Short presentation for a supervisor to explain to their crew the meaning of discharging obligations

1. 1
How can an Underground
supervisor explain the
term
“Discharge
obligations”
to their team?

2. 2
The term Discharging Obligations is often used in the Underground Coal
Industry but does your team understand the implications?
Ask your team two questions;
Question 1: How do you ‘discharge your obligations’?
The common response to the question is “Tell my Supervisor” or
“Barricade the Hazard”. Although these answers in certain
circumstances may be partially correct, they fall short in terms of
completeness.
An easy definition or answer for a Supervisor to begin with is “For
someone to discharge their obligations, they need to do everything
that needs to be done in order to complete them”.
them = obligations - this then leads to the next question
Question 2: What are your obligations?

3. 3
What are your obligations?
Everyone in the Coal Mining Industry has Obligations. For your team underground, the
following obligations are specific to them;
a) To work in a way that does not expose themselves or others to an unacceptable level of
risk
• Consider the way you are going to complete the task – use the tools available to
help you consider the task and the risks involved (SOP’s, SWI’s, Take 5’s etc)
b) To ensure that the work you are in control of, Supervising or leading is done in a way that
does not expose you or others to an unacceptable level of risk
• Think about the task and the hazards involved
• Think about those doing the task and their qualifications, experience and skill level
• Think about others that might be affected by the task, can performing this task
impact others in the mine not associated with the task
c) Participate in and conform to the risk management practices at the mine
• Be engaged in the risk management process and look at ways to improve the
process
• Conform – understand the task, the process, and the intent of risk management
process.

4. 4
What are your obligations?
d) Comply with instructions given for Safety and Health of persons by the Coal Mine
Operator, SSE or Supervisor
• Instructions may come in a variety of ways but should be underpinned by a
documented method – For example they may be rules, standards or job
instructions
e) Ensuring you are in a fit condition to carry out the work without affecting the safety of
others
• Drugs, Alcohol, Fatigue, Mental Health or physical limitations
f) Don’t do anything wilfully or recklessly that may adversely affect the safety and health of
others
• Think about your action
The take away in this discussion is to communicate to your team, in their language, what
their Obligations are and how they can successfully discharge them. If you can explain this
successfully the team will understand the importance of the Safety Health Management
System, be more engaged in the risk management process, use the tools available to them
and identify areas of improvement. Making the work environment safer

5. 5
Key take-aways If you are an underground supervisor spend the
time to communicate to your team, in their
language, what their obligations are and how
they can successfully discharge them.
If you can explain this successfully the team will:
a) Understand the importance of the Safety
Health Management System,
b) Be more engaged in the risk management
process,
c) Use the tools available to them and identify
areas of improvement.
.
Being the supervisor of a team that understand
their obligations will make the work environment
safer for everyone.