SimonR’s post

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Simon Robinson @SimonR

Keys in vehicles

Working at a site that has had three vehicles stolen in the past three weeks so an audit was done and found most vehicles had keys left in ignition. I was advised that under the mines Regs WA that all mine vehicles had to have keys left in them? I’ve had a look but can’t seem to find anything around this. Has anyone got a link or reference in the Act that states this? Thanks :)

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Bart du Plessis@INCOVER 11mo

From a risk management perspective, it depends where you are. When I was at Gwalia just out of Leonora, on-site keys were left in the LV, back in the village, keys had to be taken out. With camp being in town, there were a couple times keys were left in the LV's which ended up "borrowed" straight through the 8ft fence

Sam Stroud@Stroudy 11mo

Who steals a vehicle from a mine site?!

Andrew Hunter@ChykanHunter 11mo

@Stroudy 4 people in this particular area. With a history of more happening.

Simon Robinson@SimonR 11mo

@Stroudy mate the site I’m on is like a supermarket for thieves. Multiple ways in, small workforce over a large area. You could drive a Ute in here and load up with laptops etc and be gone without being detected. Every week I’m finding people on site that shouldn’t be here.

Jesse McNeilly@JesseMcNeilly 11mo

Hey @SimonR I’ve had a look and couldn’t find anything on this mate. I think what @ChykanHunter said on the risk assessment is bang on - which you already know would be the best approach. People are always going to steal and what works in one place just doesn’t in others. Now I’m curious to find that reference- if you do, can you please share it mate?

Jesse McNeilly@JesseMcNeilly 11mo

@ChykanHunter agree!

Simon Robinson@SimonR 11mo

@ChykanHunter we can’t all live in Paradise mate :)

Andrew Hunter@ChykanHunter 11mo

@SimonR The moment is Paradise, does not matter where you are, while in it. But yes not having to lock the car is a blessing.

Andrew Hunter@ChykanHunter 11mo

I find it humourous how over time these practices change, it is a cycle. Do it the new way and then let's go back to the old way. Driven entirely on the perception of the people in the risk assessment team and what they have experienced.

Andrew Hunter@ChykanHunter 11mo

I agree with leaving keys in vehicles, you will not find it in the current Regs and I doubt you will find it in the previous Regs. It is one of those mining 'general rules' born on a risk assessed basis. Leaving the keys in makes the car available in an emergency situation and also allows the vehicle to be moved if required. It is a little bit like reverse parking on a mine site. Everyone leaves at the same time, so it is better to drive out forward. Versus coming to work, we come in dribs and drabs. These 'general rules' are born from risk assessment and common practice. We could call it industry best practice, but this is not always the best, depending on the demograph in which the mining operation is based.