The number of safety focused suppliers illustrated the transition occurring within the sector, according to Reed Mining Events’ Paul Baker, and demonstrated the impact that refining safety measures could have on mine site performance and production.

“As the mining industry transitions from the investment phase to production phase, the rate and risk of mine site accidents increases,” Baker said.

“However, with mining companies continuing to focus on greater productivity and improved efficiency, optimising mine site operations means that extracting the resource needs to be as safe as possible to eliminate downtime and lost productivity.

“To have more than 108 exhibiting suppliers showcasing their safety related products and services, is highly demonstrative of the increasing emphasis and focus on safety within the industry.

“QME is principally about providing a platform for mining companies to source the latest solutions to enhance their operations, efficiency and productivity – obviously safety and safer mining processes have a significant bearing on being able to maximise mine site performance.”

QME 2014 will be held at the Mackay Showground from July 22-24.

Baker said it would feature 108 METS sector suppliers, whose products and services were designed to ensure mining companies’ employees were able to safely carryout mining operations, by utilising the latest equipment and services while eliminating inefficiencies and the associated costs of onsite accidents.