Hancock Iron Ore’s Dale Harris says “engaging with empathy” is vitally important to developing effective safety programs.
When Hancock Iron Ore chief operating officer (COO) Dale Harris was named the recipient of the 2025 Australian Mining Prospect Awards Safety Advocate of the Year, he had earned the title by championing a safety approach built on “a culture, a mindset, and a shared responsibility” rather than “a simple checklist”.
Harris’ individual honour was one of three awards presented to Hancock Iron Ore on the night, underscoring the company’s commitment to safety and excellence across the board.
At the heart of this success is Hancock Iron Ore’s flagship health and safety initiative, Brilliant at the Basics (B@TB). Rather than focusing solely on imposed procedures, B@TB integrates employee-led safety processes, relying on strong leadership behaviours and a values-based approach.
The program’s goal is to move beyond compliance and embed a culture of care across all levels of the business, empowering every individual to take ownership of safety.
“This is recognition of the commitment of our executive chairman Mrs Gina Rinehart to the wellbeing of our people, along with every person at Hancock Iron Ore who chooses to make safety personal every single day,” Harris said. “For us, safety is not just a system or a checklist.”
This empowerment of personal responsibility has produced impressive results. The B@TB initiative was instrumental in achieving a major reduction in Hancock’s port and rail total recordable injury frequency rate and mine maintenance injuries, as well as a marked improvement in recordable injuries over the high-risk summer period.
“The results we’ve achieved, such as the reduction in injury rates, increased reporting and a stronger psychosocial safety, are a testament to what’s possible when safety becomes part of who we are,” Harris said.
This approach is evident in the small details that make a big impact, including initiatives such as personalised letters sent directly to employees’ homes, which resonate deeply with staff members and their families.
“I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when leaders engage with empathy, when teams innovate together, and when we treat each other with fairness and respect,” Harris said.
The win marks a significant achievement for Harris’s safety leadership, with the B@TB program taking out the Excellence in Mine Safety, OH&S category. This follows the 2024 Prospect Awards, where Harris’ former team at Roy Hill won the same honour for a campaign he was instrumental in leading, which is a true testament to his consistent, award-winning approach.
Harris is a 30-year veteran of the resources sector, with a career spanning nearly two decades at Rio Tinto, where he spent 15 years in the company’s iron ore division. He has also held senior positions with Karara Mining and Hatch.
The Safety Advocate of the Year award was proudly sponsored by Fortescue.