Improving safety culture in the mining industry now a priority

11/5/98

Improving safety culture in the mining industry is now a priority following a request by Mines Minister Norman Moore for a review of recommendations from the Prevention of Mining Fatalities Taskforce report.

The Minister ordered an urgent meeting of the Mines Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board, following the death of a loader operator at the Bronzewing mine on Sunday.

"I am extremely concerned about the fatalities which have occurred during recent months and asked that the board see if any recommendations in the report could be accelerated to drive change and improvement," Mr Moore said.

He said the board met late last week and said recommendation 1.3, already in the Priority One group, offered the best mechanism for applying effective pressure to reduce and eliminate risk-taking behaviour.

The recommendation was that 'MOSHAB' implement a program to improve the safety culture that focuses on management commitment and personal aspects of safety awareness at all levels of the workforce.

"To ensure this recommendation is implemented as soon as possible, MOSHAB will set up a tripartite working group to drive a program aimed to eradicate risk-taking behaviour and its tolerance by all levels of the mining industry workforce," Mr Moore said.

"The working group will be authorised to co-opt the services of professionals in any relevant behavioural science discipline to help in the process."

Mr Moore said the focus would be on the nickel and gold mining sector, particularly underground operations, and surface mining if necessary.

"There are still 22 other recommendations, eight of which are classified as priority one, which will continue to be given priority by the working parties assigned to those tasks," he said.

Media contact: Caroline Lacy (08) 9424 7450

Lisa Holland-McNair, DME, (08) 9222 3572.