FRANCIS SAM
TARKWA
Summary
I am a dedicated Safety Officer with 10 years of experience in ensuring workplace safety in the mining industry. I have a proven track record in implementing and managing comprehensive safety programs to mitigate risks and promote a culture of safety. I am skilled in investigating serious or critical incidents to identify root causes and recommend preventative action and, or measures, conducting thorough safety inspections and audit to identify hazards, and implementing corrective measures. I am certified in NEBOSH IGC certification and currently pursuing NEBOSH Diploma programme. I am proficient in risk assessment, incident investigation, and regulatory compliance. I am committed to continuous improvement and staying updated on industry best practices. I am passionate about creating and maintaining safe working environments for all employees.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Safety Coordinator
Golden Star Wassa Mine
08.2018 - Current
- Health and Safety Oversight.
- Conduct monthly and quarterly safety inspections and audits across all sections of the mine.
- Ensure reporting and appropriate handling of all significant hazards (levels 3-5), and near misses identified during shifts.
- Conduct a risk assessment, and ensure sign-out before the commencement of any project on site.
- Safety Meetings and Procedures: Develop a write-up for the monthly safety meetings.
- Organize and conduct monthly safety meetings for all departments in the mine.
- Assist shift supervisors in developing and revising safe work procedures, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Monitor shutdown activities at the plant maintenance, and ensure strict adherence to safety procedures and codes of practice.
- Corrective Actions and Emergency Preparedness: Address unsafe acts or conditions through the regular line of authority, including warnings, investigations, and disciplinary actions.
- Coordinate job safety analysis, risk assessment, and risk control for all processes, activities, and services at the processing plant, and other operational areas.
- Develop corrective action requests for all hazards and near misses to track and prevent recurrences.
- Prepare emergency response drills and schedules, and ensure timely and realistic drill execution.
- Leading Indicator Reporting and OHS Inspections: Coordinate the submission of leading indicator reports weekly, ensuring that timelines are met.
- Monitoring and Compliance: Enforce supervisors' accountability for the safety and health of their teams, ensuring compliance with safety rules and regulations.
- Regularly monitor operational activities, enforce adherence to safety rules and codes of practice, and maintain a hazard-free environment.
- Review safety management plans of third-party contractors, and seek approval from the Senior Safety Coordinator for acceptance and usage.
- Ensure all tools, equipment, rigging gears, ladders, and scaffolds are inspected and tagged appropriately
- Training Program Development: Design, develop, and update safety training programs in alignment with industry standards, regulations, and organizational needs
- Create engaging training materials, presentations, and practical exercises to effectively communicate safety concepts
- Training Delivery: Facilitate safety orientation sessions for new employees to familiarize them with workplace safety policies, procedures, and expectations
- Conduct safety training sessions for employees, covering topics such as hazard identification, emergency response, PPE usage, and other relevant safety procedures
- Adapt training methods to accommodate diverse learning styles and ensure understanding among participants
- Ensure adherence to site safety rules and regulations, and coordinate training on written SWPs, and safe handling practices for chemicals.
- Assist supervisors in developing and coordinating relevant toolbox topics addressing pressing safety concerns
- Incident Investigation and Reporting: Collaborate with safety officers or management to investigate accidents, injuries, or near misses to identify the root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
- Reporting and documenting findings from investigations, including recommending additional training or revisions to procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future
- Continuous Improvement: Analyze safety performance data, including accident reports and feedback from employees, to continuously improve safety training programs
- Adapting training content to meet the evolving safety needs of the operation, such as new equipment, technologies, or procedures
- Regulatory Compliance: Stay current with industry regulations and standards to ensure that training programs are compliant and up-to-date
- Collaborate with regulatory agencies and attend relevant workshops to enhance knowledge of safety requirements
Emergency Response Officer
Golden Star Wassa Mine
08.2015 - 08.2018
- Emergency Planning: Develop and maintain comprehensive emergency response plans, considering various scenarios such as natural disasters, accidents, and security threats
- Collaborate with relevant departments to ensure alignment of emergency plans with organizational objectives
