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Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and

Health Report1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

December 2008

4 Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report 2007-08

DisclaimerThe data in this report is derived from the Department of Mines and Energy’s Queensland Mining Industry’s lost time accident database and information – including survey responses – supplied by mining and quarrying operators throughout Queensland.

Some data has been summarised or consolidated in order to present a standardised format in this report.

Although the Department of Mines and Energy makes every effort to verify supplied data, it accepts no responsibility for data that was incorrect when supplied. The data in this report may not be fully representative of the industry or any component of it.

ISSN (Print) 1834-3708ISSN (Online) 1834-3716ISSN (D Rom) 1836-5515

© The State of Queensland (Department of Mines and Energy) 2008

Department of Mines and EnergyPO Box 15216City East Q 4002

For copyright enquiries phone (07) 3405 5563 or fax (07) 3405 5567

08016.12/ipg

This report can be found on the Department of Mines and Energy web site at www.dme.qld.gov.au

Printed copies are also available from:Department of Mines and Energy Sales CentreLevel 2, Mineral House41 George StBrisbane Q 4000Ph (07) 3237 1435Email [email protected]

ii Foreword from the Director-General

Dan Hunt

Foreword from the Director-General

I am pleased to present the Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report for 2007-08.

This is the fi rst report following the independent review of the annual safety statistical report commissioned from Professor Tony Parker and Associate Professor David Cliff in May 2007 and delivered in October 2007.

The report represents the initial implementation of the recommendations of the review. The recommendations will be implemented in a three-stage process over 18 months to two years.

In particular, this report addresses the need, identifi ed in the review, to better incorporate injury severity into the reporting process. Severity relates to the number of days lost or away from the injured worker’s usual job and this is believed to better refl ect the signifi cance of an injury or disease, when compared to simply recording the number of injuries.

In addition, the reviewers recommended that disabling injuries should be given as much emphasis in the report as lost time injuries. A disabling injury is one where a worker is injured but is placed on alternative duties while recovering from the injury.

To this end, a number of extra parameters have been reported based on the sum total of lost time injuries and disabling injures. It is believed that reporting this parameter provides a better picture of the state of the industry in relation to health and safety.

Other new additions to this report are the reporting of positive performance indicators following two years of data collection: specifi cally, parameters relating to risk assessments and audits conducted and the number of employees involved in these are reported.

The percentage of females working in the industry is reported, as is the percentage of females injured or becoming ill.

Additional workers’ compensation data is reported, providing a summary of the last three years of injury statistics.

A new section on departmental initiatives has been included which summarises some of the major activities taken throughout the year to improve safety and health awareness in the industry. Relevant legislative changes are also detailed.

There is a section which reports on the receipt and processing of complaints by the Mines Inspectorate.

In recent years, causal factors of high potential incidents have been reported. The tables reporting causal factors have been removed from the report this year. A review of this data indicates that it is not useful in identifying root causes of problems in the industry. Further work is being done by specialist ergonomists, and experts from Clemson University in the USA have been engaged to upgrade the Department of Mines and Energy’s reporting and data quality in this area.

iiii Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report 2007-08

In addition, the Department presented a seminar for all mines inspectors and industry in HFACS (human factors analysis and classifi cation system), a system to systematically review incidents and accidents to determine if human factor causes were involved. This critical area is seen as providing the next step change in accident and injury reduction in the Department’s pursuit of zero harm in the mining industry.

Queensland continues to maintain one of the best mining safety records in the world. We compare favourably with the other two major mining states in Australia – Western Australia and New South Wales – faring better than them on some measures and close to them on others.

We suffered one fatality in 2007-08, a signifi cant improvement on 2006-07 when there were four fatalities. However, this is one death too many and our condolences and sympathy go to the family and colleagues of this miner.

As always, the Department of Mines and Energy and the mining industry as a whole continue to work together to deliver a safe and healthy working environment for all.

