ENVIRONMENT

Mining chiefs proclaim the mine safety message

SEVERAL coal mining CEOs have come out in support of safety after the “reset” endorsed by the Queensland government, mining companies and unions following six mining fatalities in 12 months in the state.

The Queensland government’s safety reset strategy will give every mine worker in the state a chance to talk to their boss about the serious risks they face at work.

The Queensland government’s safety reset strategy will give every mine worker in the state a chance to talk to their boss about the serious risks they face at work.

The Queensland government's safety reset strategy will give every mine worker in the state a chance to talk to their boss about the serious risks they face at work and raise safety concerns.

 

Yancoal CEO Reinhold Schmidt said the company's continued emphasis on safe work practices had been reinforced in response to events throughout the industry.

 

"On June 27 2019 there was a tragic fatality at the Middlemount JV," he said.

 

"Our thoughts are with the family, friends and workers during this difficult time.

 

"There is active engagement with all employees empowering them to identify and address foreseeable injuries."

 

Yancoal's 12-month rolling Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate at the end of June was 7.17, a slight change from 7.12 at the end of the 2019 March quarter.

 

Coronado Global Resources CEO Gerry Spindler said while the company continued to perform better than industry averages in its safety standards, the recent fatalities and serious safety incidents in the Queensland mining industry "serve as a reminder that we need to continue to be vigilant and do everything possible to keep our people safe".

 

"We have been in consultation with industry representatives and have agreed to implement a comprehensive safety reset across the industry in Queensland," he said.

 

"Coronado will participate in, and support, all efforts to reinforce the focus on maintaining safe operations across the industry."

 

Whitehaven Coal CEO Paul Flynn said the company - which has no operating mines in Queensland - had redoubled its efforts to embed safe work practices into its culture.

 

"As recent tragic events in Queensland have reminded us all, our working environments expose employees to risks that can have very serious consequences if not managed and mitigated properly," he said.

 

"Every single member of our workforce should expect to be able to come home safely to their families and loved ones at the end of each day.

 

"This is why safety remains a critical component of our growth agenda and why we have redoubled our efforts to embed safe work practices into our culture and maintain the inversely proportional relationship between more tonnes and safety outcomes."

 

Flynn said productivity and growth simply cannot come at the expense of safety and the company's latest "Could it be you" safety campaign seeks to remind every Whitehaven employee and contractor of their individual responsibilities in this regard.

 

 

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