In NSW, government, industry and workers are committed to ensuring mining workplaces are as safe as possible,’ he said.
“We all want to ensure our miners who go to work every day for the benefit of their communities and the state, are able to return home at the end of the day to their families,” Roberts said.
“I commend the NSW coal industry and its workers for their unwavering commitment to the health and safety of their workers and the prevention of black lung and other occupational disease.”
NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee, agreed.
“Health and safety is the number one priority for mining, and the industry is continually committed to ensuring worldwide best practice is present within NSW coal mines,” he said.
Results such as these do not happen by chance, according to Coal Services CEO Lucy Flemming.
Collaboration was the NSW coal mining industry’s key to achieving health and safety success, she said.
“Our unique collaborative model includes all stakeholder groups, including workers, employers, community and government,” Flemming said.
“There have been no new confirmed cases of black lung disease amongst current NSW coal mine workers for decades,’ she said. The Coal Services model for dust disease prevention is based upon four key deliverables; prevention, detection, enforcement and education and is underpinned by a robust regulatory regime.
“We are not complacent as an industry when it comes to health and safety, and this in turn is repaid with safe and healthy workplaces. Impressively, our workers
compensation insurance claim frequency rate now sits at its lowest level in history at less than six per cent.”
From 30 June 2016, a comprehensive range of reforms are being made to the NSW coal industry workers compensation scheme’s premium system. The changes are aimed at ensuring the system is fair, equitable and responsive to its insured employers’ injury prevention and return to work experience.
The new Coal Services Skills Incentive Scheme is also set to deliver positive outcomes for the industry. Under the scheme, employers are offered financial incentives where they employ apprentices and are rewarded for contributing to injury prevention and mine safety.
General President of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), Tony Maher, said it was heartening to see Coal Services’ dedication to continuously improving its support and services.
“The CFMEU understands the necessity for Coal Services to maintain a financially viable and sustainable workers’ compensation scheme,” Maher said.
“These reforms will help contribute to injury prevention and promote activities that facilitate return to work following injury. Most importantly, they allow Coal Services to continue providing the best possible support to workers and the industry.”
