The appointment of suitably qualified and experienced people into statutory positions has been a key principle ever since the requirement to appoint managers was enshrined in the Mines Regulation Act 1906. In recent years, the number of statutory positions has increased to the 15 listed in Schedule 26 of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, plus site senior executives and exploration managers.
Eight of the statutory positions require the candidates to acquire statutory certificates before being appointed to the roles. Most of the statutory positions require the candidates to pass an approved WHS risk management unit and applicable legislation exam conducted by WorkSafe. Several also require the candidates to pass a mining practice exam.
Following the commencement of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 on 31 March 2022, workers who held an equivalent role under the previous mine safety legislation could be appointed to a statutory position for a three-year transitional period. WorkSafe has extended the transition period to complete the mining statutory position certification from 30 March 2025 to 30 March 2026. After this 2026 deadline, the person appointed must meet the eligibility criteria for their statutory position, including having passed any required examination. The extended transition period will ensure applicants can attend the relevant examination.
Mines statutory positions portal
Launched in February 2023, the mines statutory positions portal hosts the applicable legislation examinations. Mining practice examinations are also hosted in the MSPP. The mining practice examinations for surveyors are scheduled to go live in the second quarter of 2024 and are planned to be held in a face-to-face interview format.
Bookings for the site senior executives and exploration managers supervisor applicable legislation examinations opened in March 2023, followed by underground managers, underground supervisors, quarry managers and statutory supervisors. The mining practice examinations went live in June 2023 and examination venues in Kalgoorlie and Bunbury were established in late 2023.
All of the examinations have reasonable adjustment provisions approved by the Mining Competency Advisory Committee to ensure access and equity.
By April 2024, 2,691 candidates attempted the applicable legislation or mining practice examinations with a success rate of over 80 per cent.
WorkSafe is aware of the demand for the legislation examinations and is currently working on strategies to increase their availability in the Perth metropolitan area and selected regional centres. Bookings can now be made through the mines statutory positions portal webpage.
For more information on mining statutory positions visit Mining statutory positions and certificates.
