Mine operators, site senior executives (SSEs) and mine management must understand that the effective management of contractors and their employees is one of their key obligations, the commissioner said.

“Queensland mining safety and health legislation does not distinguish between mining company and contractor employees,” he said.

“In Queensland, our mining acts require that a single mine site-specific safety and health management system [SHMS] is used for employees and contractors alike to ensure that risks are controlled and are at an acceptable level.

“Running multiple SHMSs in parallel - mine and contractors - is unlikely to achieve a safe outcome and is contrary to legislative requirements.

“Mine management, in particular the SSE, is charged with managing safety on mine sites. This can only be achieved through the establishment and effective implementation of one SHMS that provides direct control over all facets of the operations.”

Where contractors are used at mining operations the following must be considered and addressed in the site SHMS all contractor activities/personnel and equipment are identified and an effective method for supervising contractors is established, he said.

“I cannot emphasise enough that the safety of all mine workers, regardless of whether they are a contractor or mine employee, is primarily the responsibility of the mine operator and SSE,” he said.

“This can only be achieved by implementing an effective single SHMS that manages all the personnel, equipment and activities associated with the mining operation regardless of who is undertaking the activity, owns the equipment and pays the workers.

“Ensuring contractors are being managed under a single SHMS is a key focus this year for the Queensland Mines Inspectorate. “