This was the same as during the same period last year. Two of the fatalities occurred at underground metalliferous mines in Tasmania while the third occurred in an open-cut metalliferous mine in WA.

The MCA reports that the number of fatalities for the 2002-03 reporting year totals 12 – five more than for the previous reporting year.

The indicative total industry LTIFR for the year is estimated at six which is the same as that reported last quarter but lower than the annual rate of eight in the corresponding report last year.

The Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) shows a small improvement from last quarter’s 38.1 to this quarter’s 35.8.

The indicative total industry Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) for 2002-03 is estimated at six. This compares favourably with the LTIFR of eight for the previous year.

In comparison with last year’s Safety Survey Report, all sectors have shown improvement. Significantly the LTIFR for underground coal has dropped to 16 for the year, compared with a rate of 23 at the same time last year, and the underground metalliferous rate has improved from nine to seven.

As a result of the improvements in LTIFR, the total coal and total metalliferous rates for the year have improved to 10 (from 13 the previous year) and four (from six) respectively.

MOST SEVERE INJURIES

Twenty-eight severe injuries (35 for last quarter; 20 for the same period last year) were reported for the fourth quarter.

Survey responses indicated that there were three losses of body part (fingertip and toe amputations, loss of lower right arm); no loss of body function; and 25 other severe damage which comprised: fractures (16), burns (5), and crush injuries (4).

The MCA undertook research during the fourth quarter to classify the causes of injuries. These were found to be: Impact by moving plant/equipment accounted to 12, Fall of Ground 2, Hazardous substances/fumes 1, Slips, trips, falls 6, Biological agencies 4.

The MCA said the minerals industry is working in a voluntary and proactive way to improve safety and health performance by reporting broader outcomes measures and in particular Total Recordable Injuries (TRIs) which include fatalities, lost time injuries, restricted work cases and medical treatment cases.

A total of 1536 TRIs (1664 last quarter) have been reported this quarter which equates to an indicative TRIFR of 35.8.