Published in September 2005 Australian Longwall Magazine

The ACARP-funded study looked at communication strategies and mechanisms used at coal operations to ensure that safety information is available for day-to-day operations and during times of major change. Six underground and surface coal sites were surveyed in Queensland and New South Wales.

It was found all sites collected a huge array of safety information for dissemination. Internal information was generated by shift reports relating to equipment availability and location, materials required for the job, conditions of the working environment, people movements (including contractors), tasks to be completed in the next shift, statutory reports, inspections, production levels, equipment isolation and incidents.

In addition, other areas of the site, such as the technical services section, generated daily and weekly information. External information, such as incident reports from other sites, also added to the mix.

A number of similarities were found between sites on how information was disseminated. Training sessions, meetings, and display areas provided the bulk of formal information to the workforce.

People in both supervisory and non-supervisory roles nominated verbal communication as the most common methods, closely followed by written communication. Analysis of the data confirmed that verbal communication was the preferred option for receiving safety information, with 57% of supervisors and 54% of non-supervisors favouring this method.

While supervisors showed a greater preference for the use of email, this could be influenced to a large degree by the fact that they generally had greater access to email at work, with three times as many supervisors as non-supervisors having said access.

With this in mind, it was recommended efforts should be made to provide supervisors with the skills and knowledge to use the electronic communication system.

Another recommendation was that a clear communication system should be implemented, as an unplanned communication system had the potential to impede the discovery of essential information and is likely to lead to a loss of knowledge. Verbal, written and electronic methods of communication all have a place in the system.

It was also recommended contractors be integrated into the site safety management system.

Article based on a paper by Sue Leveritt, Minerals Industry Safety & Health Centre and presented at the Queensland Mining Industry Health & Safety Conference 2005.