Student’s helping students

One of our APC student’s recently posted on our private forum about what it’s like to work in the mining and resource sector as am Emergency Services Officer (ESO).

Diploma-qualified graduates can complete their clinical placement hours in a mining environment, which is a great way to develop more contacts and gain essential experience.The following links to continue The following links show you how APC students have successfully completed their training in the mines – great encouragement.

Meet APC Student Vickie Watts – Mining ESO in Queensland

Met APC student Nathan Seidel – Mining ESO in Western Australia

The role of an Emergency Services Officer (ESO)

Excerpt from an APC graduate who is working full-time as an ESO.

“I notice regular questions about mine medics and thought I’d give a general run down of the day so people can get an idea of what a role may cover.

This will change from site to site depending what they need and your own experience / qualifications:

1. Mornings we will discuss injury management updates. This includes paperwork, personal follow ups with patients / physios / doctors and Human Resources.
2. There will also be random workforce drug testing and breath testing alcohol. This is a an essential component of WHS at the mine site.
3. Evacuation lists and emergency rosters will be updated.
4. Medical clearances provided to incoming potential employees.
5. Hearing fit testing random employees.
6. Currently running our influenza vaccination program so vaccinating through out the day.
7. Temperature checking incoming employees for fever.
8. Vehicle checks of fire appliance , rescue trailer and ambulance.
9. Plan the following weeks emergency response teams training.

• Blood draw for heavy metals testing for our gold room workers.
• Update all patient notes currently being cared for.
• Follow up any patients returned home.
  • Organise doctor visitations for patients needing return to work clearances.
  • Welfare check any patients who are present on site.
• Update any mine site incidents that have occurred in the last 24 hours.
• Safety inspections for the mill and underground as required.
• Fire extinguisher checks, tagging and stamping.

Other areas that may be required is bushfire response, hazmat response, road crash rescue response, vertical rescue response, medical interventions clinical ( sometimes including suturing, mental health support and wound management ). Structural fire response including use of breathing apparatus.

OHS checks/ audits during shut downs, rescue plans, confined space monitoring and general administration duties. Security/ gate house duties may also be required. Induction / VOC training may also be required. Search and rescue sometimes occurs in remote areas.

This list may extend further (hire snake catchers and aviation fire response !!), depending on the company and whether it’s open cut / underground and / or refinery.

ESO’s wear multiple hats on site

In short you’re expected to wear multiple hats on site and know what to do during an emergency. If you’re the only ESO you will be the scene commander during an incident.

Other ESOs may have different experiences. This is my own spanning 18 mine sites in four years.

Hope this gives a better idea of potential expectations for ESO/ MESO.”

Kim

APC HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science student

Further reading on mining ESO’s, paramedical training and job opportunities.

What is an Emergency Services Officer (ESO)?

Mining ESO jobs – examples of current career opportunities on SEEK.com.au