Govt commits to greater protection for mine workers

The Palaszczuk Government has committed to tighter controls on mine dust to protect mine workers on the eve of the state’s memorial day for mine victims.

Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham told Parliament today that the state would match new national recommended standards expected to be released by Safe Work Australia before the end of the year.

“The simplest way to prevent occupational lung diseases like black lung is to protect our miners from mine dust through the effective use of engineering controls,” he said.

“As Queenslanders gather at Moura tomorrow (Thursday) for Miners’ Memorial Day, they have an assurance that this Government will support the lower workplace exposure standards that Safe Work Australia recommends.”

The current occupational exposure limit for respirable coal dust is 2.5mg per cubic metre.

Safe Work Australia is proposing this be reduced by 40 per cent to 1.5 mg/m3.

This commitment is the latest in a suite of reforms to mine worker health and safety over the past three years.

These include:

•        legislation currently  before Parliament to introduce a new independent resources safety and health regulator

•        worksite safety reset sessions of mine and quarry workers and employers statewide

•        a commitment from companies, unions, peak bodies and government to consider further reforms, including adding industrial manslaughter as an offence
•        extra powers for the mine safety regulator to issue fines without going to court for mine safety and health breaches
•        an increase in maximum court penalties to $4 million.
•        sweeping changes to better prevent and detect black lung disease among coal workers and provide a safety net for affected workers. These include compulsory chest x-rays and special standards for         medicos doing mine worker health checks.

Miner’s Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the state’s worst mine disaster at Mount Mulligan in Far North Queensland on September 19, 1921, when 75 miners died.  

Hundreds of people, including families of workers killed in mines, are expected to gather at Moura in north Queensland today for the annual service. This year is also 25 years since 11 men died at Moura No. 2 coalmine, and tomorrow is the 44^th anniversary of the Kianga disaster near Moura, when 13 workers died.

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Media inquiries: Jan Martin 0439 341 314