Improved safety in Queensland mines and quarries

The safety of Queensland’s mines and quarries has improved on an industry wide basis in a year that saw 5800 extra workers in the industry and an extra 13 million hours worked.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the industry as a whole recorded the lowest-ever lost time injury frequency rate in the last financial year.

The lost time injury frequency rate is a national safety benchmark that represents the number of lost time injuries per million hours worked.

The rate fell from 4.6 last financial year to 4.2 in 2005/06 – figures revealed and reported annually in the Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report.

“A decade ago there were more than 920 lost time injuries. In 2005/06 that figure dropped to just over 310 – that’s a significant reduction in a period that has seen the industry’s workforce swell to 32,000 workers – a rise of 65%,” Mr Wilson said.

“The severity rate – the days lost per million hours worked – also fell 17%, from 104 days to 86 days.

“Sadly there were two fatalities on surface coal mines,” he said.

A truck driver changing a wheel was killed when one of the truck’s inner tyres exploded; and a senior mining engineer died in a disused, open-cut void after apparently falling 40 metres from a highwall.

“While Queensland’s safety record is one of the best in the world, there is no room for complacency.

“Vigilance must be the highest priority on every shift at every mine.

“Mine safety is something that should be applied mine by mine, employer by employer and worker by worker.

“These industry wide statistics are important. They shine a light on overall improvements that must be made to make the mining industry even safer,” he said.

“No matter how good industry wide statistics look, they’re not perfect and there’s always room for improvement,” Mr Wilson said.

The Minister said the latest report revealed an increase in the severity rate in underground coal mines.

“These statistics relate to long term absences. There was a significant incident in an underground mine where a contract water truck operator, working on a surface access road to a mine, received serious burns. As a result he was off work for a lengthy period of time.

“The statistics also reflect workers on lengthy leave periods because of sprains and strains,” he said.

The Minister said the number of reported high potential incidents had risen this financial year to 839, an increase of 124 on the previous year.

“High potential incidents are incidents where serious injuries could have occurred, but did not. Mine and quarry operators are legally obliged to report them.

“The increased reporting is a good sign. Mine operators, their employees and other operators must learn from the incidents and put controls in place to help prevent future incidents,” Mr Wilson said.

“When you’ve got 32,000 people working in a hazardous environment, despite everyone’s best efforts, the reality is that a percentage of workers will have close calls.

“These figures should serve as a timely reminder to the mining and quarrying industries that there is nothing more important than the safety of workers.

“Complacency is always a threat. Everyone must remain vigilant to improve mine site safety,” Mr Wilson said.

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819

Website: www.dme.qld.gov.au