Safety expert, mining

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as a safety expert at the mining company Endomines.  My tasks are related to improving safety together with supervisors and contractors. I am responsible for drawing up safety practices and guidelines and promoting safety management. The aim of my work is to make safety thinking visible in daily activities and to be a natural part of everyday life at our workplace, as our goal is zero accidents.

I administer the HSEQ system, which reports safety incidents, work accidents, near misses, environmental observations and equipment failures. Through the system, I transmit the observations and situations to supervisors for processing, and if necessary, we will launch a more detailed investigation. I also facilitate the handling of safety incidents, provide training, purchase supplies and plan the annual budgets of the security department. My tasks also include official cooperation with the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, the Rescue Department and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

When I was younger, I worked in the municipal sector for a long time, and I would not have expected to end up working in a mining company. Before the mining sector, I worked at the Rescue Department, where I carried out project work related to contingency planning and preparedness. When that task was coming to an end, I started looking for new opportunities and noticed the position of a safety expert open at Endomines. I applied for several tasks of the same type, and fortunately I got this particular position, as the tasks seemed versatile, and the company had a clear desire to develop in the field of safety.

Describe your typical working day or week.

At the beginning of a working day, I usually catch up with my colleagues. I then check the observations and reports received in the HSEQ system and read the emails.  I also go through the schedule of the day and see if there are any near misses to investigate, for example. The day also includes responding to messages, looking into various issues, investigating different safety incidents and meetings. I work in close cooperation with contractors and our company’s personnel.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I do hybrid work.  I usually work three days in the mining area and two days remotely. The mine is a unique work environment, sometimes 900 metres underground in a dark tunnel and sometimes in an opencast quarry. My working environment also includes the mine’s process plant and laboratory.

I can schedule my workdays relatively freely, and the weekly working hours are 37.5 hours. I sometimes do evening work when, for example, village evenings are held for residents in the area.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

Safety experts are required to be willing to learn new things and develop activities. Good interaction skills are essential, as the work develops the ways people work and established practices. In the profession, it is important to be able to examine matters from the perspective of safety and also to notice unlikely risks.

What is the best thing about your profession?

The best part of my profession is diversity. I get to work on occupational safety, fire safety and chemical safety. The work continuously offers challenges and opportunities for development. Good colleagues and team support make the work feel meaningful.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

My personal challenge is that I am not a technical person, and planning sometimes requires technical expertise in the mining sector. However, the sector offers good opportunities to develop and learn new things.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a safety expert?

The most important thing is that you work with an open mind and dare to leave your comfort zone. Networking in the security sector is important, so it is a good idea to get to know your colleagues whenever possible.

How do you see the future of your profession?

The prospects for the mining sector are good. Global crises are increasing demand in the mining industry, and Western countries are actively trying to detach themselves from dependence on China for earth metals. The Critical Raw Materials Act published in 2024 will increase mining projects in Europe and in Finland. Security sector experts will be needed in the future, as responsibility themes have become more visible in companies’ strategies and business operations. The development of EU sustainability reporting also affects the work situation in the sector, as regulation guides companies to increasingly invest in safety.