Dan HuntDirector-General

Department of Mines and Energy

1

Foreword from the Director-General i

Acronyms and defi nitions 2

Summary from the Chief Inspectors of Mines 4

2007-08 performance – statistical summary 8

1. Industry safety performance 10

Fatal injuries 10

Permanent incapacities 12

Total recordable injuries 13

Signifi cant incidents 14

Departmental initiatives 16

Legislative changes 19

Prosecutions 20

Coroners’ inquests into mine fatalities 20

Complaints about safety and health at mines 21

High potential incidents 22

Performance indicators 27

Injury classifi cation data 38

Positive performance indicators 42

2. Health report 46

Departmental initiatives 46

Coal mine health assessments 47

3. Workers’ compensation data 48

4. Sector analysis 51

Surface coal mines 51

Underground coal mines 61

Surface metalliferous operations 69

Underground metalliferous operations 79

Quarries 87

5. Collection of information 95

Contents

Contents


Acronyms and defi nitions

AcronymsDI: disabling injury

DIFR: disabling injury frequency rate – injuries per million hours worked

HPI: high potential incident

LHD: load haul dump

LTandDIFR: lost time and disabling injury frequency rate – injuries per million hours worked

LTI: lost time injury

LTIFR: lost time injury frequency rate – injuries per million hours worked

MTI: Medical treatment injury

TRI: Total recordable injury

TRIFR: Total recordable injury frequency rate – injuries per million hours worked

Defi nitionsBodily location: the bodily location of the most serious original injury or disease.

Breakdown agency: the chemical, product, environmental factor or equipment most closely associated with the breakdown event. (The breakdown event is the point at which things started to go wrong, and which ultimately led to the most serious injury or disease.)

Causal factor: the underlying or latent causes of an incident according to the incident cause analysis method (ICAM) Model of Accident Causation. Causal factors are organised into four elements: organisational, team/individual, task/environment or absent/failed defences.

Classifi cation of injury: relates to the specifi c work activity being undertaken at the time of the incident.

Coal mines: mines subject to the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and associated regulations.

Days on alternative duties: is the number of days a worker is unable to perform his/her regular job and has been assigned other temporary or modifi ed duties. Alternative duties include a changed work environment, roster or shift pattern.

Days lost: includes all rostered shifts in which a worker is unable to work because of injury, not including the day of the injury. Also includes days lost because of recurrences of injuries from previous periods. Also includes days on alternative duties after returning to work. A fatal injury is treated as 220 shifts lost starting with the shift in which it occurred.

Disabling injury: a work-related injury or disease resulting in a worker being unable to fully perform his/her regular job. Either light or alternative duties are performed.

Duration rate: the average time (days) lost and the time (days) on alternative duties for each LTI or DI. In this report, time lost includes all time lost for an incident to date.)

Equipment involved:the equipment and/or tools in use or being accessed at the time of the incident, regardless of the breakdown agency involved. (These may or may not have contributed to the cause of the incident.)

High potential incident: an event, or series of events, that causes or has the potential to cause a signifi cant adverse effect on the safety or health of a person.

Incidence rate: the number of lost time injuries/diseases per 100 employees.

3

Permanent incapacity: any work-related injury or disease that leads to one or more of the following outcomes:

The complete loss or permanent loss of use of any part of the body.

Any permanent impairment of any part of the body, regardless of any pre-existing disability of that part.

Any permanent impairment of physical or mental functioning, regardless of any pre-existing impaired physical/mental functioning.

A permanent transfer to any job.

Termination of employment.

Quarries: excavations of hard rock for use in construction. (These operations are covered by the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 and associated regulations.)

Severity rate: the time (days) lost and time (days) on alternative duties per million hours worked.

Serious bodily injury: means a bodily injury endangering, or likely to endanger, life or causing, or likely to cause, a permanent injury to health.

Surface metalliferous operations: all open-cut mines and surface operations at Xstrata Plc’s Mount Isa operations.

Total recordable injury: includes lost time injuries, medical treatment injuries (for coal only) and disabling injuries.

Total recordable injury frequency rate: the number of total recordable injuries/diseases per million hours worked.

Lost time injuries per million tonnes: the number of lost time injuries per million tonnes of raw coal production.

Lost time injury/disease: an incident resulting in a fatality, permanent disability or time lost from work of one shift or more. The shift on which the incident occurred is not counted as a shift lost.

Lost time injury frequency rate: the number of lost time injuries/diseases per million hours worked.

Lost time and disabling injury frequency rate: the number of lost time injuries/diseases and disabling injuries per million hours worked.

Mechanism of injury: the action, event or exposure that directly caused the most serious injury or disease.

Medical treatment injuries: those incidents which were not lost time injuries and for which fi rst aid and or medical treatment by a doctor, nurse or person qualifi ed to give fi rst aid was administered. MTI are only collected for coal mines.

Metalliferous mines: mines subject to the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 and associated regulations.

