The importance of standard procedures across site
HoseMateTM – reduce hose failures across site with one simple product
While most mining sites have site-specific rules and procedures – having company wide procedures has many benefits.
This blog will examine the benefits of implementing standardised procedures across mining sites – and how HoseMateTM can be incorporated into this standard system.
Our research has demonstrated that often a solution is only sought after a disaster occurs. For example, HoseMateTM is only fitted after a hose burst occurs, and on that one hose where the hose failure occurred.
However, a solution should be sought as a preventative measure – before the hose failure occurs – and across site – not just on the one hose.
What is SOP in mining?
In mining, SOP means ‘standard operating procedures’. It refers to a documented way of working and arrangement of facilities at mine sites to achieve an acceptable level of risk.
Not only is it mining best practice to have standard procedures, many pieces of legislation regulate mining health and safety. Specific to Queensland is the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 (Qld) which specifies that coal mines must have standard operating procedures for an identified hazard.
Standard procedures
Mine sites generally have standard day to day operating procedures in place to protect their employees. The importance of these standardised procedures stems from a need to uphold quality control, and WHS requirements. Standard procedures reduce errors and accidents, ensure new employees have a process to follow, and lead to consistently high standards of productivity.
Standard procedures for training employees
It is important to have standard procedures when training staff. Staff at one site should be adequately trained in company standard procedures enough to visit another site and know what procedures to follow – because the processes are the same. In fact, 17 (out of 47) fatalities that occurred between 2000 - 2019 on Queensland mines and quarries were as a result of inadequate training.
Overall, having set standards across site – and even the company – builds a safety conscience and quality-controlled culture.
Where does HoseMateTM fit in?
Hydraulic hoses are found on a range of sites, ranging from factories to regional sites, all within the same company.
You could probably think of a variety of hydraulic hoses across you business in different locations… now think of what you do to prevent them all from external abrasion, the result may differ from site to site – some may use cable ties and others may use metal spirals.
However, this can cause many challenges when an employee works at one site is transferred or visits another, where a different practice is used.
Different solutions, such as cable ties and spirals, present a different level of risk for the potential for hose failure.
HoseMateTM is a purpose designed polymer product affixed to hydraulic hoses to prevent external abrasion, specifically hose-on-hose contact – a standard solution – where risk will be minimised across all sites.
When creating your standardised workplace procedures ensure HoseMateTM is included and reduce hose failures across your company! See how you could save by employing HoseMateTM in our blog where the true cost of hydraulic hose failure is revealed.