Hosted by the NSW Minerals Council at Peppers Fairmount Resort in the Blue Mountains, the conference runs from May 20 to 23 and is the largest OHS conference in the state.

The conference will also include Innovation Awards presentations for 2007, which recognise a wide range of solutions to OHS issues throughout the New South Wales minerals industry.

Titled “Mission Possible”, the event features a number of special guests including leading international chronobiologist Professor Till Roenneberg, from Munich University.

Roenneberg’s address on the significance of the human body clock, as it relates to safety and lifestyle, links to the theme of fatigue management – a major challenge facing the industry.

The line-up also includes former Beaconsfield Gold Mine manager Matthew Gill; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union national president Tony Maher; and Xstrata Coal director of operations Peter Freyberg.

NSWMC chief executive Dr Nikki Williams said the conference has become a landmark event on the industry calendar to drive towards the ultimate goal of zero harm.

“We are at a critical juncture, in that the NSW mining industry, and in indeed Australia generally, is a world leader in managing hazards to deliver worker safety. But safety is not a stationary target,” Williams said.

“This conference grasps the challenge and provides a forum for the industry to share experiences, learnings and victories, in order to allow us to take our safety performance to the next level.”