Mine health and safety boosted by testing revamp

The State Government is improving its testing systems to ensure only the best and most qualified people are overseeing health and safety in the state’s mines, Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said today.

Mr Wilson said the state’s Board of Examiners was being revamped to ensure Queensland maintained its record safety levels in a booming mining industry.

“Queensland has one of the safest mining industries in the world, both in terms of its safety record and safety legislation,” Mr Wilson said.

“But we cannot become complacent, so we are continually striving to look at the way we do things and see where things may be improved.”

Mr Wilson said the eight-member Board of Examiners was responsible for ensuring only qualified and competent people held statutory positions managing safety and health at mines.

“There have been a number of changes made to the way the board operates,” Mr Wilson said.

“These include new senior appointments to the board plus streamlined administrative processes to deliver more flexible, and efficient arrangements for applicants to safety positions.

Mr Wilson said another main change would help applicants prepare for the written law examination on Queensland’s mining safety and health legislation.

“In the past, applicants were provided with a practice examination before they sat the written test.

“We are revising and restructuring both written and practice examinations so that as well as providing a score for the completed examination, the result will also reveal any areas of topic strength or weakness.”

A new automated workflow and document tracking system will also help processing of applications and produce speedier outcomes for applicants.

Mr Wilson said the commitment to mining health and safety must not waver.

“The Queensland mining industry workforce has grown by 55 percent in recent years, to now total more than 33,000 workers.

‘With such growing numbers, we must continue to strongly enforce mine safety on the ground – mine by mine, employer by employer, worker by worker.”

For more information, visit www.dme.qld.gov.au/mines/board_examiners.cfm

Media contact: Minister’s office 3224 7332.