Health Risk Assessment
The words health and safety are often used together, as though they are a single concept.
In reality, they involve distinct challenges that require tailored responses. Safety risks tend to be immediate and visible—accidents that happen in the moment. Occupational health risks, on the other hand, are typically long term, often developing over years and not always linked back to a single event.
Mining operations are inherently complex. They involve hazardous processes, heavy machinery and high-risk environments. Many are located in remote areas with limited access to healthcare and vulnerable to natural disasters—factors that compound the challenge of managing health risks effectively.
The role of HRA
ICMM members are committed to achieving zero fatalities. A key part of that goal is understanding and addressing occupational health risks through occupational health risk assessment (HRA).
HRA is not a one-off checklist—it’s an ongoing, collaborative process that brings together occupational health professionals, hygiene specialists, managers and frontline workers. It helps operations:
- Identify health hazards.
- Understand potential health effects.
- Measure exposure to harmful substances.
- Design effective controls to reduce risk.
But a successful HRA goes further. It factors in social, political, economic and engineering considerations—combining technical insight with practical realities to develop and compare options that deliver better long-term health outcomes.
Why it matters
One of the most pressing challenges is work-related illness. These conditions may develop silently over time, but their impact on people and operations is substantial. Poorly managed health risks can result in:
- Lost working days.
- Under-utilisation of high-cost production assets.
- Reduced economies of scale.
- Lower workforce morale.
- Higher turnover and recruitment challenges.
- Loss of skills and investment in training.
In short, managing health risks is both a moral obligation and a business imperative.
Supporting better practice
ICMM’s Good Practice Guidance on Occupational Health Risk Assessment supports mining and metals companies in strengthening their approach. It provides practical tools and principles to help navigate complexity, enhance operational resilience and, ultimately, safeguard the health and wellbeing of all workers.
