Registration of Classified Plant

The principal employer and any other employer at a mine site must ensure that all plant is operated and maintained in a safe manner. There are many types of plant at a mine site but there is a particular group, related to a higher operational hazard, referred to as 'classified plant', that has specific regulatory requirements.

The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (WA) require all classified plant at a mine site to be registered before being used. This requirement applies to plant listed in regulation 6.34(5). The design and functional descriptions of these items of classified plant are given in regulation 6.1 - it is these definitions that are ultimately used to determine the name of a particular plant and, consequently, whether or not it must be registered.

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As the regulatory authority for Western Australian mining operations, Resources Safety concentrates on the main proponents of new projects or existing mines, rather than dealing with every contractor and subcontractor of each mine in the State. In fact, the mines safety legislation is predicated on such a regime, with the prime responsibility for the safety of a mine site and all its classified plant registration being assigned to:

• The corporate entity 'principal employer', which is the proprietor or lessee of a mine
• The mine manager
• A person authorised by either of these two.

When the applicant to register classified plant is an authorised person, an authorisation letter must be provided.

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An application for registration cannot be accepted unless it includes the following:

• An authorisation letter if the applicant is an authorised person
• Drawings of the plant design and its serial or equipment number
• Design calculations (including hazard level calculations for pressure vessels and boilers) design compliance.

However, subject to certain conditions, there is a general exemption if classified plant has already been registered with another statutory authority within Australia.

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Although there is no requirement for a specific application form, Resources Safety has provided a pro-forma for the registration of classified plant. This form and accompanying procedure (see below) are designed to ensure that the application process is completed satisfactorily without unnecessary delay, and are particularly useful for those applying for the first time.

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The regulations require that classified plant is designed to the appropriate Australian Standard:

• Boiler - AS 1228
• Pressure vessel - AS 1210
• Crane or hoist - AS 1418
• Lift - AS 1735.

There is no provision for construction to any other standard. In order to register plant under the Western Australian system, all Resources Safety requires is a compliance statement from a professional engineer within the State simply affirming that the plant complies with the relevant standard after checking the design.

However, given that other international standards may be safely used, Resources Safety may grant an exemption from the requirements to design, construct and test according to the Australian Standard. Such an exemption would normally involve the designer, fabricator, supplier or importer satisfactorily demonstrating that an appropriate standard of safety has been achieved. An exemption allowing use of the plant would then be issued to the manager of the mine (not the individual designer, fabricator, supplier or importer).

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Serially produced pressure vessels are covered by AS2971, and it is required to verify their design compliance with definition, scope and other requirements of this standard. Therefore, serially produced pressure vessels that strictly comply with AS2971 are not required to be registered with this Department as per Regulation 6.34. However, it is essential for these vessels to be operated, maintained and inspected in a safe manner.

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The regulations only stipulate (classified) plant registration. Unlike some authorities with responsibility for plant safety in Australia, Resources Safety does not register plant designs. This means that each application to register classified plant is assessed separately, even in a case of identical plant at the same mine site.

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There are four general exemptions related to classified plant registered with any Commonwealth, State or Territory authority with responsibility for plant safety.

The ownership of classified plant is the main factor upon which the decisions for the following exemptions are based.

• Registration is required when the plant is owned by an employer at the mine site, including the principal employer. However, instead of drawings, calculations and the compliance statement as normally required by the regulations to register the plant, it is sufficient to submit a copy of registration with the other authority [General exemption, R S Hopkins 03/99 - Sub-Regulation 6.34(3) Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995: Registration of plant brought onto site by contractors]
• Registration is not required when the plant is not owned by an employer at the mine site, including the principal employer. These types of plant are categorised as itinerant plant [General exemption, M J Knee 03/06 - Sub-Regulation 6.34(5) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995: Registration of certain itinerant classified plant].

Design approval or registration by any Commonwealth, State or Territory authority responsible for plant safety is the main factor upon which the decisions for the following exemptions are based.

• Registration for certain types of pressure equipment is not required if the air receiver or pressure vessel type and model have been design approved or registered by any Commonwealth, State or Territory authority responsible for plant safety [General exemption, M J Knee 12/03 - Sub-Regulation 6.34(1) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995: Registration of pressure equipment]
• Gas cylinders covered by Australian Standard AS 2030 and prefabricated scaffolding do not require registration with the State Mining Engineer prior to use, provided that the specified equipment types and models have been design approved or registered by any Commonwealth, State or Territory authority responsible for plant safety [General exemption, M J Knee 12/06 - Sub-Regulation 6.34(1) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995: Registration of gas cylinders and prefabricated scaffolding].

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Once classified plant has been allocated a registration number, the number must be marked on the unit or nameplate as appropriate. This registration number cannot be changed or altered until the end of the plant's operation at a particular mine site. Hence, modifications or repairs of any registered classified plant at a mine site do not require re-registration but, before the plant is used again, it must conform with the Australian Standard unless prior written approval by the State Mining Engineer is obtained.

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Resources Safety should be notified when classified plant has been permanently removed from a mining operation or has left a mine site. If plant is sold to another mine site, the new owner is required to apply for registration. However, rather than submit drawings, calculations and a compliance statement as specified in the regulations, the applicant should submit a copy of the previous registration with Resources Safety (General Exemption, RS Hopkins 03/99).

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Besides operational and maintenance requirements applicable to all plant at a mine site, there are two requirements in the regulations that are specific for classified plant:

• Incidents involving registered plant must be reported immediately in writing to Resources Safety
• Registered plant is not to be used at a mine site unless it has undergone statutory inspection - the time limits for statutory inspections for different classified plant are set in the regulations.

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More information on the regulatory requirements regarding classified plant is available from the State Law Publisher's website (external link to SLP website) or telephone +61 8 9321 7688.

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