Dr. Rolf Gomes
Founder and Cardiologist, Heart of Australia Corporate Health Initiative
Despite the enormous resources committed by the Mining Industry in developing workplace health and safety initiatives, the average health of the mining workforce still lags white collar employees.
Drivers of poor physical and psychological health amongst mining workers are often ‘external’ and lifestylerelated, commonly developing during the ‘crunch years’ (i.e. 25-50 when juggling increasing workplace and family responsibilities). These preventable health issues not only impact the growing burden of chronic illness in Australia but increase health and safety risks and contribute to diminished workplace performance.
Traditional attempts to address this issue have not commonly delivered long-term tangible outcomes for the individual or organisation. A more effective early intervention approach is required, incorporating contemporary biomedical, lifestyle, social and organisational research data. As well as having a rigorous clinical underpinning, new health screening programs need to be packaged into cost-effective and operationally efficient delivery models that enable democratised access across large workforces.
Successful early-intervention health programs across the Mining Industry offer significant mutual benefit to employees, workplaces and local communities alike (particularly via ‘network effects’ that exist within close-knit mining communities). Although currently lagging, the Mining Industry has the potential to become a recognised leader in this critical workplace and societal issue.
Genevieve Hey
Director/Principal Consultant, Genevieve Hey Consulting Pty Ltd
A mines’ safety and health management system must provide protocols for physical and psychological impairment; but what does this mean? A protocol, like a standard operating procedure, governs behaviour and the performance of tasks; therefore, it should be underpinned by a sound risk management process that identifies and controls hazards within the given context. Unfortunately, studies show that industry more readily applies risk management processes to physical rather than psychological hazards; nevertheless, both must be considered for health and safety obligations to be fully discharged.
To complicate matters further, the analysis of psychological risk differs from that of physical risk due to its complexity.
Psychological risk factors are multi-causal, not directly observable and their severity is largely determined by individual perception. With this in mind, how is psychological risk quantified without bias and in a way that facilitates its systematic analysis? Additionally, how are protocols that reflect a mines’ unique psychosocial risk profile developed?
This paper provides the answer by discussing two workplace psychosocial risk assessment tools that are freely available online and grounded in evidence-based psychological research. Furthermore, these tools can be easily applied at your mine by your own Human Resource or Health and Safety specialists.
Mick Storch
Managing Director, 4PS Software
4PS software is an innovative Australian owned and operated company since 2009.
Streamlining business processes and compliance management of People, Plant, Processes and Procedures in your workplace. Access employees training and competencies with a click of a button, automated notifications to alert you before competencies and inspections expire, generated equipment registers and employee matrixes, project management tools, and so much more. Ensuring your people and plant get on to the work site on time, every time. Check it out here:www.4ps.com.au
Melton White
Mideco
Mideco provide dust control products and solutions for mines, quarries and any commercial environment. We are an Australian owned company and have been operating since 1950. With over sixty years of successful dust collection experience behind us, Mideco has designed Bat Booth, the system for cleaning workers’ clothes after the shifts, helping prevent dust related conditions like silicosis and black lung.
Approved and recommended by NIOSH, UL certified and installed on sites all over the world, Bat Booth provides the highest value for OHS in mining and quarrying.
Eric Tomicek
Sales Manager, Australian Diversified Engineering
ADE is passionate about haul roads and efficient water truck operations. The ADE Spray system consistently sprays at a specific water rate to manage overwatering and underwatering and can safely deliver more water to more of the mine. Friction Plus by ADE is a free phone app for measuring haul road friction so that risks associated with wet roads can be objectively measured and the risks effectively managed.
Michael Tamone
State Sales Manager – Queensland, uvex safety Australia
uvex is established as a world leading manufacturer of sports and safety PPE with more than 90 years’ manufacturing experience.
The uvex mission is protecting people, with our three core values being quality, leadership and enthusiasm. Our focus is on science-based innovation to create Personal Protective Equipment including safety eyewear, hand, respiratory and hearing protection for people at work.
Over the past year uvex Safety Australia has officially launched our global partnership with Grand Rapids Michigan based protective product manufacturer, HexArmor. HexArmor are the global leaders in extreme cut, impact, puncture and needlestick resistance hand and body PPE. Our dedicated team welcome your visit to our stand #19 at the conference.
Tim Mills
Product Manager – Environmental Monitoring, Ampcontrol
Ampcontrol delivers integrated electrical, electronic and control solutions to improve safety and efficiency in mining, renewable, infrastructure and industrial applications. From the most complex electrical infrastructure to the most hazardous industrial environments, we engineer solutions which focus on whole of life optimisation.
Drawing on the multi-disciplined technical resources within our business, we step outside the conventions of traditional problem solving, and seek new ways to improve electrical infrastructure design through smart electronics, intelligent data gathering, and operational networking and control.
Luke Ripper
Senior Occupational Hygienist, GCG Health Safety & Hygiene
GCG has provided the Queensland Mining Industry with occupational hygiene services for over 10 years. In light of winning an innovation award from Spotless/Downer, GCG has also been involved in driving solutions around data analytics for positive pressure in cabins.
This year we’re doing things a bit different – ‘Whiteboard Sessions with GCG’. This is available for anyone who has a challenging occupational hygiene problem at hand and interested in an interactive discussion with a qualified hygienist. Come have a chat!
Daniel Grundy
General Manager, GRT
GRT provides engineered solutions for dust control, process optimisation, erosion control, road stabilisation and water management in the Resources, Roads and Rural sectors.
Our company is wholly Australian owned, based in Queensland, but with staff based in each state, who service mining, quarrying, civil, and rural clients both nationally and internationally.
GRT products and site solutions are developed by our own technical staff in conjunction with key industry partners – we provide the total site management options from pit to port!
Bobby Irving
Queensland Territory Manager, Bolle Safety
Bollé was founded in 1888 in Oyonnax, France. As an Industry leader with innovative products, the Bollé family has grown from the small workshop beginnings to become the leading global manufacturer of quality eyewear. Today, more than 100 years later, Bollé protective eyewear is distributed and worn in all parts of the globe. Glasses, goggles and face shields for industry, always more efficient, more protective and more comfortable. Think Innovative Vision, think Bolle Safety.
Matthew Pederson-Howard, Vice President, Safety and Health, Peabody and
Adam Schloss,
Production Superintendent, Peabody Australia
Creswick Bulger
Senior Inspector of Mines, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy
This paper discusses critical controls – those which can prevent fatal and catastrophic events from occurring in Queensland surface coal mines. To understand what the critical controls are we have to identify all fatal hazards in surface coal mines.
Analysis of all fatalities that have occurred in Queensland coal mines since 1969, show hazards causing the majority of fatalities in surface mines are distinctly different to those causing the majority of fatalities in underground mines. During this 50 year period there have been 132 fatalities in Queensland coal mines, 94 in underground and 38 in surface mines.
A breakdown shows 86% of fatalities in underground mines were caused by principal hazards. In surface mines only 24% of fatalities were caused by principal hazards. This means for surface mines the majority of critical controls relate to a number of fatal hazards which are not principal hazards.
Based on that analysis the Queensland coal mine inspectorate has sought information from surface coal mine companies relating to the fatal hazards and critical controls identified within their risk identification systems. This information will be developed into audit and inspection guidelines which the inspectorate will apply when carrying out inspections and audits at surface coal mines.