- Training and Drills: Assist in organizing and conducting regular emergency response training sessions and drills for employees to enhance preparedness
- Assist the Emergency response coordinator in evaluating the effectiveness of training programs and make adjustments as needed
- Coordination and Communication: Establish clear communication channels and protocols for disseminating information during emergencies
- Assist the Mine Rescue Captain in coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, emergency services, and relevant authorities to ensure a synchronized response
- Incident Response: Promptly respond to emergency incidents, ensuring a rapid and organized reaction to mitigate risks and protect lives and property
- Implement predefined protocols for specific types of incidents
- Evacuation Procedures: Develop and oversee evacuation procedures, including the establishment of assembly points and the provision of necessary resources
- Conduct regular drills to test and improve evacuation plans
- Resource Management: Assist the Mine Rescue Captain in managing and allocating resources effectively during emergencies, including personnel, equipment, and supplies
- Coordinate with external agencies to secure additional resources when necessary
- Documentation and Reporting: Assist in maintaining accurate records of all emergency response activities, including incident reports, evaluations, and lessons learned
- Prepare and submit timely reports to relevant authorities and management
- Continuous Improvement: Support Mine Rescue captain to regularly review and update emergency response plans based on feedback, lessons learned, and changes in organizational structure or facilities
- Stay informed about industry best practices and incorporate improvements into emergency response procedure
Assistant Environmental Officer
Golden Star Wassa Limited
08.2010 - 04.2011
- Conducting Training on Hydrocarbon and Waste Management for employees
- Preparation of monthly Environmental report
- Preparation of Annual Reclamation report
- Organizing environmental induction and awareness training for employees
- Conducting Training in Hydrocarbon and Waste Management for employees
- Water sample collection and analysis for parameters such as pH, Cyanide and heavy metal, coliforms, etc
- Implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS) on site
- Monthly facility inspection
National Service
Golden Star Wassa Limited
09.2009 - 07.2010
- Monitoring surface and groundwater, dust, and noise levels
- Managing of monitoring data
- Blast monitoring for ground vibration and air overpressure in the nearby communities
- Water sample collection and analysis for parameters such as pH, Cyanide, Conductivity, heavy metals, and Free Residual Chlorine
- Site Environmental Inspection
- Implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS) on site
- Report Writing and Documentation of field activities
Education
MSc. - Environmental Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
01.2022
BSc. - Environmental Science
University of Cape Coast
Cape Coast, Ghana01.2009
S.S.S.C.E. -
St Augustine’s College
Cape Coast, Ghana01.2000
Skills
- Knowledge of local and international regulation
- Training and development
- Audit and Inspections
- Strong analytical skills
- Structural Firefighting skills
- First Aid and Emergency Response Management
- Risk assessment
- Technical Knowledge
Certificates
- HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management,NEBOSH 2025
- Senior SHE officer’s certificate, Inspectorate Division of Minerals Commission, 2022
- International general certificate in Health and Safety,NEBOSH 2019
- Sodium cyanide training,, Samsung Company, 2017
- SHE officer’s certificate, Inspectorate Division of Minerals Commission (Ghana), 2017
- Mine Rescue Brigade Certificate, Inspectorate Division Of Minerals Commission (Ghana), 2016
- Advance First Aid, St. Johns Ambulance (Accra, Ghana), 2016
- Tailing storage Facility Management training, Knight Piesolds, 2009
- Spillage Management, Hurricane Consult (Ghana), 2010
- Hydrocarbon and Waste Management Training, Golden Star Wassa Mines, 2010
- Internal Auditor Training in Safety and Environmental Management Systems, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), 2010
Projects
Coordinated in developing new SWP’S for all critical task at the Processing Plant. Assisted in developing and Implementing Fatality prevention program for GSR. Member of the training staff that won annual inter mines safety and first aid competition in 2024. Solid Waste Disposal-A case study of the Agbogbloshie market area in Accra.
References
- Blay Thompson, Senior Safety Coordinator, Golden Star Resources, bthompsong@gsr.com, 0594002250, P.M.B, Tarkwa, Ghana
- Kwabena Owusu Akyaw, Metallurgical Manager, Golden Star Wassa Ltd, kowusuakyaw@gsr.com, 0273-619814, P.M.B, Tarkwa, Ghana
Timeline
Safety Coordinator
Golden Star Wassa Mine
08.2018 - Current
Emergency Response Officer
Golden Star Wassa Mine
08.2015 - 08.2018
Assistant Environmental Officer
Golden Star Wassa Limited
08.2010 - 04.2011
National Service
Golden Star Wassa Limited
09.2009 - 07.2010
MSc. - Environmental Science
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
BSc. - Environmental Science
University of Cape Coast
S.S.S.C.E. -
St Augustine’s College
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