Whitehaven Coal has seen a positive increase across several key safety indicators as part of its 2021 sustainability report released last week.
According to the report, Whitehaven recorded a 466 per cent increase in the number of in-field safety interactions as well as a 63 per cent increase in the number of hazards reported across its operations.
The company’s Gunnedah coal handling and preparation plant and Rocglen site both reached the 3000-day milestone without any lost time due to injury.
According to the report, Whitehaven’s Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) at June 30, 2021 was 5.9.
“While still well below the New South Wales coal mining average of 13.41, safety outcomes in this respect were not able to be sustained compared to last year,” the company stated.
“However, we are continuing to see a decrease in TRIFR across the longer term.
“This FY21 result was primarily driven by a series of minor injuries in the second quarter of the year.
“Intervention programs to address the underlying causes included hazard identification, increase in leadership safety interactions and our movement for improvement program to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
“Since January 2021 there has been a 12 per cent decrease in TRIFR.”
Whitehaven stated it would continue to closely monitor the safety aspect of its operations in the 2022 financial year.
“In FY22, we will continue improve our health and safety performance through increased rigour in our risk management,” Whitehaven stated.
“Relevant targets have also been incorporated into the business strategy including improving TRIFR, closing material and critical actions on time, improving in-field leadership and site interactions, and improved incident investigation transparency and learning.”