Nature of injury: the most serious injury or disease relating from an incident.

Acronyms and defi nitions


Summary from the Chief Inspectors of Mines

The Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report 2007-08 shows a general improvement in safety and health performance of the state’s mines and quarries for most statistical indicators, thus maintaining the steady improvements achieved over the past ten years. This result has come about in the context of increased production, mine expansions and a rapidly increasing number of new employees with limited experience.

It is with regret that we report one fatality in the 2007-08 year, out of a total mining industry workforce of around 38,000. As with the four fatal accidents in 2006-07, contact with heavy machinery was involved in this fatal accident. It is the Mines Inspectorate’s view that no death is acceptable, and that each death is preventable – and we will continue to work with industry to eliminate these accidents.

In terms of injury, the statistics show a decrease in the overall industry lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR), from 4.4 in 2006-07 to 3.9 in 2007-08. The total number of lost time injuries reported in 2007-08 was 324 compared with 351 in 2006-07.

The severity rate also decreased from 204 to 129, and the duration rate from 46.7 to 32.8 days.

We have reported total recordable injuries for coal mining this year for the fi rst time. This measure includes disabling injuries and medical treatment injuries as well as lost time injuries and fatalities. Total recordable injuries decreased from 1791 in 2006-07 to 1677 in 2007-08.

We have reported the sum of lost time injuries, fatalities and disabling injuries for all mines and quarries for the fi rst time. The total number of these injuries reported in 2007-08 was 738 compared with 912 in 2006-07.

The lost time injuries and disabling injuries frequency rate reduced from 11.3 to 8.8 and the duration rate for lost time injuries and disabling injuries decreased from 41.7 to 27.4 and the severity rate decreased from 472 to 241.

Safety performance in metalliferous mines and quarries also showed improvement, with the overall LTIFR in metalliferous mines decreasing from 3.1 to 2.7 and in quarries from 9.3 to 5.1. The lost time injuries and disabling injuries frequency rate for metalliferous mines decreased from 7.7 to 6.6 and for quarries from 12.2 to 5.7. Duration rate decreased from 31 to 24 in metalliferous mines and from 16 to 12 in quarries.

Similarly, the coal mining LTIFR decreased this year from 4.9 to 4.4. For underground coal mines the decrease was from 12.6 to 8.0, but the LTIFR for surface coal mines increased from 3.1 to 3.6. The lost time injuries and disabling injuries frequency rate decreased from 13.4 to 10.4 with underground coal decreasing from 35 to 24 and surface coal also decreasing from 8.6 to 7.1. While there was an increase in lost time injuries in the surface coal sector from 127 to 146, there was a decrease in disabling injuries from 221 to 145. The duration rate in the coal sector decreased from 47 to 30.

Reporting of high potential incidents (HPIs) showed a decrease from 1128 in 2006-07 to 1027 in 2007-08. Whilst this decrease may be erroneously considered by some to be a positive indicator, it is recognised that the more incidents that are reported to the Mines Inspectorate, the more aware the industry is of what can go wrong. All such incidents should be fully investigated by the mine and quarry operators and controls implemented to prevent their occurrence. It is through this mechanism that risks to safety and health can be reduced and repeat incidents avoided.

5

What disturbs us, as the Chief Inspectors, are the large numbers of repeat high potential incidents, in particular uncontrolled movements of mobile equipment. This would indicate that perhaps investigation may not be indicating the root causes of the incidents or that identifi ed controls are not implemented. These issues need to be addressed by the industry.

The Mines Inspectorate disseminates a regular summary of HPI reports to industry to promote shared learning. It is important that mine and quarry sites take due note of these incidents.

The health of mine workers is a renewed focus for the Mines Inspectorate. A tripartite Health Improvement and Awareness Committee has been established to assist industry identify, evaluate and control health hazards in the mining environmental. During the year a questionnaire was sent to underground and open cut-mines and quarries to assess their health surveillance programs. Evaluation of the responses will continue in 2008-09.

Implementation of the recommendations of the review of the Queensland Mines Inspectorate continued throughout the year. The review was established to ensure the structure of the Inspectorate remains relevant to industry needs. It examined future skills, qualifi cations and training requirements to enable the Mines Inspectorate to provide world’s best practice service to industry and government.

The independent review of this annual statistical report recommended ways to improve the report and the data contained in it. Some of the recommended changes have been included in this year’s report, and future reports will refl ect the outcomes of this important review.

