Whitehaven Coal will spend a total $1.2 million on projects that aim to prevent injury and fatality at its Maules Creek coal mine in New South Wales.
The spend is the result of an ‘enforceable undertaking’ handed down by the NSW Resources Regulator in response to an incident at the mine in December 2021.
At the time, a loaded truck narrowly avoided colliding with a light vehicle at the T-intersection of a haul road.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development investigated the incident, alleging the mine contravened the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) by failing to comply with its duties under section 19(1).
Whitehaven accepted the undertaking from the state Regulator, which required the implementation of a safety culture and mindfulness program, field trials for collision avoidance systems (CAS), and the investigation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems that identify and analyse radio communications at the site.
The mine will spend $200,000 over two years on a Mindful Safety Program, $135,000 on trialling and implementing a CAS, and $300,000 on an AI radio analysis system.
Other projects to be carried out include spending $300,000 on a video series focused on an Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT) level 1–7 of vehicle interaction controls, contributing $20,000 to the Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, and spending $35,000 on increasing CCTV at the nearby Wee Waa main street, where local crime has been difficult to manage.
“Protecting the safety of our people and workplaces, and the communities around us, is our first priority,” Whitehaven said.
“We believe our people should expect to go home safe and healthy after work every day, and we are committed to integrating insights from this incident to enhance our overall approach.”
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