Small mines and quarries urged to redouble their safety efforts

Townsville: Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson has told an annual health and safety conference for small mines and quarries that nothing is more important than the safety and health of the men and women who work in the industry.

Minister Wilson said while the mining and quarrying industry continues to power the state, the highest safety standards must continue to be enforced from the ground up – mine by mine, employer by employer, worker by worker.

“Queensland has one of the best mine safety records in the world and the best mine safety legislation in Australia. It’s in everyone’s best interests to keep it that way,” Mr Wilson said.

“The State Government has taken a number of significant steps to improve safety and health in the mining and quarrying industry. But we can’t do it alone. Those responsible for safety must fully play their part,” he said.

The Minister said the industry was looking at new ways to avoid on-site collisions by using computer simulations to help train people to operate machinery safely.

“They’re also working with equipment manufacturers to fast track the development of safer designs for earthmoving equipment,” he said.

“Queensland has also begun a joint study with a major US university into how changing human behaviour could help prevent accidents in the mining and quarrying industries,” he said.

Minister Wilson said the State Government would hold a Miners Memorial Day to commemorate the lives of more than 1450 miners who died in mining and quarrying tragedies that touch on three different centuries of mining in Queensland.

Miners Memorial Day will be held on the anniversary of the worst mining disaster in Queensland’s history. On the 19^th September, 1921, 75 miners lost their lives in a coal dust explosion at Mount Mulligan in far north Queensland.

“Mining has helped forge our strong economy. From the gold rush days of the 1800s, mining has become a multi-billion dollar industry that is powering the state.

‘And while we enjoy the benefits of the resources boom, we should reflect on how we got here and at what price – that’s what Miners Memorial Day is all about,” Mr Wilson said.

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