BHP Mt Arthur Coal partnered with Avetta to boost contractor compliance by 50% and save $300,000 annually, managing 3,500+ contractors with streamlined safety and onboarding tools.
The Challenge
BHP is the world’s second-largest mining company and Australia’s fourth-largest company by revenue. BHP Mt Arthur Coal is the largest coal production site in the NSW Hunter Valley, producing coal for the energy sector. In a highly regulated, high-risk industry, BHP recognized inconsistencies around contractor management – a lack of clarity about worker roles and responsibilities, and inadequate critical controls to manage risk. This inconsistency, combined with legislative requirements, triggered BHP to introduce a global Contractor Management Framework to standardize contractor engagement and safety.
The Results
The Avetta Contractor Management System underscores BHP’s Requirements for Safety standards, where having the right controls in place to effectively manage safety risks leads to improved outcomes.
A Safer Mine
BHP Mt Arthur Coal’s Avetta solution includes Company Prequalification, where insurances and licenses of contracting companies are collected and verified, and Worker Competency Management, where workers are registered with site roles, competency documents, and appointment letters. “The same as a driver is required to have a driver’s license to ensure safety on the roads, a mine worker is required to be trained, authorized and competent to perform their work safely on a mine,” said Laurentiu. “The Avetta contractor management system ensures workers are authorized to perform work safely, therefore assisting us in the journey to achieve Zero Harm on our site.”
A 50% Increase in Contractor Compliance
With the safety and compliance of over 3,500 contractors now managed in the Avetta platform, BHP Mt Arthur Coal has tangible results from the partnership. “Before implementing the Avetta Worker Competency module, compliance reporting was sitting at around 25 percent,” said Laurentiu. “It has since risen to around 75 percent, a 50 percent increase in contractor compliance.”
US$200,000 a Year Saved
The number of contractors at BHP Mt Arthur Coal meant administrators were working full time to manage contractor compliance and onboarding. Substantial savings are now being realized with the Avetta solution.
“We have saved two admin resources – approximately US$200,000 each year – using the Avetta system, and have had a 50% increase in contractor compliance.”
– Laurentiu Aldea, Superintendent Site Systems, BHP
An Innovation Partnership
The Avetta platform’s features stood out when BHP Mt Arthur Coal was choosing a workforce safety partner, including its alignment with BHP’s needs. “The greatest benefit of working with Avetta has been the high level of innovation and features available in their packages that aren’t available in other products we have investigated,” said Laurentiu. Innovations like the Avetta Client Portal for compliance insight, the Mobile App for instant checks, and the Asset Management Portal for compliant equipment cultivated a partnership based on continuous improvement.
