Regulation 675UK of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WHS Mines Regulations) requires information about high risk mining activities at a mine to be notified to the regulator. Schedule 23 Item 11 of the WHS Mines Regulations outlines requirements for further information specific to tailings storage facilities.

Notification is required 45 days prior to commencing construction of, or making a substantial change to, a tailings storage facility at a surface mine.

Submission

All mine operators planning to commence construction of a new tailings storage facility (TSF) or make a substantial change to a facility are required to submit a HRA notification. This includes notification from underground mine operators where a TSF is a part of the surface operations on the site.

For an existing TSF for which subsequent lifts design details and construction methods have already been included in a previous HRA notification, no further HRA notification is required for the construction of the lifts included in that notification.

However, if the subsequent lift design details and construction methods have not been included in a previous HRA notification, a new HRA notification is required 45 days prior to commencing construction of, or making a substantial change to an existing TSF.

Under the Mining Act 1978, a mining proposal is required for submission and approval for mining activities that include tailings storage facilities. Design documents and risk assessments utilised in the approval process under the Mining Act 1978 may also be relevant for the high risk mining activity notification under the WHS Mines Regulations.

High risk mining activity notification document has been provided by DEMIRS for submission through the Safety Regulation System (SRS) 

• HRA 11 - Construction of, or making substantial change to, a tailing storage facility at a surface mine

Information required

The HRA notification comprises of four parts with Part A and B dedicated to general information.

Part C details the high risk mining activity aimed at the construction and quality control activities to ensure a safe work environment is maintained and the facility is a safe stable construction for life of mine and post-closure landform. Examples of information that may meet the notification requirements include (but not be limited to):

Part D details the high risk mining activity aimed at the design, operation and closure of the facility to ensure a safe work environment is maintained and the facility is safe, stable and non-polluting for life of mine and post-closure. Examples of information that may meet the notification requirements include (but not be limited to):

References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2020
• Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022
• Tailings storage facilities in Western Australia code of practice

Need more information?

Contact WorkSafe on 1300 307 877 or safety@demirs.wa.gov.au