The NSW minerals industry recognises that while significant gains in occupational health and safety performance have been achieved, further improvements are necessary to meet community and industry expectations.
The LTIFR in the NSW coal mining industry fell steadily from 39 in 1998/1999 to 22 in 2003/2004. Over the same time the rate for the metals mining and extractive (quarry) industries has oscillated around a lower rate: 8.46 in 1998/99 and 11.5 in 2003/04.
Less people than ever in the NSW mining industry are sustaining serious work-place injuries. In the coal mining industry numbers fell from 61 in 1997/98 to 23 in 2003/04; and in the metals mining and extractive industries from 42 to seven.
Eight deaths occurred across the NSW mining industry over the four years 2001-2004, an average rate of 0.07 (the rate is based on the number of fatalities per million employee hours worked). These losses though tragic compare favourably with the 28 deaths that occurred during the preceding four years 1997-2000, an average rate of 0.19
Source: NSW Department of Primary Industries. Mine Safety Advisory Council: Industry Performance Measures. Quarterly Report, March 2005 [unpublished]
For more current mining industry performance measures on safety provided by the Mine Safety Advisory Council click here.
To review the Safety and Health Performance Report 2002-03 prepared by the Minerals Council of Australia click here, or for their latest quarterly report click here.