New code of practice will set stringent standards on underground excavations

5/8/98

One of the biggest shake-ups in the history of the mining industry had resulted in strong action being taken to cut mine deaths in Western Australia, Mines Minister Norman Moore said today.

The Minister said that rock falls and ground support were among major issues being addressed.

"A new code of practice on surface rock support for underground excavations will require all underground mines in Western Australia to have surface rock support, such as mesh or other treatments, installed in certain areas," he said.

"The new code will set stringent standards for underground excavations and failure to comply can result in heavy penalties.

Mr Moore was speaking after a meeting of the Mines Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board in Kalgoorlie.

He said the board had discussed a number of issues, including the progress of the Prevention of Mining Fatalities Taskforce report on the Inquiry into Fatalities in the Western Australian Mining Industry.

"Improving safety culture was one of the top priorities identified in the fatalities inquiry report," the Minister said.

"A lot of effort, therefore, has focused on trying to understand risk-taking behaviour and to validate anecdotal evidence presented to the fatalities taskforce."

Mr Moore said progress to date included:

·      MOSHAB'S self-imposed deadline of July 1998 for implementation of all top priority recommendations in the report had been met. This included a marked and permanent increase in inspections and management system audits in underground mines;

·      a confidential survey of the majority of underground workers and supervisors which had given MOSHAB the benefit of very useful and candid feedback on the real problems of risk-taking behaviour and poor safety culture in some mines. This would lead to strategies aimed at discouraging risk-taking behaviour and improving the safety culture of the industry; and -

·      an independent blasting audit of all WMC Resources Ltd's Western Australian mines had been completed and its wide range of findings could benefit the whole mining industry.

Mr Moore said that this audit's major finding was a considerable variation in blasting practice from mine to mine - from barely adequate to best practice.

Action was now under way to extend this best practice to all WMC's mines.

Mr Moore, who initiated the fatalities inquiry, said WMC Resources Ltd had responded positively to findings of the independent blasting audit team.

"WMC briefed its staff and put action plans in place to address issues raised by the audit team while that team was still on site," he said.

"WMC has promised to review those actions in six months to make sure the recommendations have been properly addressed."

Mr Moore said that WMC planned to make its report available to other miners.

The independent blasting audit team, which was convened by State Mining Engineer Jim Torlach, had done an excellent job in compiling the information in such a short time.

The Minister said another recommendation of the fatalities report on the need for bereavement advice had been completed.

"A booklet for bereaved families, which outlines the fatality investigation and coronial inquiry process, is now available," he said.

"A lot of work has been done and those involved, industry, unions and the Department of Minerals and Energy, deserve a pat on the back for their efforts.

"However, there is still a lot of hard work to be done to achieve our goal of preventing fatalities in the mining industry."

Mr Moore said he also would like to congratulate Worsley Alumina for winning Australia's premier mining industry safety award - the 1998 National Minerals Industry Excellence Award for Safety and Health.

He said WMC Exploration Australia Region, another company based in Western Australia, was highly commended for its safety management system.

"Two of the three companies which were recognised on Monday night are from Western Australia which certainly shows that the State's mining industry has taken the safety message very seriously and is setting high standards for the rest of Australia," the Minister said.

Media contacts: Hartley Joynt,. Minister's office, 08 9 321 1444

Lisa Holland-McNair, Dept of Minerals and Energy, 08 9 222 3572 or 0417 923 297