Competency requirements for mineral mining and quarrying site senior executives updated

Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health and Chair of the advisory committee Kate du Preez said the update was implemented to clarify the relevant working experience and qualification requirements for surface SSEs.

“The revised competency expands the working experience and qualifications requirements to include activities that are operations as defined by the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999,” Kate said.

“The change was necessary following examples provided to MSHAC from across the industry which demonstrated there was a need to clarify the relevant working experience requirements for SSEs.

“It is important to note that the changes broaden the competency requirements and will not affect anyone who currently holds an SSE notice.”

In addition, the SSE competency was updated to include BSBWHS521 Ensure a safe workplace for a work area—previously BSBWHS501—or an equivalent or superior qualification as an explicit requirement.

Kate said BSBWHS521 is normally part of the Diploma of Surface Operations Management and the Certificate IV in Surface Extraction Operations qualifications which are already part of the competency requirements.

“This was included as an explicit requirement to provide clarity for SSEs and people looking to achieve their SSE notice,” she said.

The table of competencies recognised by the Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee is published on the Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health website.