❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding mine safety following a newspaper article highlighting concerns about companies sacrificing safety for production and intimidating staff. The Minister responds with statistics on fatalities and emphasizes the importance of safety culture.
AnsweredQoN 2278Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the
Kalgoorlie Miner Newspaper
article, which appeared on page one, Friday 14 April 2010 entitled, ‘Levy to Boost Mine Safety’, and I ask -
(1) In relation to the newspaper article referred to above, can the Minister state why he is distressed that some mining companies were sacrificing safety for higher production, along with claims that some mining companies had intimidated staff to stay silent on the issue?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) In relation to the newspaper article referred to above can the minister state the rationale along with any statistics as to why he regards, ‘the last two years ... been particularly distressing in terms of fatalities and near misses’?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Does any of the DMP staff encourage and support victimisation and intimidation of any miners, persons at any mine or project to stay silent on environmental or occupational health and safety issues in Western Australia?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If yes to (5), why?
(8) Does there need to be a change to the culture of safety among miners?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state why he told members of the chamber of minerals and energy annual general meeting that, ‘... it is not good enough’?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
Kalgoorlie Miner Newspaper
article, which appeared on page one, Friday 14 April 2010 entitled, ‘Levy to Boost Mine Safety’, and I ask -
(1) In relation to the newspaper article referred to above, can the Minister state why he is distressed that some mining companies were sacrificing safety for higher production, along with claims that some mining companies had intimidated staff to stay silent on the issue?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) In relation to the newspaper article referred to above can the minister state the rationale along with any statistics as to why he regards, ‘the last two years ... been particularly distressing in terms of fatalities and near misses’?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Does any of the DMP staff encourage and support victimisation and intimidation of any miners, persons at any mine or project to stay silent on environmental or occupational health and safety issues in Western Australia?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If yes to (5), why?
(8) Does there need to be a change to the culture of safety among miners?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state why he told members of the chamber of minerals and energy annual general meeting that, ‘... it is not good enough’?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 May 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
30 days
1. Safety should be the pre-eminent value in any mining operation.
2. Not applicable
3. Any fatal accident that occurs is one too many. In the 2007-2008 financial year there were three fatal accidents on mining related work sites in Western Australia:
o One involved an underground rock fall
o One involved a collision between mobile equipment
o One involved exploration drilling work on surface
In the 2008-2009 financial year there were seven fatal accidents on mining related work sites in Western Australia:
o Six of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Mines and Petroleum
o One fell under the jurisdiction of Comcare
o Six have occurred in the Pilbara region and one in the Eastern Goldfields
o All seven occurred on the surface
o Six involved machinery
o Two involved a fall from a height
o Three involved maintenance work on plant
o One involved a collision between vehicles
o One involved construction work
4. Not applicable
5-7 I am not aware of any staff member of the Department behaving in this way and any such behaviour will not be tolerated.
8. The development of working practices in the Western Australian mining industry to achieve 'Zero Harm' will require the development of a resilient safety culture.
9. Not applicable
10. Refer to response to question 3.
11. Not applicable
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2. Not applicable
3. Any fatal accident that occurs is one too many. In the 2007-2008 financial year there were three fatal accidents on mining related work sites in Western Australia:
o One involved an underground rock fall
o One involved a collision between mobile equipment
o One involved exploration drilling work on surface
In the 2008-2009 financial year there were seven fatal accidents on mining related work sites in Western Australia:
o Six of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Mines and Petroleum
o One fell under the jurisdiction of Comcare
o Six have occurred in the Pilbara region and one in the Eastern Goldfields
o All seven occurred on the surface
o Six involved machinery
o Two involved a fall from a height
o Three involved maintenance work on plant
o One involved a collision between vehicles
o One involved construction work
4. Not applicable
5-7 I am not aware of any staff member of the Department behaving in this way and any such behaviour will not be tolerated.
8. The development of working practices in the Western Australian mining industry to achieve 'Zero Harm' will require the development of a resilient safety culture.
9. Not applicable
10. Refer to response to question 3.
11. Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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