Australian Mine Safety Journal is digital publication on mining industry

OPINION  There is no doubt that there are some safety challenges facing the mining industry in Australia. While it’s clear that there are pockets of excellence with some outstanding initiatives being undertaken by individuals, unions, governments and companies alike, there are also many challenges being faced by parties to realise their own safety goals. As we begin in 2019, it’s a great time to ask ourselves, have we finally reached our safety destination or are we still on the journey ? Over the last three-four months the Australian mining industry has seen a major train wreck, a mine catch fire, a driver killed in a speeding haul truck crash and sadly as the year finished, a dozer operator plummet off a bench at Queensland coal mine…just to name a few. In the midst these incidents, there’s been a raft or serious workplace injuries and near misses. Some of which will see injured operators never returning to the pit. When you read the detail, many of these inci...

A safety and health research project completed in the Western Australian mining industry has discovered that the most important factor that enabled or hindered Safety and Health Representatives work effectiveness was management support and communication. Shibani Chakraborti, a 2018 PhD candidate at Curtin’s School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering , thesis ‘The Influence of Safety & Health Representatives in the Western Australian Mining Industries’ has uncovered a range of issues associated with the effectiveness of health and safety representatives. The aim of Shibani’s research was to identify what influence and support Safety and Health Representatives (SH &R) had in the Western Australian mining industries to facilitate the achievement of a high standard of workplace safety. The study explored the Western Australian mining industries SHR experiences in their role using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Shibani conducted an ...

The Queensland Parliament this week backed maximum penalties close to $4 million for mining companies that fail to keep their workers safe. As well, mines inspectors will be able to hit mine operators with tough new fines of up to $130,550 without taking them to court. Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham told Parliament today that the changes reflected the Palaszczuk Government’s strong position that non-compliance with safety and health obligations would not be tolerated. “This helps to protect those who work, day after day managing the unique hazards and risks of mining, and the social fabric of families and communities around our mining workers,” Dr Lynham said. “It also helps to bolster the reputation of the mining industry which forms a substantial part of Queensland’s economic prosperity.” Under changes to the  Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999  and the  Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 the state’s mines inspectors wil...

OPINION: There’s an old saying “What a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.” That saying might just apply to one of the world’s largest coal miners who, in cahoots with the Queensland Government, may have sought to cover up highly market sensitive information on the North Goonyella Mine Fire. This week Peabody Energy have been accused of one of the hugest porkies in relation to the North Goonyella Mine Fire. On Tuesday, Mathew Stevens from the Australian Financial Review (AFR) put a huge sword through the belly of Peabody Energy in his feature article ” Peabody admits that smoke really did mean fire.” Mathew highlighted that Peabody finally went to market three days after pictures had been posted publicly of black smoke billowing from the North Goonyella mine. This resulted in a massive drop in the Peabody Energy share price. Queensland Government Cover Up So you say, what about the Queensland Government’s role in the debacle? Well they too didn’t...

Mining industry leaders across Western Australia have gathered to talk mining health & safety . Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston officially opened the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s fourth annual Registered Managers Forum in Perth on Friday. The event brings together mining managers, from across the State, to focus on a range of mining health safety topics. Minister Johnston said on opening of the meeting that “Workplace safety is one of the McGowan Government’s number one priorities, and there are always improvements to be made.   Today’s event is an opportunity for delegates and government to work together to improve safety across Western Australia’s mining industry.”  He added that “Workers, supervisors, managers and inspectors all have a role to play in preventing injuries and fatalities on site.” The outcomes from the 2017 meeting included: Considering establishing protocols for coordination of activities b...

Australasian Mine Safety Journal is the only independent publication in Australia specifically targeting safety professionals in our country's burgeoning resources sector. Leading resources companies such as BHP and Rio Tinto claim safety is their number one priority, and with mining continually growing in this country, AMSJ fills a very specific need in the marketplace. The magazine covers latest industry news and trends as well as updates on government legislation and world's best practice.  Australasian Mine Safety Journal Distribution Print Edition AMSJ is distributed to mine safety professionals on the ground at mines across Australia as well as key personnel in head offices including Mine Site Managers , Purchasing and Procurement Officers, Health & Safety Managers, ER Managers and Environmental Managers, ensuring every quarter each copy is delivered into the hands of individuals affecting decisions and purchasing in the industry. Additional cop...