In June 2008, the Queensland Ombudsman released his review of the Mines Inspectorate. Implementation of this review will result in additional sections in this annual report. The fi rst of these is included in this report regarding the types of complaints received by the Mines Inspectorate.

In closing, we wish to thank the contributors to this report for their assistance in ensuring timely reporting. We look forward to this report being used to assist you in identifying safety priorities for 2008-09.

Roger Billingham Chief Inspector of Mines

Gavin Taylor Chief Inspector of Coal Mines



Number of lost time

injuries (LTI)

Number of disabling

injuries (DI)

Number of medical treatments

(MTI)

Number of high

potential incidents (HPI)

LTI days lost

06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08

Coal surface 127 146 221 145 577 608 616 606 7371 5776

Coal underground

112 77 199 154 555 547 215 106 4954 2288

Coal subtotal 239 223 420 299 1132 1155 831 712 12,325 8064

Metalliferous surface

51 40 52 37 n.a. n.a. 129 163 1805 797

Metalliferous underground

38 37 78 74 n.a. n.a. 133 100 1800 1674

Metalliferous subtotal

89 77 130 111 n.a. n.a. 262 263 3605 2471

Quarries 23 24 7 3 n.a. n.a. 35 52 456 241

Total 351 324 557 413 1132 1155 1128 1027 16,386 10,776

Exploration 9 11 1 5 n.a. n.a 12 10 236 36

# Rounded to whole numbers * Rounded to 1 decimal place n.a. = not available

Table 1 Injury statistics 2007-08

7

Number of DI days

LTI frequency

rate *

LTI severity

rate #

LTI duration

rate *

LTI + DI severity

rate #

LTI + DI duration

rate *

06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08 06-07 07-08

Coal surface 11,142 4233 3.1 3.6 183 142 58.0 39.6 459 246 53.2 34.4

Coal underground

7182 3144 12.6 8.0 558 237 44.2 29.7 1368 563 39.0 23.5

Coal subtotal 18,324 7377 4.9 4.4 250 160 51.6 36.2 623 307 46.5 29.6

Metalliferous surface

781 651 2.7 2.3 97 44 35.4 19.9 139 79 25.1 18.8

Metalliferous underground

2348 1451 3.8 3.7 180 163 47.4 45.2 414 303 35.8 28.2

Metalliferous subtotal

3129 2102 3.1 2.7 126 86 40.5 32.1 235 160 30.7 24.3

Quarries 35 78 9.3 5.1 185 51 19.8 10.0 199 68 16.4 11.8

Total 21,488 9557 4.4 3.9 204 129 46.7 33.3 472 243 41.7 27.6

Exploration 7 32 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 26.2 3.3 n.a. n.a. 24.3 4.3

# Rounded to whole numbers * Rounded to 1 decimal place n.a. = not available

Table 1 (continued) Injury statistics 2007-08



2007–08 performance – statistical summary

Fatalities

One fatality occurred in the underground metalliferous sector during 2007-08 (4 for 2006-07).

Permanent incapacity injuries (see defi nitions on page 3)

Permanent incapacity injuries reported in 2007-08 were:

0 for surface coal mines (0 for 2006-07)

2 for underground coal mines (1 for 2006-07)

1 for metalliferous surface operations (0 for 2006-07)

0 for metalliferous underground mines (0 for 2006-07)

1 for quarries (2 for 2006-07).

Lost time injuries (LTIs)

From a workforce of approximately 23,935 employees in 2007-08 in coal mines (20,539 for 2006-07):

223 LTIs were reported by all coal mines (239 for 2006-07)

146 LTIs were reported by surface coal mines (127 for 2006-07)

77 LTIs were reported by underground coal mines (112 for 2006-07).

From a workforce of approximately 14,357 employees in 2007-08 in metalliferous mines and quarries (12,553 for 2006-07):

101 LTIs were reported by all metalliferous operations and quarries (112 for 2006-07)

40 LTIs were reported by surface metalliferous operations (51 for 2006-07)

37 LTIs were reported by underground metalliferous mines (38 for 2006-07)

24 LTIs were reported by quarries (23 for 2006-07).

Disabling injuries (see defi nition on page 2)

The numbers of disabling injuries reported in 2007-08 were:



37 for surface metalliferous operations (52 for 2006-07)

74 for underground metalliferous mines (78 for 2006-07)


Medical treatments (see defi nition on page 3)

The numbers of medical treatments reported in 2007-08 were:


547 for underground coal mines (555 for 2006-07).

