Overall there were 12 fatalities in the Australian minerals industry in 2002–03, five more than in 2001–02. One miner died for every 18.9 million hours worked in the industry and one miner died for every 8655 workers employed in the industry.

During 2002–03 the underground metalliferous sector reported six fatalities, the highest number per sector. Open-cut metalliferous recorded five fatalities, up from one fatality the previous year.

MCA said though no trends in the total number of fatalities recorded annually have emerged, the number of fatalities during each of the last three years has been substantially below the average annual number of fatalities for the decade.

In 2002–03 five fatalities can be attributed to operation of mobile plant. Four fatalities can be attributed to rockfalls or strata failure. One fatality can be attributed to a shaft accident, another two can be attributed to machine accidents.

Traditionally rockfalls/roof fall/rib fall have been responsible for a large number of fatalities.

The risk of fatalities is measured by the Fatal Injury FrequencyRate (FIFR) (the number of fatal injuries per one million hours worked). The national FIFR in 2002–03 was 0.05 per million hours worked, an increase of 66% from the previous year. All sectors except underground metalliferous and extractives recorded an FIFR either equal to or below the total industry ten-year average of 0.08.

Underground metalliferous recorded a 214% increase up to 0.22, and open-cut metalliferous recorded a 500% increase in FIFR up to 0.06.

Lost time injuries (LTIs) decreased 8% to 1,629 continuing a consistent downward trend over the last decade in the number of LTIs recorded annually.

The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR – number of lost time injuries per million hours worked) is a measure of the risk of LTIs. During the past decade the LTIFR has decreased consistently from year to year, though it has done so at a slowing rate. Recent reports have noted that only incremental improvements had occurred and that rates may be leveling off. However in 2002–03, an LTIFR of seven was recorded, an 11% decrease on the previous year.

In the coal sector in 2002–03 the number of LTIs fell 3% to 674. Underground coal experienced the most LTIs (431) followed by open-cut coal (232) and brown coal (11), in line with results seen in previous years. The coal sector also recorded a reduction in LTIFR which fell to 13 in 2002–03. This result was the lowest recorded for the coal sector for the decade.

Underground coal recorded an LTIFR of 27, open-cut coal recorded an LTIFR of seven and brown coal recorded an LTIFR of six. All coal sub-sectors, with the exception of brown coal, show an improved LTIFR result in 2002–03.

The metalliferous sector recorded 610 LTIs in 2002–03, down 6% from 652 last period. Within the metalliferous sector, open-cut metalliferous experienced the most LTIs (363) followed by underground metalliferous (247). The metalliferous sector also recorded an LTIFR of six in 2002–03, the same as for the previous year.

Similar to the coal sector results, this rate equalled the lowest recorded for the metalliferous sector for the decade. Open-cut metalliferous recorded an LTIFR of four (down slightly from five last period) and underground metalliferous recorded an LTIFR of nine (same as 2001–02) to give an all–metalliferous rate of six.

Workers’ Compensation Claims are only available for 2001–02, during which seven injury/poisoning deaths and one disease deaths were recorded by the mining industry. This compares with 19 injury/poisoning deaths and two disease-related deaths in 2000–2001.

On average injury/poisoning claims accounted for 85% of new workers’ compensation claims in 2001–02 with disease claims accounting for the remaining 15% of claims.

The overall cost to the industry in 2001–02 was $27.9 million compared to $36.3 million in 2000–2001 but below the 1996-97 figure of $40.4 million.

In terms of international comparisons the Australian minerals industry compares well with South Africa and the USA. For the ten-year period 1993–94 to 2002–03 Australia’s average FIFR was 0.08. South Africa recorded an equivalent rate of 0.36 for the same period while the USA recorded a rate of around 0.15.

While lost time injury data are difficult to compare internationally because of the different systems and definitions that apply the USA has traditionally outperformed Australia in metalliferous and coal sectors. However for the past few years the Australian minerals industry performance appears to be better than or comparable to the USA.