Who may take action to stop the use of specified plant or substances when risk is unacceptable?

• A. Only the SSE
• B. Inspectors or inspection officers
• C. Coal mine Operator, SSE, ISHR, SSHR, Inspectors or inspection officers, CMWs
• D. External auditors

Answer: (C)

In mining safety, stopping the use of a plant or substance when the risk is unacceptable is a responsibility shared by everyone who can control or oversee safety on site. The operator and the Site Senior Executive have the ultimate duty to ensure safe operations and can order cessation of use. Safety representatives, including Site Safety and Health Representatives and Independent Safety and Health Representatives, are empowered to halt unsafe plant or practices to protect workers. Inspectors or inspection officers have legal authority to direct or enforce stopping the use of equipment or substances. Coal Mine Workers themselves also have the right and duty to stop work if they reasonably believe there is an unacceptable risk. External auditors don’t have on-site authority to halt operations, they assess compliance rather than issuing immediate safety directions. Therefore, the group that best captures who may take action includes the operator, SSE, ISHR, SSHR, inspectors or inspection officers, and Coal Mine Workers.