TOOLBOX TALK

OPEN PIT SLOPES

Preventing slope failure and rock fall

To help us create a fatality-free workplace, we need to control our fatal risks. This is something we can only do if everyone
takes responsibility for ensuring that the right critical controls are in place, working properly and used correctly. This
toolbox talk focuses on controls to prevent open pit slope failures and rock falls. Discuss it with your team and ensure they
know what controls apply, what questions to ask and what to do if there are any problems.

ASK THE TEAM:

• Do you have fit-for-purpose equipment and
enough training to perform blasting and drilling
operations with confidence?
• Do you have fit-for-purpose equipment and
enough training to excavate to procedure?
• Do you know how to identify high-risk areas and
how to barricade them off?
• Do you know the evacuation plan for the open pit?

ASK THE TEAM:

What can lead to incidents while working in an open pit?

• Not blasting or drilling • Not removing loose material/ • Not following TARP for • Not following correct
to design scaling to safe conditions signs and symptoms for evacuation procedures
• Ground not sloped • Entering No-Go zones potential failures
according to design

CRITICAL CONTROLS QUESTIONS

To control our fatal risks and ensure we
work as safely as we can, you need to
help us verify that all relevant critical
controls are in place, working properly
and/or in good condition. To do this,
there is a list of questions to ask
BEFORE working in open pits.
Mention the following:
• It’s a team effort – supervisors also have a
responsibility to answer questions about critical ?
controls on a shift-by-shift basis.
• These questions must be answered EVERY
single time you work in an open pit.
• ALL questions must be answered.

IMPORTANT: Correctly answering these questions is vital. It is the only way to know it is 100% safe to start the job and
avoid fatalities. This forms a critical part of assessing and planning your tasks, and is NOT just a “checklist”.

CONTROLLING OUR FATAL RISKS

 OPERATOR
How to use this guide:

Go through the list of questions for operators with your team and make sure they understand everything.
• On a task-by-task basis, use the questions below to assess if it is safe to start work.
• If you answer NO to any of the questions, DON’T start work. Report this as soon as possible
to your supervisor, who will help identify a suitable temporary fix or permanent solution.
• Work should only start if ALL questions are answered YES.

1. Drill and blast to slope design:

Have I been trained and declared competent

for my drilling and blasting tasks?
YES GO NO STOP

Do I have fit-for-purpose equipment for

drilling and blasting?
YES GO NO STOP

Do I perform my drilling and blasting tasks

according to procedure?
YES GO NO STOP

IMPORTANT: Tell your team that they only tick YES if they are 100% sure that this is the
Do I have enough time to perform all tasks
according to procedure?
YES GO NO STOP
?
2. Excavate to slope design:

correct answer. If they’re not sure of something, they must answer NO.
Have I been trained and declared competent to
operate the equipment I am using? YES GO NO STOP

Do I have the correct equipment to excavate

according to procedure?
YES GO NO STOP

Am I excavating according to the procedure? YES GO NO STOP

?
6

ASK THE TEAM:

What should you do if you answer “NO” to any of the questions about the critical controls?
• The first thing you MUST do, is STOP what you’re doing.
• Don’t continue with your work and think that you’ll fix it or tell your supervisor about it later. A lot can happen in that time.
For example, if something’s not right with a control and someone else doesn’t notice that, they could get hurt.
• If they don’t understand or are not sure about any of them, you must ask your supervisor for help. Only start work when a
safe solution is found.

Remind your team that they must answer the questions that apply and hand them back to you EVERY TIME they are involved in
underground work.

ASK THE TEAM:

When do you think it’ll be safe to start or

continue working in the open pit?

Only when ALL the questions about the critical controls that apply to OPERATOR

your operation have been answered “YES”.

How to use this guide:
• On a task-by-task basis, use the questions below to assess if it is safe to start work.
• If you answer NO to any of the questions, DON’T start work. Report this as soon as possible
to your supervisor, who will help identify a suitable temporary fix or permanent solution.
• Work should only start if ALL questions are answered YES.

1. Drill and blast to slope design:

Have I been trained and declared competent

for my drilling and blasting tasks?
YES GO NO STOP

Do I have fit-for-purpose equipment for

drilling and blasting?
YES GO NO STOP

Do I perform my drilling and blasting tasks

YES GO NO STOP

Once you’ve answered “YES” to all the questions, you can be

according to procedure?

Do I have enough time to perform all tasks

according to procedure?
YES GO NO STOP
?
2. Excavate to slope design:

Have I been trained and declared competent to

GO STOP

confident that you’re working as safely as you can to avoid incidents,

operate the equipment I am using? YES NO

Do I have the correct equipment to excavate

according to procedure?
YES GO NO STOP

Am I excavating according to the procedure? YES GO NO STOP

?

not only for yourself, but for those around you too.
6

REMIND THE TEAM:

All controls are vital to keeping us and those around us safe. Here are some of the other
controls we need to verify for working in open pits.
• Correct mine sequencing. • Control surface water through dams, bunds,
• Be aware of change – new employees; berms, pumps and pipes.
work overload; shift delays; logistic delays; • Control and monitor ground water levels.
weather. • Park in appropriate location, away from
• Fit-to-work employees. potential rock fall zones. Are there any
• Practice evacuation drills and • Put remedial measures in place to stabilise other controls that
rescue procedures. areas with rock fall or slope failure potential. are important?