The last four strategies in the guideline are being put under the microscope across the country and mine safety stakeholders are being asked to put forward their views on issues such as competency and compliance support, an enforcement protocol and approach to research.

The National Mine Safety Framework (NMSF) has been a long time in the making since it took its first steps in 2002 when the Ministerial Council on Minerals, Petroleum and Resources (made up of relevant state ministers) said it wanted greater national consistency in occupational health and safety legislation in the mining industry.

In 2005 a tripartite group of government, industry and workforce was established into a steering group and began working on seven strategies to achieve national consistency in mine safety.

NMSF steering group chairman and former Western Australian minister Clive Brown said the national guidelines would be hugely significant for the mining industry.

“The industry is very mobile,” Brown told International Longwall News.

“We have people in all different occupations in the industry moving from state to state and there are differences in legislation that can cause confusion – and where you cause confusion you cannot have the best safety situation.

“National consistency provides a benefit in terms of transferability, benefits for companies which operate in more than one state. But most importantly for safety outcomes.”

Each Australian state has developed its own safety guidelines which have been shaped around events happening within the state.

Brown said a national system would ensure incidences, concerns or issues which arise in one state could be considered at a national level.

“We can start to improve the whole of the system by taking a wider lens and looking across Australia,” Brown said.

The first three strategies were finalised in 2007 and submitted to ministers for consideration.

These looked at:

• Nationally consistent legislation;
• Data collection, management and analysis; and
• Consistent approaches to consultation.

The remaining strategies which are currently under review are expected to be completed by November and presented to the ministerial council but no new legislation is expected within the year.

Submissions close on Monday August 4.

The steering group half-day workshops on the final four strategies will be held in:

• Perth, Wednesday July 23;
• Sydney, Thursday July 24;
• Hobart, Monday July 28; and
• Queensland, Wednesday July 30.

To register your interest, email NMSF.secretariat@ret.gov.au or call +61 2 6213 7244.