Who can be appointed as a ventilation officer?
For an underground mining operation, the person must
-
hold a diploma or degree in which mine ventilation was a substantial component of the curriculum
or
-
hold a qualification considered by the State Mining Engineer to be adequate for the mine
- For a surface mining operation, the person (and any technician assisting a ventilation officer) must be trained in the sampling and assessment of atmospheric contaminants
and
- demonstrate to the satisfaction of the manager or principal employer that they are competent to perform the duties of that position
Refer to r. 9.4 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995
There is one training organisation approved by the State Mining Engineer to provide courses for surface ventilation officer and ventilation technicians in Western Australia:
- Industrial Foundation for Accident Prevention (IFAP).
Who is responsible for the notification?
The registered manager must advise the district inspector in writing of the appointment of each ventilation officer through the department's Safety Regulation System. An exemption from the appointment of a ventilation officer is discussed in What are the duties of a ventilation officer?
An exemption from the appointment of a ventilation officer is discussed in What are the duties of a ventilation officer?
Refer to r. 9.3 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.
A copy of the signed letter of appointment must be kept in the mine record book
Notification of appointments must be submitted online using the Notifications sub-system in the Safety Regulation System (SRS)
The principal employer or registered manager can notify the department of a statutory appointment, or a person acting on their behalf.
A Company Administrator (CA) or a Company Representative can enter information into SRS. The CA can assign the role of Company Representative to any person required to notify appointments.
The completed and signed appointment letter needs to be attached to the notification of appointment in SRS.
Related information
Below is the list of documents that you may find useful.
Contact
For enquiries please contact an inspector of mines
Phone: 1800SAFEMINE (1800 7233 64)
Email: MinesSafety@dmirs.wa.gov.au