Boggabri coal mine has enjoyed higher productivity since implementing a healthy lifestyle program promoting healthy eating, stress management, weight loss and general good health in staff and their families.
GM of operations Ken Mclaren told ABC: “We've had constant production gains since late 2012, in small increments, but we have definitely had fewer accidents, less damage to equipment.
"Productivity has improved in terms of bank cubic metres per hour," he said
“There's a number of factors that actually contribute to improved activities, but certainly lifestyle, health, correct sleep patterns and correct general well-being is a huge part of productivity, because if a driver's fatigued they just can't work at the required level”
The initiative was created by its employee contractor Downer Mining EDI.
Downer employs more than 70% of the current mine workforce, including contractors working on the mine's expansion, which would increase coal output by one million tonnes per annum.
Boggabri coal mine operates 24 hours a day, with drivers undertaking 12 hour shifts with 2 breaks and eventually shifting an average of 18,000t per day.
The mine has implemented a fatigue-reporting program in which operators report fatigue and what level it has reached, with no penalties for those who need a break.
McLaren says managers want workers to be honest and to report problems, so there are no penalties for those who say it isn't safe for them to operate heavy machinery.
