All the latest news in mine health and safety in NSW

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2 July 2020

Forward

The Take action to prevent dust disease campaign is designed to educate workers as well as quarry and mine operators of the risks associated with dust exposure and dust disease.

The member organisations of the Mine Safety Advisory Council have combined resources to create a comprehensive dust toolkit. The toolkit is designed to provide mine workers and mine operators with information, advice and guidance related to managing dust.

Click here for more information, videos and toolkit resources

Silicosis changes from 1 July 2020

New exposure standard

The new respirable crystalline silica workplace exposure standard of 0.05mg/m3 took effect on 1 July 2020.

The new exposure standard is prescribed following a revision of the Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants (WESFAC).

Refer to the link below for more information.

Position paper - Revision to silica exposure standard

Media release - NSW ahead of the curve in silicosis prevention

Silicosis Reduction Strategy

On 1 July 2020 the NSW Government’s Silicosis Reduction Strategy came into effect, including silicosis becoming a scheduled medical condition in NSW. From 1 July all medical practitioners who diagnose a case of silicosis in NSW are required to notify NSW Health.

Refer to the links below for more information on this important regulatory reform.

SafeWork NSW - Notification of Silicosis

Media release - NSW ahead of the curve in silicosis prevention

Work health and safety reports can now be submitted online

Work health and safety reports for the period 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 are now available on the Resources Regulator Portal for mine operators to complete.

Please note: Quarter 4 reports for the 2019-20 reporting period have been replaced by an annual work health and safety report.

Click here for further information

Download the Work health and safety reporting class exemption fact sheet

Investigation report

Serious injury at Springvale Colliery

A 56-year-old worker suffered serious lower leg injuries when he was hit by a bow shackle, after a RUD link failed during a towing operation at Springvale Colliery near Lithgow, NSW, on 5 February 2019.

Click here for the full investigation report

Managing fatigue risks in underground metalliferous mines

Final consolidated report now available

Mine operators are required to manage the risk of worker fatigue in accordance with clause 43 of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014.

This report summarises the findings of the targeted assessments program (TAP) undertaken at ten underground metalliferous mines across NSW between June 2019 - November 2019.

Click here for the Final consolidated report

Investigation information release

Worker injured while conducting repairs to mobile jaw crusher

A contract worker sustained an injury during an attempt to rotate a fixed liner plate in a mobile jaw crusher at Hera Mine on 13 May 2020.

To remove the liner plate, a temporary lifting lug was welded to the plate. An excavator was then used to lift the plate, however the weld failed and the lug struck the worker’s hard hat at speed. The hat was damaged, resulting in a laceration to the worker’s forehead which required nine stitches.

View the Investigation information release (IIR20-09)

May 2020 business activities report is now available

Monthly business activities report May 2020

Throughout May we continued to operate under our business continuity plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our May 2020 Business activities report shows we were notified of 162 incidents with the deployment of inspectors to 10 of these (subject to strict risk controls).

For more data, details and insights visit our Business activities reports page.

View our latest Business activities reports

2020 safety seminars postponed

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our seminars have been postponed until 2021. Please note the following dates scheduled for our 2021 safety seminars:

Mechanical Engineering Safety Seminar
11 - 12 August 2021
Mining Engineering Managers Safety Seminar
13 - 14 October 2021
Electrical Engineering Safety Seminar
10 - 11 November 2021

For the latest information on upcoming safety seminars visit our website.

Resources Regulator safety seminars

Translated guide for working with silica and silica containing products is now available

The guide for Working with silica and silica containing products is now available in Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Greek, Italian and Vietnamese.

More information about crystalline silica and silicosis, including what it is, what work activities generate silica dust and how to reduce the dust can be found on the Safe Work Australia website.

Click here for the translated Working with silica guides

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Further information:
Resources Regulator | 1300 814 609 | info@resourcesregulator.planning.nsw.gov.au

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Regional NSW, Resources Regulator

516 High St

Maitland, New South Wales 2320

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