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Review of Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Laws

To make a submission you can:

• Complete the online survey

• Complete the feedback form
  • online submission form
  • download the fillable form (Microsoft Word version), complete and return via email or mail
• Attend a free, half-day, face-to-face public consultation forum (click on the link below to register for your preferred forum):

Submissions close 17 April 2020.

Fatality

At approximately 10 am on 14 October 2019, a 50-year-old worker was found unresponsive inside an excavator at Cedar Point Quarry. Despite the efforts of his co-workers and the ambulance officers, the worker was unable to be revived.

Worker seriously injured from fall

On 18 February 2020 at approximately 7pm, an operator was in the process of completing a pre-start inspection on a Caterpillar 789D haul truck at Wilpinjong Coal Mine. While ascending the truck's access ladder a hand rail on the Caterpillar failed, causing the operator to fall about 1 to 1.5 metres to the ground. The worker sustained serious arm and leg injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital, and later underwent surgery to repair the fractures.

Save the date...
Tailings management forum, 3 June 2020

The construction, operation and decommissioning of tailing dams continue to be key issues that have the potential to affect the sustainable development of the mining industry.

At Dubbo on 3 June 2020, we will be facilitating our annual Tailings management forum. The forum will bring together industry, technical experts and regulators to participate in presentations and discussions on the risks and knowledge gaps in tailings management to help develop targeted strategies to address these issues.

Further event details will be made available in the coming weeks via Mine Safety News and our website.

Tier-3 quarry exemption

Survey plans to Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) exemption

Clarence Coal WHS undertaking rejected

On 31 January 2020, a WHS undertaking was submitted to us for consideration, which proposed a number of obligations by Clarence Coal to deliver benefits to workers, industry and the community.

We considered the undertaking, and on 24 February 2020 rejected the proposal, being of the view the circumstances of the incident warranted strong specific and general deterrence.

Educational video raises awareness for fall prevention on mobile plant 

New silica workplace exposure standard commences 1 July 2020

The Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson has announced a new plan to reduce cases of the lung disease silicosis. Notably, this includes the introduction of the new respirable crystalline silica workplace exposure standard of 0.05mg/m3 from 1 July 2020.

Crystalline silica health monitoring guide

Under the model WHS Regulations, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must provide health monitoring for workers if they carry out ongoing work using, handling, generating or storing crystalline silica, and there is a significant risk to the worker’s health because of exposure.

Health monitoring is carried out or supervised by a registered medical practitioner. The guide provides registered medical practitioners with practical guidance on requirements under the model work health and safety laws for health monitoring of workers exposed to crystalline silica.

Release 12 open for public comment

• Glyoxal
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Methyl Vinyl Ketone
• 2-Methylbutyl acetate