Code of Practice for Surface Rock Support in Underground Mines released

16/3/99
Mines Minister Norman Moore has commended the release of a practical guide for employers, contractors and employees in the mining industry which aims to control the risk of potentially-fatal minor rock falls.
The Code of Practice for Surface Rock Support in Underground Mines, released today in Kalgoorlie, was developed as one of the major recommendations from the Mines Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board's 1997 Report on the Inquiry into Fatalities in the Western Australian Mining Industry.
Mr Moore said reportable injuries due to rock falls had dropped from 20 in 1997 to 10 in 1998. There were six fatalities due to rock falls in 1997, but there had been none since the release of the report.
"This code will help maintain the standard of ground support needed to prevent rock falls -- an ever present hazard in underground mining," Mr Moore said.
State Mining Engineer Jim Torlach today launched the Code of Practice at the International Symposium on Rock Support and Reinforcement Practice in Mining, being held in Kalgoorlie.
The code comes into force immediately.
Mr Moore said copies of the document would be available free of charge from the Department of Minerals and Energy and could also be accessed from the department's web site at www.dme.wa.gov.au.
"Copies of the code will also be distributed to mine managers at all underground Western Australian mines to ensure that employees in the industry are fully briefed on the practices they have to follow," he said.
Mr Moore said the code was an important part of the implementation of recommendations to come out of the fatalities report.
"MOSHAB has taken action on all the recommendations from that report and work on a number of vital issues is continuing," he said.
"The board is working hard to maintain the momentum which will help ensure a safer work environment for all mining employees."
MEDIA CONTACTS: Hartley Joynt, the Minister's office, (08) 9321 1444 or
James Bowie, Department of Minerals and Energy, 0417 923 297