Back to Resourceful November 2021

Mount Isa Mines brings new energy to isolation training

A new custom isolation rig is providing specialised training to enhance the skills and safety of workers at Mount Isa Mines (MIM).

The MIM Skills Centre has extended its variety of dedicated isolation lockout and tagging options at the Mount Isa training facility, with the introduction of a new, custom isolation rig, which simulates both simple and complex isolation tasks within our operations.

The specialised rig is a welcome addition to the Skills Centre’s Isolation Alley, which already provides workers with a tailored, hands-on training environment to build their skills and knowledge on the isolation scenarios they can encounter onsite.
  • The specialised rig is a welcome addition to the Skills Centre’s Isolation Alley, which provides our workers with a tailored, hands-on training environment.
  • Clynton Munns - Training Advisor, Mount Isa Mines Skills Centre trains workers on the new isolation rig.

Energy isolation is Glencore’s first Fatal Hazard Protocol, and forms part of our SAFEWORK system to eliminate or minimise the potential for fatalities, injuries and incidents that arise from risks associated with our site.

Training our workforce in the Isolation, Lockout and Tagging 12-Step process enables them to safely and correctly isolate the energy, which in turn will protect the workers from the risk of personal injury, and damage to the plant, from a release of energy.

Queensland Metals Superintendent Skills Centre and Services, Vicki Anderson says the new rig came to fruition through continuous improvement and cross collaboration.

The Lockout and Tagging 12-Step process helps to protect workers from the risk of personal injury, and damage to plant, from a release of energy.

“We approached the Copper Concentrator with the concept of the new rig and benefits it could bring to the workforce. Our Copper Concentrator Manager at the time, Mark Peterson, agreed and helped facilitate the build for us,” Vicki says.

“We are so grateful and excited about the support the Copper Concentrator has given us with this initiative.”

Mark Peterson, who is now the Copper Smelter Manager, supports the idea to improve training for the workforce and improve safety.

Vicki Anderson - Superintendent, Skills Centre and Services, Mark Peterson - Manager, Copper Smelter, Brian Anderson - Superintendent, Operations Copper Concentrator and Ian Downes - Operations Coordinator, Copper Concentrator were instrumental in the facilitation of the custom isolation rig.

“Energy isolation is a vital part of the work we do on a daily basis in our operations and being able to help build a hands-on tool like this was a no brainer,” Mark says.

“In particular, it allows us to prepare and test our workers in a wide variety of isolation scenarios in a safe environment.”

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