In the rapidly evolving, complex landscape of the mining industry, legal compliance and risk management are paramount. Legislative changes, such as the updated Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations, the introduction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new water quality standards for mining operations and the implementation of the ISO 14001:2015 standard for environmental management systems, underscore the dynamic nature of this sector and the overall aim to protect local ecosystems more rigorously. 

These developments and many more make Legal Tech solutions, such as ERM Libryo vital for streamlining operations, enhancing regulatory compliance and mitigating risks. In this blog, we’ll explore three core reasons why mining companies should embrace Libryo's compliance management technology to stay competitive and compliant.

1. Enhanced regulatory compliance 

Stay ahead of local mining regulatory changes 

Given the heavily regulated nature of the mining sector, with laws differing significantly across regions, automating regulation monitoring within one platform is very advantageous. This ensures ongoing and consistent compliance with local, national, and international laws, minimizing the risk of costly fines and fostering a culture of compliance within the organization.

While most mining companies have Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) systems in place, they often lack the regulatory data to feed into these systems effectively. Legal Tech platforms like Libryo can fill this gap by automatically tracking relevant regulatory requirements at each operational site. And if companies have no GRC system in place, Libryo is a great place to start.

Libryo Use Case: A mining company operating an open-pit mine in Australia can leverage Libryo to track environmental regulations, such as water discharge limits and habitat protection laws. With automated alerts for regulatory changes, the company can swiftly adjust its practices as required, ensuring compliance, protecting the local environment and avoiding potential fines that could disrupt operations.

2. Streamlined risk management 

Identify areas of non-compliance and mitigate mining risks effectively 

Legal registers can be complicated and time-consuming to gather and maintain. Libryo simplifies this process by automatically compiling and standardizing applicable legal requirements tailored to your operational activities, industry and jurisdiction. By answering a quick set of applicability questions, you can instantly see what legislation is relevant and whether it has been complied with.

Mining operations face various risks, from environmental impacts to labor disputes, requiring a constant, up-to-date reflection of any areas of non-compliance. Libryo equips companies to assess and manage these risks effectively and identify potential legal issues early on, allowing for speedy interventions, corrective actions and minimal disruptions.

Libryo Use Case: A mining company conducting underground operations can use Libryo to carry out regular assessments of geotechnical stability and worker safety protocols. If site sensors flag hazards such as ground instability or inadequate ventilation, the company can use Libryo to find out specific legal requirements and take corrective actions immediately. Users can track all of their compliance-related activities to ensure that safety measures are met and align with the latest legal obligations.

3. Increased efficiency and cost savings

Optimize legal compliance processes for better productivity 

Libryo streamlines day-to-day compliance management and fosters unity within global mining companies by standardizing processes and promoting best practices across diverse locations. This empowers individuals to make proactive changes, enhances accountability and ensures important matters are addressed swiftly to prevent risks. Users can tag colleagues, add comments, assign tasks, link risk assessments, set reminders and attach relevant documents—all within one global platform.

By automating routine compliance tasks such as legal research, it eliminates the need to sift through spreadsheets or set aside time to scour government websites. You can take actionable steps towards compliance and focus on critical areas like safety, environmental improvements and innovation. This increases efficiency and results in significant cost savings.

Libryo Use Case: Instead of creating a compliance checklist from scratch for air quality, biodiversity, hazardous substances, waste etc. A mining company can navigate straight to these Checklist categories online, to see the individual compliance tasks related to each applicable piece of legislation and which tasks have been complied with. If you're short on time or struggling to get started, users can also select a piece of legislation and generate Suggested AI tasks for immediate actionable insights.

Mining and Libryo go hand in hand 

Adopting Legal Tech is no longer optional for mining companies; it’s essential. By focusing on regulatory compliance, risk management and operational efficiency, mining firms can thrive in a competitive and complex market. Solutions such as Libryo can empower teams on the ground to comply with local laws while providing senior management with an overview of its compliance status and high risk areas.

Ready to take your mining operations to the next level? Discover how Libryo can help your company navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance and risk management. See it in action

You may also want to download our Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) checklist, aligned with ISO 14001