Safex Newsletter No.83 November 2025

As per usual we start the Newsletter with a safety message from an industry leader, this time it is from Mauro Neves, the CEO of Dyno Nobel, John Rathbun, our chairman, hosted a successful meeting with the CEOs from our industry on 28 October, aiming to foster substantial support for SAFEX from industry leaders. This gathering underscore our commitment to strengthening strategic alliances and advancing our core mission under challenging circumstances. The primary objective is to secure widespread backing and collaboration to ensure the successful promotion and development of SAFEX initiatives, reflecting our dedication to industry growth and innovation.

Under the leadership of Juan Andres Errazuriz, ENAEX sponsored our ninth webinar focused on "Lessons Learned During Burning Ground Activities." This topic is highly relevant to safety practices across our industry. Participants are encouraged to review the Argyle incident detailed on our website, which highlights the hazards associated with burning ground operations. The incident underscores the importance of implementing effective mitigation strategies to prevent similar occurrences. Emphasizing safety protocols and hazard awareness is essential to ensure the well-being of personnel and the integrity of operations during such activities.

Andy Begg and Paul Siqueira have published an authoritative awareness document on Safety Management Systems. This comprehensive resource is now available on our website, designed to serve as a valuable reference for all stakeholders. It encourages active engagement and input from users, fostering a collaborative approach to safety management practices within the organization.

SAFEX received two articles on dust extraction very much complimenting each other:

Energetic Dust control: Lessons from Recent Incidents by Joao Roorda and Nadia Engler

Dust Generation and Control in the Explosives Industry by Paulo Siqueira.

Bob Woolley emphasizes the importance of establishing a solid foundation in our hazardous industry. Proper understanding and implementation of fundamental safety protocols are crucial, as neglecting these principles can lead to severe consequences, including threats to human life and infrastructure integrity. Ensuring that safety measures are correctly applied not only mitigates risks but also promotes a culture of safety and responsibility within the industry.

At Dyno Nobel, safety leadership is not just a role—it’s a responsibility woven into the fabric of how the Company Operates. There behavioural safety journey has evolved from foundational programs like SafeTEAMS and concepts of SafeGROUND to the launch of SafeLEADERS, a comprehensive leadership development initiative designed to embed safety into every decision, conversation, and action.The article on this was presented by Diana Gianne from Dyno Nobel.

Following numerous years of dedicated service, several esteemed Expert Panel Members elected to dedicate their retirement to personal pursuits. This transition posed a significant challenge to SAFEX, as it resulted in the loss of valuable industry experience accumulated over the years. In response, Andy Begg initiated a strategic recruitment campaign to attract new talent. We are pleased to introduce the new members who have joined our Expert Panel. Comprehensive details about these individuals are also available on our official website, reflecting our ongoing commitment to maintaining a highly qualified and experienced panel to support industry excellence.

It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Mervyn Traut, a highly respected member of our industry community. Mervyn was renowned for his mentorship, unwavering support, and dedicated assistance to SAFEX and its members over many years. His contributions have left a lasting impact, and he will be sincerely missed. Below is a tribute written by Dr. Boet Coezee, honoring his exceptional life and legacy.

Finally, I am pleased to share a flyer to inform members about the upcoming Third International Explosives Conference scheduled to take place in Cardiff, Wales, in June 2026. For comprehensive details and registration information, please visit the official conference website.

Advancing Safety Through Integrated Risk Management

At Dyno Nobel, safety is the cornerstone of our operations and the guiding principle behind every decision we make. As Chief Executive Officer, I am pleased to share our continued commitment to operational excellence through the integration of our risk management and health and safety management systems - an initiative that reflects our dedication to protecting our people, our communities, and the broader industry.

In alignment with global best practices and in close collaboration with our operational teams across our business, we have undertaken a significant transformation of our approach to operational risk. Our Operations Risk Transformation Plan is designed to embed critical control thinking into the fabric of our organisation, ensuring that the controls which prevent serious incidents are clearly identified, actively verified, and consistently reinforced.

This transformation has involved the consolidation of previously fragmented systems into a unified platform, the establishment of a global material risk register, and the implementation of structured verification processes. These measures are supported by a robust governance framework, standardised processes and a culture of continuous improvement, leadership behaviours and operational discipline.

We recognise that effective risk management is not solely a technical exercise - it is a leadership imperative. Accordingly, we have embedded risk ownership into our leadership routines and empowered our teams with the tools, training, and clarity required to ensure safety is not assumed, but demonstrably achieved.

Dyno Nobel remains a proud and active member of SAFEX, and we are committed to sharing our learnings and collaborating across the industry to elevate safety standards. Our collective goal of zero harm is attainable - not through increased complexity, but through disciplined execution, cultural alignment, and a relentless focus on what truly matters.

Together, we can build a safer, more resilient industry.

Mauro Nevis
CEO
Dyno Nobel Limited