How Do I Create a Critical Risk Management Program? A Step-by-Step Guide for Mining in 2025
Learn how to create a critical risk management program in 2025. Step-by-step guide for mining companies focused on controls, roles, and real-world outcomes.
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One of the most common questions we get asked in the field is:
“How do I create a critical risk management program?”
In mining and other high-risk industries across Australia, the answer starts with one key principle, focus on the risks that can kill. A critical risk management program isn’t about managing everything. It’s about managing the few things that matter most.
Step 1: Identify Your Critical Risks
Start by asking:
Which risks in our operation could cause fatalities or life-altering injuries?
These are your critical risks. Use incident data, bowtie analyses, frontline engagement, and Principal Hazard Management Plans (PHMPs) to define them clearly.
Step 2: Map and Define Your Critical Controls
Once critical risks are identified, map the controls that prevent those risks from becoming incidents. But don’t stop at naming controls go deeper:
- What makes each control effective?
- How do you verify it’s working?
- Who is responsible for making it happen?
This step forms the foundation of effective control management.
Step 3: Develop Control Performance Standards
Create clear performance standards that define:
- What each control looks like in practice
- How it is maintained and verified
- What evidence is required for assurance
- Who owns each control at operational levels
These standards ensure consistency and accountability.
Step 4: Use Tools Like Bowtie Diagrams
Visual tools like bowtie diagrams help connect the dots between hazards, risks, controls, and responsibilities. They are especially useful for communication, training, and performance monitoring.
Step 5: Embed Through Roles, Routines, and Leadership
A critical risk management program is only effective if it lives in the field. That means:
- Training teams on what the controls are and why they matter
- Clarifying roles and expectations at every level
- Building verification routines into existing processes
- Engaging leaders in performance conversations—not just paperwork
Why Mining Companies Choose Impress Solutions
At Impress Solutions, we help Australian mining companies create and implement critical risk management programs that are practical, role-specific, and built to last.
We bring:
- Real site experience in high-risk industries
- Structured processes tailored to your operations
- Support for bowtie development, verification routines, and training
- A collaborative approach that builds internal capability
Whether you're starting from scratch or improving an existing framework, we can support you every step of the way.
Ready to Build a Critical Risk Management Program?
If you’re wondering how to create a critical risk management program that actually works, contact Impress Solutions today. Let’s talk about building something that saves lives and strengthens your operations.
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Ready to Save Lives at Work?
With Impress Solutions, you’re not just getting a service, you’re securing peace of mind with a partner you can trust. Book a free consultation today, and let’s map out how we can help you save lives at work.
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