Aligning Critical Risk Controls for Safer Mining Operations
The Golden Thread
The Golden Thread is Taits Consulting’s specialised approach to safety management, ensuring that critical risk controls are seamlessly integrated across all operational layers. This methodology moves beyond compliance, embedding safety into day-to-day activities and driving continuous improvement.
The five key phases of the Golden Thread are:
Phase 1: Risk Assessment
Identifying hazards, assessing risks, and defining critical controls.
Phase 2: Documentation & Systems
Embedding critical controls into Safety Management Systems (SMS) and operational documentation.
Phase 3: Training
Ensuring personnel are competent in applying critical controls in the workplace.
Phase 4: In-Field Verification
Conducting real-time audits and leadership verifications to confirm critical controls have been implemented effectively.
Phase 5: Reporting & Continuous Improvement
Capturing insights from critical control verification activities, incidents, audits, and hazard reports to enhance risk management strategies.
Why the Golden Thread Matters
In high-risk industries like mining, safety failures can lead to serious injuries, production disruptions, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. Many organisations have critical controls in place but fail to maintain alignment across their systems, workforce training, and real-world application. The Golden Thread ensures that:
Critical Controls identified in risk assessments are embedded in operational procedures.
Workers are trained to implement critical controls effectively in the field.
Leadership conducts regular verifications to determine if critical controls have been implemented in the field
Continuous feedback loops strengthen safety performance over time.
The Golden Thread In Action
Taits Consulting applies the Golden Thread approach to help organisations:
- Improve compliance with WHS legislation.
embedded in operational procedures. - Reduce serious safety incidents through proactive risk control management.
- Align safety systems with operational goals to enhance efficiency and productivity.
- Foster a culture of safety leadership, ensuring frontline teams take ownership of risk management.
Contact Us
Partner with Us
With extensive experience in mining safety, WHS compliance, and business improvement, we work alongside organisations to embed the Golden Thread methodology into their operations. Whether you need a safety system review, critical control alignment, or leadership coaching, our expertise helps you bridge the gap between safety strategy and execution.
Contact us today to learn how the Golden Thread can transform your safety performance.