Small mines webinar recordings available

The Small Mines team wrapped up their 2021 webinar series this week, with the second of two online events taking place yesterday (24 November 2021).

More than 60 industry members attended the Small Mines Industry Snapshot – 2021 webinar which provided an update on the rescheduled roadshows, the 2022 assessment program, an industry case study and an opportunity to ask questions.

Recordings of both webinars can be found on the Small mines and quarries health and safety roadshow webpage.

Keep an eye on our website and Mine Safety News for the release of tickets to the postponed roadshow, which will be scheduled for early 2022.

Training and seminars in December 

We are offering a range of training sessions and information forums in December.  

Next Wednesday (1 December) we will be hosting a half day online education and awareness session for explorers on compliance obligations under the Mining Act 1992. Click here to register to attend this free webinar.

Next Thursday (2 December) we will hold the online Open cut mining engineering managers' forum to share knowledge across the open cut coal mining engineering discipline.

On 7 December, we will host the Underground coal mining engineering managers' forum. Our inspectors will review emerging issues and trends in the application of mining engineering in underground coal mines. To request an invitation, please contact the engagement team on rr.workshops@planning.nsw.gov.au.

On 9 December, we will hold the online Mechanical engineers' forum to share knowledge across the mechanical engineering discipline. Also on 9 December we will hold the Western region metalliferous electrical engineers' forum to share knowledge across the metalliferous and extractives electrical engineering discipline.

Click here to access information about all our December training and forums. 

Christmas shutdown for competencies and authorisations

The Mining Competencies and Authorisations Unit will be closed during the NSW public service Christmas-New Year shutdown period  from Friday 17 December 2021, returning Monday 10 January 2022.
 
Competence
During this period, applications for Certificates of Competence and Practising Certificates can still be made via the Mining Worker’s Portal. Any applications made during the Christmas shutdown period will not be processed until our return.
 
The team will not be available to respond to inquiries during the Christmas shutdown period. Any inquiries in relation to examinations or closing dates in early 2022 should be made before Friday 17 December 2021.
 
Authorisations
Applications for plant registration, licensed activities, exemptions, mine survey plans and approved training providers that are submitted after 1 December 2021 may not be finalised until our return.
 
Any general inquiries can be directed to the Mining Competencies and Authorisations Unit at mca@planning.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1300 814 609.
 

TRG for fans at underground coal mines 

We have published a new Technical Reference Guide (TRG): Main fans, booster fans and auxiliary fans at underground coal mines.

This TRG provides information that will assist underground coal mine operators to minimise risks to health and safety relating to the use of ventilation fans at underground coal mines. It supersedes Mining Design Guideline (MDG) 3 and was developed following a review of MDG 3 in 2020, followed by targeted stakeholder consultation in early 2021.

A new booster fan design order which references this new TRG will be published in early 2022. A suitable transition period will be included in the new design order to enable industry time to prepare for the new standard.
 

Invitation for public submissions on the Review of the NSW Health Surveillance Scheme 

Submissions are currently being welcomed from the public on the independent quality assurance review of the NSW Health Surveillance Scheme for coal mine workers.
 
The aim of the review is to ensure that the coal industry health surveillance scheme is continuing to provide robust and effective health surveillance for coal mine workers. It will provide assurance to the industry that the scheme is effective in the early identification of health conditions that may affect workers and recommend any necessary changes to improve the scheme.
 
Submissions should be forwarded to the independent review team at the University of Illinois (Chicago) by email to NSWHealthScheme@uic.edu
 
Submissions will be accepted until 15 January 2022.
 

Narrabri/Gunnedah maintenance of competence sessions

We are holding face-to-face sessions at Narrabri on Thursday 9 December from 2pm to 4pm and Gunnedah on Friday 10 December from 10am to midday.

Each session will provide practising certificate holders with an update on maintenance of competence requirements, as well as information about self-auditing assessment for logbooks. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss individual logbook issues.

Attendees must be fully vaccinated to attend this workshop and provide proof of vaccination on arrival. You must also comply with other COVID-19 requirements, including check-in via the Service NSW app, face mask rules and those of the venue. Visit the NSW Government COVID-19 rules to get the latest updates.

You must register to attend either of the sessions. You can use these links to book for the Narrabri event or the Gunnedah event.    

If you unable to attend on the day, please cancel your registration through the link provided in the confirmation email sent to you. If you have any queries, please contact the Mining Competence Team on (02) 4063 6461 or mca@planning.nsw.gov.au.    

Australian workers’ compensation statistics 2019-20

Safe Work Australia has published the Australian workers’ compensation statistics 2019-20 report, which provides the latest national statistics on accepted serious workers’ compensation claims.

Some of the key findings include:

• There were 120,355 serious workers’ compensation claims.
• 31% of serious claims were for illness and diseases. Of these, mental health conditions were the most common. 
• The three occupations with the highest frequency rate of serious claims were:
  • labourers
  • community and personal service workers
  • machinery operators and drivers.

More information about the key findings is available on the Safe Work website.

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