Emergency response preparedness in a mining contractor operation in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia:

An ISRS based quantitative case study

Abstract

Mining sector involve multiple hazards that can generate emergencies requiring coordinated preparedness and response. Although emergency preparedness has been widely addressed in occupational safety research, empirical evidence on component-level ERP assessment that distinguishes internal preparedness from preparedness for emergencies outside company operational boundaries remains limited, particularly in Indonesian mining contractor operations. This study aimed to assess Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) at Abadi Site MLP Ltd., North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, and identify component-specific preparedness gaps. A descriptive quantitative single-site case study was assessed using the International Safety Rating System (ISRS) Emergency Preparedness framework across 13 elements. Evidence was obtained from the ISRS checklist and document review, structured observation, and semi-structured interviews with three purposively selected informants. Of the 13 elements, 11 were applicable and two were classified as not applicable (N/A); therefore, the applicable maximum score was 645 of the theoretical 765 points. The site obtained 558 points, corresponding to 86.5% fulfillment. Seven applicable elements achieved 100%, while Emergency State Plan, First Aid in Accidents, and Protection and Rescue System achieved 98.6%, 93.8%, and 86.7%, respectively. The largest gap was Outdoor Emergencies Company, which scored 0%. The findings reveal an imbalance between strong internal emergency preparedness and the absence of documented external emergency preparedness. The results support integrating ERP with third-party contractors and transportation providers, external responders, mutual-aid mechanisms, and periodic reassessment. This study adds empirical evidence that high internal ERP fulfillment may coexist with critical gaps at the external emergency preparedness boundary.