Minister: more must be done to make mines safer

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson will tell mining industry chiefs they must do more to lift safety standards in mines across Queensland, especially for workers using heavy machinery.

Minister Wilson today released Queensland’s latest annual mine safety figures - the first report to be published after sweeping changes were made to the way in which statistics were recorded in the past.

“Concerns were raised that some figures in previous reports didn’t accurately reflect what was really happening on the ground,” Mr Wilson said.

The Minister said the Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report 2007-08 showed a general improvement in safety and health in the state’s mines and quarries.

“The most sombre statistic is on page 14 of the report. It’s a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened,” he said.

A 50-year old miner was killed when he was crushed between the back of a light vehicle and a tool carrier while working underground at a lead zinc mine south of Mount Isa.

“It was a tragedy that touched the lives of everyone in the community.”

“Industry needs to redouble its efforts in making mines safer for workers who handle heavy machinery because nothing is more important than the safety and health of the men and women who work in Queensland’s mines,” he said.

Minister Wilson said while the mining industry was coming to grips with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, safety was still the main game.

“What we saw this week was the human face of a global economic crisis, with many workers around Queensland and the world facing an uncertain future,” he said.

“But Queensland’s mining industry and its workers are resilient. I’m confident that by working together – mining companies, unions and government – we will ride out this storm.

“Safety cannot take second place, not for an instant, not even at a time like this,” Mr Wilson said.

Last year, Minister Wilson called in two highly-respected health and safety experts to run the ruler over the annual safety statistics.

“They produced a warts-and-all report with a number of recommendations. While it shines a light on what’s being done right, it also hangs a lantern on some of the problems in the mining industry.

“We’ve been tackling those recommendations one by one and I commend the mining unions and the Queensland Resources Council for recognising the importance of the task before them.

“As a result, we now have a much more comprehensive report with new statistics to help industry further improve safety and health standards in mines and quarries in Queensland,” Mr Wilson said.

“For instance, there are now statistics on the severity of injuries with a record of how many days an injured worker was off the job. That in itself reflects the significance of an injury rather than how many injuries were sustained.

“You’ve got to have the full facts. You’ve got to know what’s really happening at the coal face. That’s the only way to bring about real change,” he said.

“We have one of the best safety records in the world and it’s in everyone’s best interests to keep it that way. Safety must be the highest priority on every shift at every mine,” Mr Wilson said.

The Minister said the recommendations would be introduced in three stages over the next two years.

The Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report 2007-08 is available on the Department of Mines and Energy’s website at www.dme.qld.gov.au

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819