MESS 2021 - early bird tickets now available

Registration is now open for the 30th annual Mechanical Engineering Safety Seminar to be held 11-12 August 2021 at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley.

The two-day seminar focuses on mechanical safety and health issues in mines and provides a means for collective communication, discussion and consultation of those issues between engineers and other key stakeholders.

Register by midnight on Friday 9 July to take advantage of the early bird discount.

Worker struck by light vehicle at quarry

An investigation information release has been published regarding a fatality that occurred on 24 May 2021 at the West Wyalong Quarry near Wyalong, NSW. The fatality occurred when a worker was struck by a light vehicle.

Worker seriously injured during transit

We have published investigation information release about a dangerous incident that occurred on 20 May 2021 at Appin Colliery. A mine worker, sitting in the front passenger’s seat of an underground mine transport vehicle, sustained a serious laceration and crush injury to his upper left arm. The incident occurred when the transport vehicle drove into a cut-through and collided with a piece of stowed equipment in the cut through.

Worker seriously injured by recoiling pipe

An investigation information release has been published about a dangerous incident that occurred on 23 April 2021 at Tahmoor Colliery, Tahmoor NSW. A mine worker, underground at the Tahmoor Colliery, was struck by a recoiling six metre polyethylene pipe. The pipe, which was protruding from a flatbed trailer, became stuck on the gas range when workers were attempting to shunt the trailer to a new location. The worker, who was spotting for the driver of the mine vehicle shunting the trailer, sustained serious injuries requiring hospital treatment. The worker is expected to make a full recovery.

Quarterly Safety Report released for January to March 2021

The Quarterly Safety Report for January to March 2021 has been released to assist industry improve safety at their sites.

In this quarter, total incident notifications received by principal hazard were down slightly (from 194 to 186). Key principal mining hazards that saw the largest rise in notifications, compared to the previous quarter were roads or other vehicle operating areas and fire or explosion.

Online applications for competence certificates now available

You can now apply online for practising certificates and certificates of competence through the Mining Worker's section of the Regulator portal (with the exception of Quarry manager Tier-2). A help guide has been developed to assist navigating to the portal.

Interested in finding out how to use the new portal? A webinar will be held on Wednesday 23 June 2021 from 2pm to 3pm. You can register for the event here.

Reminder: Maintenance of competence sessions still available

Registrations are still available for the maintenance of competence sessions. 

Limited spaces available:

• Mudgee - 16 June, 10:00am - 11:30am
• Wollongong - 17 June, 10:00am - 11:30am

A virtual session is also being held on July 7 from 2:00pm - 3:30pm.

In case you missed it...

• EOI now open - NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council Chairperson
• EOI now open - MPCB independent members
• Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) laws public consultation submissions
• Fact sheet - Entanglement - Metalliferous mines and large quarries 
• Fact sheet - Entanglement – Tier 2 and Tier 3 quarries 
• Fact sheet - Fire or explosion - Electrical - Metalliferous mines and Tier 1 quarries 
• April 2021 monthly business activities report
• TRG Hot Work (cutting and welding) at mines and petroleum sites
• Fire on mobile plant report October - December 2020

Code of practice: Managing psychological hazards at work

SafeWork NSW has published the Code of Practice: Managing psychological hazards at work which applies to all workplaces, including mines and petroleum sites.

The code is intended to be read by persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), usually an employer or business, and those who have duties under the WHS Act. It provides practical guidance on the process a PCBU could use to identify and to manage psychosocial hazards at work.