Mining solutions provider JKTech has noted a rapid increase in demand for its Global Minerals Industry Risk Management (G-MIRM) suite of risk manage- ment training programmes over the past two years, confirming the value it adds to organisations, says JKTech branch manager for Africa Lee Ewing.

The G-MIRM suite of programmes is custom- designed for the executive, management, supervisory and team member levels of an organisation. The aim of each programme is to enable the target audience to make better decisions with regard to risks and, particularly, safety risks.

“To achieve this, a leading-practice four-layer operational risk management model is introduced, together with a journey tool. By applying these models, the quality, implementation and application of risk assessments are shifted from being reactive in nature to being proactive, with the emphasis on understanding the hazards and underlying energies and on implementing critical controls,” Ewing tells Mining Weekly.

G-MIRM associate Dr Wynand van Dyk adds that, while the current G-MIRM programmes are focused on safety, health and environmental risk management, with special emphasis on safety, JKTech has received several requests from clients to expand the programme to include operational risk management.

“In addition, we are also developing a tool for the implementation and monitoring of critical controls,” he says.

Generic G-MIRM programmes are available for executive and manager levels and can be rolled out at short notice, Ewing says.

However, it is strongly recommended that a programme be custom-designed to integrate it with existing initiatives into an organisation and to ensure that company goals are met by defining the level of intervention needed, Ewing says.

“These programmes are not regarded as just another initiative, but rather as an educational experience underpinning existing initiatives. Typical customisation for all levels in an orga- nisation takes between four and six months, depending on the complexity of the existing initiatives and risk management philosophy,” she adds.

Customised G-MIRM programmes have been rolled out by various companies, including diversified majors Anglo American and Exxaro, coal producer Sasol Mining, mining contractor Murray & Roberts Cementation, gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti and Kazakhstani mining company Kazzinc, Van Dyk points out.

The generic product is currently being used in Australia and Canada.