An overview of the New South Wales mining industry’s health and safety performance throughout the 2023-24 financial year has been released.
The annual Mine Safety Performance Report provides a snapshot of the number of incidents and key safety indicators, as reported to the NSW Resources Regulator, across the coal, metalliferous, extractives, petroleum and geothermal as well as opal and exploration sectors.
In 2023-24 there were zero fatal injuries, 105 serious injuries, 256 lost time injuries and 834 total recordable injuries reported.
The fatal injury frequency rate trended down from the 2021–2022 year, in line with a long-term downward trend in fatal injuries over the past decade.
“The total number of reportable injuries, including serious injuries increased as more incidents are being reported,” The NSW Resources Regulator said.
“The NSW mining industry and the Resources Regulator are continuing significant efforts to minimise health and safety risks to workers.”
One of the most recent investigations into safety incidents on site conducted by the state regulator involved travelling to an open cut coal mine where a haul truck briefly spun out of control last week.
While travelling on a wet section of road, an empty haul truck lost traction as a mobile manufacturing unit (MMU) was passing on the opposite side.
The haul truck slid along the road and crossed the centre line before ending up at 180 degrees from the intended direction of travel. The haul truck missed colliding with the MMU by about 8–9m.
The ensuing investigation led to the Regulator delivering a warning to operators state-wide.
“Workers must operate vehicles at a speed that is appropriate to the prevailing conditions,” the Regulator said.
“Mine operators should ensure that, after rain events and when operating in wet weather conditions, adequate systems are in place (including statutory inspections) to check road conditions and communicate these conditions to the workforce.
“When developing control measures to manage the risks of operating vehicles, mine operators must consider mobile plant operating characteristics including stopping distances, manoeuvrability, and speeds for both loaded and unloaded vehicles.”
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