How do you Report Incidents at Mine Sites Efficiently?

The mining industry is a vital sector that plays a crucial role in the global economy. It involves the extraction of valuable minerals and other materials from the earth, which are used in various industries such as construction, manufacturing, and energy production. However, mining can be a high-risk occupation, with workers facing a range of hazards on a daily basis. According to the United States Department of Labor, the mining industry has one of the highest rates of injuries and fatalities in any industry. In fact, between 2000 and 2010, the mining industry saw an average of more than 100 fatalities per year.

One of the most effective ways to prevent accidents and injuries in the mining industry is by using an incident report checklist. An incident report checklist is a document that outlines the steps that should be taken following an accident or incident. It helps ensure that all necessary actions are taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Here are some key points that should be included in an incident report checklist for the mining industry:

1. First and foremost, the safety of workers should be the top priority. This includes providing first aid and medical attention to anyone who is injured, as well as ensuring that the area is safe and secure.
2. The next step is to gather all relevant information about the incident. This includes details such as the time, location, and cause of the incident, as well as the names of any witnesses and any damage that occurred.
3. Once the information has been gathered, it should be documented in a clear and concise manner. This includes creating a written report that includes all relevant details, as well as any photographs or other evidence that can help provide a clearer understanding of the incident.
4. The incident should also be investigated to determine the root cause and identify any contributing factors. This can help identify any underlying issues that may have contributed to the incident and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
5. Once the investigation is complete, the findings should be shared with all relevant parties, including management, workers, and any regulatory bodies. This can help ensure that everyone is up to date with any loopholes.

How does Incident Reporting work on Grid?

On Grid, mining companies have access to pre-built checklists that lets site managers/miners generate comprehensive incident reports within minutes. These reports are supported with images and geo-location and can be shared as instant PDFs with upper management who can easily look into the severity and costs. Most importantly, every incident and its information is stored in a dedicated database, that helps mining businesses identify patterns or recurrences into incidents.

The best part is every checklist is completely customizable according to your organizational regulations and protocols. To give you a better idea of how a pre-built incident reporting checklist works on Grid, let us guide you through all the different fields:

1. Event Status and Type: The first column on the worksheet highlights whether the event status is open or closed. Users also have the option to select the type of event, for example, if it's an incident or a hazard.
2. Event Sub-Type: Once the event type has been selected, users get a list of sub-types associated with the main type to choose from. The sub-type could be anything from an environmental report to equipment damage, injury/illness, or even loss of production.
3. Project: Workers can specify the project at which the incident has taken place. This column gives senior management column-wise visibility into injuries and damages.
4. Injury or Illness Sub-Type: Miners can keep track of the types of injuries that occur, such as minor first-aid injuries, significant lost-time injuries, occupational illnesses, and even non-work-related injuries that prevent them from working.
5. Shift: This column is placed for recording the shift during which the workplace incident occurred, like the day or night shift.
6. Report Date: The date that the incident is reported is entered here, as the name implies.
7. Incident Person: The employee or employees involved in the incident need to be recorded in this column. This could be filled manually or directly selected from the Employee Database.
8. Details of Event: The site supervisor has the option to enter supporting details of the event to give more visibility to the management so that they can strategize prevention or mitigation mechanisms.
9. Immediate Action Taken: This is a Yes or No checklist to specify if immediate action was taken after the incident.
10. Action Response: The action response is a customizable field where admins can enter details of the action taken after the incident. This includes specifying if specific protocols were followed or not. This is important in maintaining compliance and order across the workplace.
11. Event Location: The event location is automatically detected and entered via GPS. Users can also have an additional field to specify which area of the site this occurred.
12. Severity Level: The severity level field makes it easier for decision-makers looking at reports remotely, to get a quick understanding of the impact of the accident.
13. Cost of Incident: After assessing the incident and the damages that occurred, site managers can enter the cost required for reparations or losses in downtime.
14. Image: Finally, users have the option to upload supporting images to showcase the incident for verification or to give management a precise view of the incident.

While implementing digital checklists may require an initial investment, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. Digital incident reporting checklists can save time, reduce the risk of human error, improve collaboration, and ensure compliance, all of which can lead to a safer and more efficient job site. Grid is one platform that not only improves safety and efficiency on the job site but also manages all the valuable documentation to help enforce compliance without any errors. Make the switch to digital checklists and see the benefits firsthand!