How to Plan a Safe and Efficient Mining Shutdown in Ontario

Every mine must occasionally pause operations, whether for maintenance, major repairs, equipment upgrades, environmental mitigation, or safety inspections. While a shutdown can be disruptive, when planned and executed properly it becomes an opportunity to improve safety, prolong equipment life, and ensure compliance. But a poorly managed shutdown can lead to costly delays, safety incidents, compliance violations, or environmental risks.

This guide lays out a structured, step-by-step approach to planning a safe and efficient mining shutdown in Ontario. It’s designed to help mine operators, maintenance managers, safety officers and anyone responsible for shutdown planning, walk through the essential steps.

1. Define the Shutdown Scope & Timeline

• List all required tasks

Start by compiling a comprehensive list of everything that must be done during shutdown — maintenance, repairs, equipment cleaning, inspections, system upgrades, environmental work, safety-critical maintenance, etc. Break tasks into “must-do” (critical) and “nice-to-have / optional.”

• Estimate work volumes and durations

Shutdown work orders should be estimated realistically. For many mining shutdowns, while actual shutdown may last only days or weeks, preparation scheduling, resource allocation, safety planning can take months.

• Identify the critical path

Define which tasks are non-negotiable (e.g. major repairs, safety-critical maintenance, equipment overhaul) and sequence them so that the most important tasks are completed first — ensuring efficient use of shutdown time. 

• Build in contingency time

Unexpected issues — hidden damage, supply delays, additional repairs — can arise. Plan for buffer time and flexibility so that unanticipated work doesn’t derail the entire shutdown.

2. Conduct Safety & Risk Assessment Before Shutdown

A shutdown may pause production, but it often introduces elevated risk: maintenance, equipment teardown, confined-space work, heavy machinery, high-angle tasks, and potential environmental hazards. A thorough risk assessment is critical before any shutdown activities start. 

• Hazard identification: Determine risks associated with mechanical failures, equipment disassembly, confined space entry, gas exposure, dust, structural instability, hot-work, and more.
• Regulatory compliance: In Ontario, mines are governed by Ontario Regulation 854: Mines and Mining Plants under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). This regulation includes requirements for worker protection, equipment maintenance, fire protection, mechanical safety, electrical systems, and working environment management. 
• Confined-space and permit-to-enter procedures: If shutdown work involves confined spaces (tanks, sumps, bins, shafts, vessels, etc.), ensure that procedures, atmospheric testing, permits, ventilation, and rescue plans are in place. 
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): Before maintenance or repairs on equipment begin, hazardous energy sources (electrical, hydraulic, mechanical) must be isolated, locked and tagged to prevent accidental startup, essential to prevent electrocution, crush injuries or other hazards.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), monitoring, and emergency readiness: Ensure all workers have appropriate PPE, that environmental hazards (gases, dust, ventilation) are addressed, and that rescue/emergency procedures are established and ready.
• Use trained and experienced personnel (or specialized external support): Shutdowns might involve large or specialized crews, sometimes including contractors. Ensuring training, supervision, and safety oversight is vital, especially for high-risk or specialized tasks. 

3. Stakeholder Coordination & Communication

Shutdowns are complex and often involve operations, maintenance, safety, environmental teams, external contractors, and management. To succeed:

• Engage all stakeholders early, inform everyone of the scope, timeline, responsibilities, safety procedures, and contingency plans.
• Document everything task lists, schedules, safety protocols, emergency plans, roles and responsibilities. Written plans reduce confusion and ensure accountability.
• Hold regular coordination meetings before shutdown, daily during shutdown, and after restart. This helps catch issues early, adapt to delays, and keep safety and efficiency top-of-mind.

4. Environmental and Regulatory Compliance

Even during a temporary shutdown, environmental and regulatory considerations must not be neglected. Depending on the nature of the work (maintenance, equipment cleaning, water or tailings handling, structural modifications), ensure that environmental risks are assessed and mitigated. Proper waste, water, dust, and chemical handling must comply 

For permanent closures or long-term care/maintenance shutdowns, there may also be site-rehabilitation, closure plans or monitoring obligations. 

5. Execute Shutdown & Manage Work Safely

During the shutdown itself, safety and efficiency must go hand in hand:

• Ensure every task follows the pre-approved schedule and sequence (critical path). Deviations should be assessed for safety and delay risk.
• For maintenance tasks on heavy machinery or structural components: apply lockout/tagout procedures before starting repairs.
• For confined-space, high-angle, or high-risk tasks: ensure that entry permits, atmospheric testing, ventilation, and rescue readiness are in place.
• Maintain constant safety oversight, supervision, and communication,  especially when multiple contractors or crews are involved.
• 6. Restart: Inspection, Verification & Post–Shutdown Review

Shutdown doesn’t end when machines start again. To ensure a safe return to operations:

• Thorough inspection and verification

Before resuming full operations, inspect all repaired or serviced equipment, safety systems, structural or environmental modifications. Ensure all lockout/tagout devices are removed properly, and energy systems are re-initialized per safety protocols.

• Safety and compliance checks

Confirm that all safety controls are intact — ventilation, fire suppression, environmental safeguards, PPE compliance, operational procedures.

• Debrief & lessons learned

Document what went well, what issues arose (delays, hazards, near-misses), and what could be improved. Use insights to update shutdown procedures, risk assessments, and future planning.

• Plan ahead for next maintenance/shutdown

Use this shutdown as an opportunity to assess overall site health,  equipment condition, recurring risks, maintenance backlog to schedule proactive maintenance and reduce chances of emergency shutdowns.

7. Why Professional Shutdown & Safety Support Matters

Shutdowns, especially in mining are high-risk, high-complexity operations. Having a partner experienced in mining safety and shutdown support offers significant advantages:

• Experts ensure regulatory compliance with standards under Ontario’s OHSA and relevant regulations like Regulation 854.
• Specialized knowledge in confined-space work, lockout/tagout, atmospheric testing, PPE, rescue readiness, and environmental protocols reduces risk of injury or incident.
• Efficient coordination and planning help minimize downtime and ensure shutdown tasks are executed on time and in sequence.
• A safety-first mindset combined with professional oversight helps prevent costly delays, compliance issues, and long-term liability.

That’s why working with a trusted safety support provider can turn a difficult, complex shutdown into a controlled, efficient, and safe operation — ultimately protecting workers, equipment, and the environment.

A mining shutdown doesn’t have to be chaotic. With careful planning, realistic scheduling, rigorous safety and risk assessment, clear communication, environmental awareness, and strict compliance, a shutdown can be executed efficiently and safely turning downtime into an opportunity for maintenance, renewal, and improvement.

For mining operations in Ontario looking for reliable shutdown support, safety oversight, or specialized services (confined-space entry, rescue readiness, equipment cleaning and maintenance), partnering with an experienced safety provider might make the difference between a smooth restart and costly delays or safety incidents.