Queensland Employment, Skills and Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has claimed that Queensland's mines are amongst the safest in the world, based on the  Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report 2010-11.

 

“Queensland’s mining safety laws are all about minimising risk so that every worker returns home safely at the end of every shift,” he said.

 

During 2010-11, there were  three fatalities at mines in Queensland, two of which were vehicle-related accidents at surface coal mines while the third resulted from an earth collapse on a small opal claim.

 

Mr Hinchliffe said work-related injuries in the mining industry continued to improve across a number of key performance indicators during 2010-11.

 

“Injuries to workers resulting in lost time fell from 307 in 2009-10 to 273 injuries, while disabling injuries rose from 428 the previous year to 505.

 

“Importantly, lost time injury frequency rates fell again from 3.8 injuries per million hours worked to 2.9 injuries.

 

“Days lost to injuries were down from 14,325 days to 11,027 days while the duration rate of injuries fell from 34.4 days to 27.4 days per injury.

 

“Overall, the severity rate for lost time injuries and disabling injuries also fell from 311 days in 2009-10 to 230 days lost per million hours worked.”

 

Mr Hinchliffe said the Bligh Government is partnering with industry across a number of initiatives to further improve safety and health practices; including whole body vibration (WBV) in mining and proximity detection systems of vehicle fleets to reduce the risk of vehicle-related accidents.

 

“Based on input from both industry and unions, the WBV pilot project provided a format for toolbox talks and worker education that will be used as a model for further health hazard communication.

 

“The Mines Inspectorate has also been reviewing the use of polymeric chemicals in Queensland coal mines and has conducted a review of personal exposure to Diesel Particularate Matter (DPM) in Queensland underground coal mines.

 

“Mines inspectors have conducted workshops to assist opal and gemstone miners develop and implement a safety and health management system (SHMS) for their operations.

 

“Opal and gemstone miners have successfully completed stage one of the small mines initiative.”

 

Mr Hinchliffe said Queensland’s globally recognised mine safety expertise were in heavy demand during the year.

 

“The Mines Inspectorate and Simtars (Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station) provided considerable technical support to support rescue and recovery efforts following the Pike River coal mine tragedy which claimed the lives of 29 miners.

 

“A number of key Mines Inspectorate and Simtars personnel were airlifted to New Zealand to help while Queensland’s Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health Stewart Bell is one of the three commissioners serving on the Pike River Royal Commission of Inquiry,” he said.

 

The Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report 2010-11 is available at: www.mines.industry.qld.gov.au/safety-and-health/safety-performance-health-reports.htm