Key Components of Mining Safety Training at a Glance

Pacific Manpower & Institute for Safety Education and Training (ISET)

The training model developed by Pacific Manpower and ISET is structured around five core components. These ensure every person deployed to a mine site in PNG is well-prepared, safety-conscious, and operationally competent.

Foundations of a mine site: open-pit and underground areas, overburden dumps, TSFs, ore/waste stockpiles; processing (crushing, grinding, concentrators, CIL/CIP, flotation/smelters); support systems (power, water treatment, waste); accommodation camps and site services.

• • Understand pit areas (open-pit/underground)
• • Identify overburden dumps & TSFs
• • Know ROM/high-grade/low-grade stockpiles
• • Grasp crushing, grinding, recovery (CIL/CIP, flotation, smelter)
• • Recognise power, water, and waste systems
• • Camps & essential site services

Operations and flow: drilling & blasting, load/haul with trucks, loaders, excavators; grade control; sampling; mine planning and scheduling; site haul roads; conveyors and pipelines; export routes to Lae/Kiunga and FIFO airstrips.

• • Drilling/blasting procedures & safety
• • Load/haul operations & traffic rules
• • Grade control & ore sampling
• • Planning & shift scheduling
• • Conveyors/pipelines & export logistics

Life in camp (FIFO/local), catering, laundry, recreation, medical facilities; HR structures; training centres and inductions; community affairs; landowner associations; company programs in health, education, and local enterprise.

• • Navigate FIFO/local accommodation
• • Use camp/medical facilities responsibly
• • Understand workforce structures
• • Participate in training & inductions
• • Engage respectfully with communities & landowners

PNG mining licences (ML, SML, EL); CEPA environmental permits; MRA oversight; WHS-based safety systems; environmental monitoring (air/water/biodiversity); audits/inspections; statutory reporting.

• • Identify key licences & permits
• • Follow WHS policies & audits
• • Monitor compliance & report incidents
• • Meet quarterly/annual reporting duties

Emergency response (ERT), first aid, hazard/near-miss reporting, incident management; communications (satellite/radios); SCADA/DCS; security & surveillance; warehousing & inventory; procurement and SME sourcing.

• • Respond with ERT & first aid
• • Use incident & hazard systems
• • Operate comms & control systems
• • Follow security protocols
• • Manage inventory & support local SMEs

Remote access (helicopter/barge/long-haul), high rainfall, landslides, floods; cultural sensitivity across diverse tribal groups and customary land; respectful landowner engagement; managing relations in complex social settings.