Mines Minister Geoff Wilson said unions have raised strong concerns about mine safety in Queensland after allegations some companies are submitting false safety figures to the State Government.
He said one of the unions’ concerns related to the Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report, an annual report on safety statistics in the industry published by the Department of Mines and Energy.
“They felt that some of the statistics in the report did not accurately reflect the number of safety incidents in some mines,” Minister Wilson said.
“As a result I’ve asked for an independent review of the report by respected mine safety specialists.”
Furore over the report follows a warning from the Minister to mining companies after spot safety audits in March raised serious concerns at several sites.
He said the unannounced safety audits would continue to be carried out at selected mines across the state over several months.
“More safety issues may emerge from the audits.
“That’s why they are being carried out – to find faults, and for mining companies to fix them.
The Minister has also reinforced the role of the Advisory Councils that report to him on mine safety matters.
“I want to bring all the key players together – mines inspectors, unions and mining companies.
“It’s a forum where their respective views, concerns and ideas can be heard,” he said.
While totally rejecting claims that the industry is engaged in false reporting Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, Michael Roche, said the organisation had written to the Minister, suggesting a transition from current reporting measures to alternatives that are more transparent and better reflect a mine’s safety performance.
“The majority of mining organisations operating in Queensland have moved to a more open and transparent method in the recording and reporting of safety performance through the use of Total Recordable Injuries (TRI), a measure which encompasses all recordable injuries,” he said.
“Among other things, initiatives such as these shoot down baseless allegations that mining companies are falsely reporting safety statistics.
“The use of TRI provides a single figure which reflects industry’s performance against the target of “zero harm”, which companies, unions and the government are all committed to achieving.
“The focus in official departmental statistics is on current classifications such as Lost Time Injuries (LTIs).
“While the LTI frequency rate is a recognised national and international measure, if it does not enjoy total stakeholder support, its value is always going to be clouded.”
Issues surrounding safety reporting come amid a fatal accident in early April when a crew miner driver was crushed between a shuttle car in bord and pillar workings at the Moranbah North Mine.
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