Issue Date:  -  Friday, 29 July 2005

Latest MineSafe essential reading for miners

There’s plenty of essential information for miners in the latest edition of the free magazine, MineSafe.

Feature stories include an examination of the production versus safety conflict as a result of unparallelled expansion in much of the State’s mining industry, and the need for balance between output and profitability versus any impacts on health and safety.

This quarter’s MineSafe also describes recent incidents resulting in near misses, serious injury or loss of life at mines in Western Australia.

The magazine also looks at the release of a Working Hours draft code of practice and the call for public comment, aimed at maintaining safety standards and preventing incidents arising from fatigue.  The draft code suggests ways to reduce risks at workplaces, such as identifying tasks and operations in which fatigue may be an issue, and reviewing schedules to avoid worker fatigue.

Another issue examined is the need for workers to be fit for work.  In the same way mine employers are required by law to provide a safe, hazard-free workplace, mine workers also have a legal responsibility to themselves and others to be able to undertake work without compromising safety or health.

A three-month feasibility study by the State government to see whether a new safety authority should be established for the resources and dangerous goods industries also goes under the spotlight.  The study will examine methodologies, systems, procedures and funding, as well as reporting arrangements for the resources safety regulator.

An additional $1 million in government funding to improve the way in which mine safety is regulated in Western Australia is discussed.

There’s also the news that all staff previously administering resources and dangerous goods safety have now transferred from the Department of Industry and Resources to the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, effective from 1 July.

Photographically, this issue contains about 20 pictures and full details of the 16th Annual Surface Mine Emergency Response Competition organised by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, and held in Kalgoorlie earlier this year.

A new section has been introduced for safety and health representatives, including what’s involved in being a S&H rep, advice from the inspectors, and details of support available, including publications and information sessions.

If that wasn't enough for some serious reading in mine site crib rooms and offices around the State, this issue of MineSafe also carries the warning that mining at depth can be a challenge, with the rate of increase in rock stress in WA mines typically higher than that in other major mining provinces such as South Africa or Canada.

Produced by the Resources Safety Division at the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, MineSafe magazine is downloadable as a PDF from www.docep.wa.gov.au/resourcessafety or you can join the free mailing list by emailing your address to resourcessafety@docep.wa.gov.au