SMRS has recognised that although resource industry contractor companies are required to have an OHS management system, there is no industry benchmark for such systems to meet or exceed. Through regular systems auditing, SMRS has identified that contractor OHS systems are often incomplete, irrelevant, ineffective or poorly implemented. Such systems pose a risk to personnel, the contractor's business reputation & to contractor management who are obligated under legislation to minimise the risks to workers to an acceptable level.
Some obstacles which contractor companies face when developing an effective OHS management system include:
- Lack of appropriate OHS expertise within the Company
- Increased overheads associated with managing an OHS Department
- Expenses involved with contracting OHS consultant services
- Time constraints
- Budgetary restrictions
- Lack of knowledge regarding industry / resource company requirements
- Lack of legislative knowledge
- Inadequate OHS system implementation
- Continuous amendments to achieve OHS compliance
Such obstacles hinder the development & implementation of an effective contractor OHS system.
SMRS Pty Ltd has developed SMRS GUARDIAN®, a Resource Contractor Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) suitable for all contractor companies operating within the coal, metalliferous & coalseam-gas industries. The system is a complete framework & encompasses all aspects of an effective, compliant & operable OHS management system. The system is aimed at establishing a standardised contractor OHS management system which will establish an industry benchmark for such systems.
Structure of SMRS GUARDIAN®
The Australian Standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems is known as AS4801. Although this standard provides general requirements for the structure of a Safety and Health Management System, and is also consistent with the requirements of ISO 14000 in relation to environmental management, it is not considered that the system contains sufficient detail to be suitable for resource contractors. AS4801 and similar documents simply provide an "empty shell" for an OHS Management System and do not specifically address the issues associated with the management of OHS for resource contractors. It is not considered desirable to base an OHS Management System on AS4801 alone, rather an effective & complete system should also include industry-specific best practice and requirements.
SMRS GUARDIAN® has been structured to include the requirements of AS4801, resource industry specific protocols and certain client pre-requisites which are identified as industry best-practice. The design of SMRS GUARDIAN® is such that navigation throughout the system is simple and uncomplicated, requiring personnel to have only a basic level of computer literacy in order to manage the system functions.
To summarise, SMRS GUARDIAN® is a complete system framework aimed at assisting small to medium sized contractor companies manage their respective safety systems in accordance with legislative requirements, industry best practice and to assist with achieving compliance with major resource company standards.
