Workgroups

SAFEX Workgroups focus on explosives health, safety and environmental (HS&E) concerns in specific areas where SAFEX Members believe good practices are required.  Workgroups have been established for the following operations. SAFEX Members can view the status of any Workgroup’s work or contribute to it by clicking on the Workgroup of interest:

• Emulsion Explosives Manufacture
• Explosives Remediation / Decontamination
• Explosives Transport
• Good Explosives Practice (GEP)
• Technical Grade Ammonium Nitrate (TGAN) Handling
• Explosives Traceability 

Why were they established?

To allow members to pool their knowledge and expertise to manage the HS&E impact in areas which present recurring HS&E issues. Member companies' experts in these areas exchange experiences for the benefit of the companies and the industry as a whole. The Workgroup can also be used to assist SAFEX International in adopting a position about a specific issue on behalf of its members.

How are they established?

When an area of HS&E concern is identified, the Board of Governors approves the establishment of  a Workgroup. The SAFEX Governor, who is the Workgroup Convenor, designates a Workgroup Leader  and invites members to nominate experts in the area of concern to form a nucleus or permanent group of individuals. Workgroups are not exclusive but open to any SAFEX member that wishes to contribute. Membership of a Workgroup is entirely voluntary.

How do they operate?

Each Workgroup prepares a Charter to define its purpose and the deliverable(s) it wishes to produce. This is followed by a Workplan that outlines how the Workgroup will go about achieving its objective. After the initial meeting, which typically occurs at a SAFEX Congress, the Workgroup maintains ongoing contact between Congresses. They do so using various methods including in-person meetings, conference calls and chat rooms. Once the Workgroup has met its objectives it is disbanded.