There’s no room for a “she’ll be right” mentality when working at height.
Miners are often required to work at height, either in the air or above sudden drops, meaning a strong focus on safety is paramount.
While professional ethics, codes of conduct, and organisational policies emphasise integrity, responsibility and safety, these ideals can sometimes clash with the everyday reality of on-site attitudes, particularly when it comes to safety practices.
There’s a “she’ll be right” attitude that often continues to persist in many industries, including mining. This mindset, while born out of a desire for resilience and optimism, can undermine efforts to maintain a safe working environment.
The phrase “she’ll be right” is deeply ingrained in Australian culture. It represents a laid-back, carefree attitude towards problems, suggesting that things will sort themselves out without much intervention.
However, when this mentality is applied in the context of high-risk work, such as in the mining industry, it can be detrimental to safety practices.
Mining operations often involve complex tasks, such as machinery maintenance, the completion of geological surveys and structural work that requires working at height. In such environments, even small lapses in judgement or safety practices can result in serious injury or death.
Working at Height Association secretary Deborah Chick said the “she’ll be right” mindset trivialises the inherent risks involved in this kind of work, emphasising that workers may not fully appreciate the severity of potential accidents. This can lead to complacency when it comes to using safety equipment or following established protocols.
“It literally and figuratively sums up a way of thinking, and a way of living here in Australia,” Chick said.
“Depending on the application or situation, the phrase has become a means of laughing off or making light of a situation until it can be solved.”
Despite being recognised as a high-risk work activity, falls from height remain one of the leading causes of fatalities and serious injuries across many sectors, including mining.
In Australia, the statistics remain troubling. Between 2017–2024, 154 workers lost their lives following a fall from height.
Despite advancements in technology, safety protocols and engineering solutions, complacency continues to be a major barrier to improving safety outcomes.
Unfortunately, the “she’ll be right” attitude often fuels this complacency, leading workers to underestimate the risks they face when working at height.
“For nearly twenty years, we have a trending theme of more paperwork onsite, more equipment used to reduce worker risk, more engineering solutions, and more advancements in technology, infrastructure and equipment – but the statistics are not changing,” Chick said.
Chick said workplace ethics in the mining industry must evolve to address the unique challenges posed by working at height.
While ethical codes of conduct and professional excellence are expected, these principles must go beyond mere documentation. In a high-risk environment, ethics should directly influence safety practices to ensure workers understand their responsibility to themselves, their colleagues and the public.
According to Chick, workplace ethics in mining should emphasise the importance of integrity, accountability, proactive engagement and respect for workers’ rights.
This means upholding safety standards consistently and ensuring all practices align with established guidelines, as well as workers taking responsibility for their actions and the potential consequences of overlooking safety protocols.
Actively seeking out safety measures, rather than reacting to accidents after they occur, is also critical, as is recognising that every worker has the right to work in an environment where their safety is a priority.
An ethical approach to safety in mining is not just about compliance with regulations but about fostering a culture where workers genuinely prioritise safety over convenience or shortcuts.
“In this high-risk environment, workplace ethics must evolve,” Chick said. “Ethics must go beyond just written codes to prevent incidents resulting from negligence or overconfidence.”
The persistence of the “she’ll be right” attitude can stem from an ingrained sense of resilience. It’s a fantastic trait in many circumstances, but can lead to complacency if left unchecked. And when it comes to working at height, complacency can be fatal.
To combat this, the mining industry is in need of a cultural shift that challenges outdated norms where they may have taken root and promotes a more rigorous approach to safety.
Technology and equipment also play a significant role in reducing the risks associated with working at height in mining.
Advances in fall protection systems, such as harnesses and guardrails, have made it easier for workers to remain safe while performing high-risk tasks. However, it’s not enough to simply have the right equipment; it must be maintained, regularly inspected and used correctly.
Moreover, advancements in technology, such as drones for site inspections or wearable devices to monitor worker health, can also provide valuable safety data.
These technologies can help identify potential hazards before they pose a risk, allowing for more proactive safety management.
In the mining industry, working at height is a high-risk activity that requires a strong commitment to safety. The persistence of the “she’ll be right” attitude and complacency around safety must be challenged.
By fostering an ethical work culture that emphasises proactive safety measures, open communication, mental health awareness and the use of advanced technology, the mining industry has a significant opportunity in its midst.
“By shifting focus to proactive safety measures, transparent communication, and cultural shifts in risk awareness, the industry can aim to reduce both the physical and mental toll on its workers,” Chick said.
This feature appeared in the May–June edition of Safe to Work.