surface mining (also known as open pit or open cast) is used to remove rock or minerals from the earth. Open-cut procedures are applied in coal mines when coal seams are closer to the natural surface. It is an effective method of retrieving a higher proportion of coal when compared to underground mining, which requires tunnelling, e.g. long wall mining. The basic process of open-cut mining involves: Open-cut mines are usually worked until either the mineral resource is exhausted, or an increasing ratio of overburden to ore makes further mining uneconomical. When this occurs, the exhausted mines are sometimes converted to landfills for disposal of solid wastes. However, some form of water control is usually required to keep the mine pit from becoming a lake. Before open-cut procedures can commence, there will be a site assessment of environmental factors (often known as a review of environmental factors, or REF). This includes heritage assessments for indigenous and European objects. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 16 of 18

17 The environmental assessment for the open-cut location must be approved at a state government level by the relevant department of planning or environment and heritage agency before any works can start. This includes the opening of any new work areas or new developments to the existing worksite. In some cases, community consultation and interaction with local indigenous land council groups may be required. Once these approvals and processes have been completed and permission is given to start working, each site will develop open-cut procedures that reflect the conditions on the site and the organisational requirements. Any legislative requirements that have been imposed during the permission process will also be included in these procedures. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with the appropriate open-cut procedures specific to your site. Mine Operational System Each mine site will have a specific operational system that reflects the environmental conditions, goals and requirements for that site. As part of the mine operational system, there must be provisions for environmental and heritage assessments in line with the relevant guidelines. This will be monitored through routine inspections and through systematic audits. It is a legal requirement that all mine operational systems comply with legislated environmental and heritage guidelines. Severe penalties can be enforced by the relevant authorities including fines, jail terms for management or executives, deregistration, loss of operational licences, or forced closure of the workplace. Inform Authorities about Concerns It is important that you are aware of and follow all relevant procedures for informing authorities about any environmental and/or heritage issues or concerns that are identified. Informing Authorities Your worksite procedures and the EMP should outline who you need to contact if you identify any environmental and/or heritage issues or potential concerns while carrying out your work. These designated personnel/workers may include: Supervisors. Management. Safety personnel/workers. OHS/WHS representatives. Team members or other affected workers. Site management will then be responsible for contacting and informing the appropriate authorities of any environmental or heritage issues that are found on site. The national body is the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 17 of 18

18 Other authorities could include the relevant Environment Protection Agency (EPA) or water management department, as well as civil authorities, emergency services and/or heritage councils (indigenous, local or national). State an territory departments may include the following: ACT Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water. NSW Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Northern territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport. Department of Environment and Resource Management. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Department of Sustainability and Environment. Department of Environment and Conservation. It is important that you do not go outside the responsibilities of your role or the site procedures and policies for notification. If you are unsure of the requirements for contacting and informing authorities, speak with your supervisor. Civil Safety 29/01/2017-v1.1 Learner Guide Page 18 of 18