“That tragedy has provided the opportunity for the Queensland Mines Inspectorate to review the emergency-response systems and post-incident management of Queensland mines,” said Bell, who was also a Pike River Coal royal commissioner.
While the death toll was up, with two lives lost in Queensland surface metalliferous mines in the recent financial year compared to one quarry death in the previous year, Bell said there were significant improvements and reduction in injuries across the coal, metalliferous and quarrying sectors.
“For example, the lost-time injury frequency rate [LTIFR] across all sectors fell from four injuries/diseases per million hours worked in 2011-12, to 3.5 per million hours worked in 2012-13,” he said.
“The number of lost-time injuries and disabling injuries experienced in the industry also fell from 1182 to 947 over the same period; while the severity rate for these injuries dropped from 302 per million hours to 222 over the 12 months.
“The only notable area of concern was in the LTIFR for surface coal mines, which increased from 3.1 to 3.5 per million hours worked over the 12 months to June 30, 2013.”
Reporting outcomes improved, with 2406 high potential incidents revealed by industry operators in the recent financial year compared to 2390 the previous year.
Bell said this was a positive sign because the HPI reporting allowed mines inspectors and the industry to learn and make safety improvements.
Mines inspectorate staff carried out 1588 inspections and 33 audits in the recent financial year, along with 173 investigations into mine accidents and incidents, with 264 directives and 1089 substandard condition or practice notes handed out to mines.
“Queensland continues to be recognised as having one of the safest mining industries in the world,” Bell said in state parliament today.
“However, this does not mean we can lower our vigilance and become complacent. The protection of workers from the hazards associated with the mining industry is always paramount.
“That’s why our first and foremost thoughts and practices should always centre on having the safest and healthiest workplaces possible.”
Bell’s report is available here (hyperlink).
