The new appointments bring the state’s safety inspector workforce to 107, 27% higher than it was in late 2009 when the sweeping Reform and Development at Resources Safety (RADARS) strategy was introduced.

“RADARS was established following a series of independent inquiries and mining deaths, and continues to ensure high safety standards are being maintained at WA’s 975 operational mines and 65 petroleum sites,” Mines Minister Bill Marmion said.

“These new expert safety inspectors are crucial to the ongoing health and wellbeing of the state’s 98,000 resources workforce.

“Last year, for the first time in a century, there wasn’t a single mining death in Western Australia – that’s a remarkable achievement and one that we would like to see repeated in 2013.”

Four of the new specialists have been named to the mines safety inspectorate team, which carries out 24,000 site inspections a year.

The department said new personnel were now undertaking a rigorous six-month training course, which includes familiarisation with WA safety regulation, stakeholder liaison, four-wheel drive and helicopter survival courses.

From January to June last year, the government has contributed $A17.5 million to RADARS.