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Mineral Resources, SSR Mining take flight in BARS program

Mineral Resources (MRL) and SSR Mining have joined the Flight Safety Foundation’s basic aviation risk standard (BARS) program as BARS member organisations (BMOs).

The contract aviation industry is furthering the adoption of a single international aviation risk standard, with the mining giants joining the program.

Prior to joining BARS, MRL and SSR Mining’s operations utilised the services of a range of aircraft operators across the globe to transport their employees.

As there are wide variations in how companies assess the safety of outsourced air operations, aircraft operators are subject to multiple audits annually.

“Implementing a single standard reduces the audit burden on the operator, provides consistency and standardisation and saves both the mining sector and the aviation suppliers a significant amount of money and time,” BARS program director David Anderson said.

“Our standard comes from the industry, and we have become a conduit of collaborative information to promote safety among companies on the other side of the world, which is why we are so pleased to be seeing more members on board for the BARS Program.”

SSR Mining director health, safety and risk Andrew Lewin said he saw joining the program as an investment in improving aviation safety within the mining industry.

“BARS provides an opportunity to raise standards across our aviation partners in managing the risk to our employees and contractors,” Lewin said.

As BMO’s, MRL and SSR Mining, along with their aircraft operators, will contribute audit and incident data to identify safety risks (non-conformities) and develop solutions to advance the safety of the contract aviation industry.

“MRL’s success is driven by our people, including our committed fly-in-fly-out workforce across our iron ore and lithium operations,” MRL’s exploration safety superintendent Alistair Christie said.

“We look forward to working with the Flight Safety Foundation to continue strengthening aviation safety across our business and the mining industry in general.”

The BARS program released data last year demonstrating that the onshore resource sector is on a downward trend in fatal accidents.

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