The 2007 conference – “Mission Impossible” – to be held May 20-23 at Leura in the Blue Mountains will address challenges broadly encompassed under the banner of “fitness for work”, which includes issues like fatigue, drugs and alcohol, personal profiling (risk taking) and healthy lifestyle factors.

“The industry is operating in an environment where fatalities, injuries and illnesses have tracked downward consistently for a number of years. The strategies implemented have improved the safety performance of the sector significantly; however, the trend downwards seems to have stalled,” the NSWMC said.

“Everyone is committed to achieving the target of ‘zero harm’ but some risks are proving more difficult to manage.”

Conference organisers are expecting 500 delegates at this year’s event – where papers will focus on “technology and training, people and health and case studies.”

Proposals for papers will close on Wednesday January 31.