High potential incidents (see defi nition on page 2)

The numbers of high potential incidents reported in 2007-08 were:






Total recordable injuries (TRIs)

899 TRIs were reported by surface coal mines (925 for 2006-07)

778 TRIs were reported by underground coal mines (866 for 2006-07).

Lost time injuries and disabling injuries

The number of lost time injuries and disabling injuries reported in 2007-08 were:






Lost time injuries days lost

The number of lost time injury days lost reported in 2007-08 were:






9

Number of disabling injury days

The number of disabling injury days in 2007-08 were:

4233 for surface coal mines (11,142 for 2006-07)





Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR – injuries per million hours worked)

The lost time injury frequency rates in 2007-08 were:

3.6 for surface coal mines (3.1 for 2006-07)

8.0 for underground coal mines (12.6 for 2006-07)

2.3 for surface metalliferous operations (2.7 for 2006-07)

3.7 for underground metalliferous mines (3.8 for 2006-07)

5.1 for quarries (9.3 for 2006-07).

Total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR – injuries per million hours worked)

The total recordable injury frequency rates in 2007-08 were:



Lost time injuries and disabling injuries frequency rate (LTI + DI per million hours worked)

The lost time injuries and disabling frequency rates in 2007-08 were:



4.2 for surface metalliferous operations ( 5.5 for 2006-07)


5.7 for quarries (12.2 for 2006-07).

Lost time injury severity rate (LTI days lost per million hours worked)

The severity rates in 2007-08 were:






Lost time injury duration rate (days lost per LTI)

The duration rates in 2007-08 were:





10.0 for quarries (19.8 for 2006-07).

Lost time injury and disabling injury severity rate (LTI + DI days lost per million hours worked)

The severity rates in 2007-08 were:






Lost time injury and disabling injury duration rate (days lost per LTI + DI)

The duration rates in 2007-08 were:





11.8 for quarries (16.4 for 2006-07).

2007-08 performance – statistical summary


1. Industry safety performance

This report summarises the accident and incident data collected from Queensland mines and quarries that are subject to the provisions of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999. It relates to accidents and incidents that occurred at a mine site from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008. Accidents that occurred while employees were travelling to or from work are not included in the analysis. Accidents that resulted in injuries involving the loss of at least one full working shift, disabling injuries (employees on alternate/light duties) and medical treatment injuries are reported. High potential incidents are also reported.

The report was prepared using the Department of Mines and Energy Queensland Mining Industry Lost Time Accident Database.

The defi nitions in the report for bodily location, breakdown agency, lost time injury/disease, mechanism of injury, nature of injury, incidence rate and frequency rate generally conform to the workplace injury and disease recording standard (AS 1885.1-1990). The standard’s defi nition of “average lost time rate” (number of days lost per lost time injury), is called “duration rate”. The defi nition of “No lost time injuries/diseases” (those occurrences which were not lost time injuries and for which fi rst aid or medical treatment was administered) is called medical treatment injuries or disabling injuries (the injured person cannot return to their normal job and is put on alternative duties). For a lost time injury the days lost include the days away form work and the days on alternative duties. The Australian Standard is not clear on this issue – whether days lost should include days on alternative duties. However as the days required to be spent on alternative duties is a refl ection of the severity of the injury they have been included. Other parameters are defi ned for the purposes of this report.

The aim of the report is to focus the attention of mine management and mine workers on safety and health priorities and to encourage and prioritise proactive planning of strategies to improve safety and health performance.

Fatal injuriesFigure 1 shows the declining trend in mine fatalities since 1900, with the major fatality events annotated on the graph. Figure 2 shows that fatalities have not increased signifi cantly as the number of employees in the industry has escalated sharply.

Coal mines

It is pleasing to note there were no fatal accidents at coal mines during 2007-08.

Metalliferous mines and quarries

There was one fatal accident at metalliferous mines and quarries in 2007-08 compared with three in 2006-07.

On 17 January 2008, a 50-year old miner received fatal injuries when he was crushed between the back of a light vehicle and the man basket of an integrated tool carrier whilst working underground at the Cannington lead zinc mine south of Mount Isa in north west Queensland.

11

0

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40

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60

70

80

90

No.

of f

atal

itie

s

Mount Mulligan (77)

Mt Morgan (14)

Kianga (13)Moura No. 4 (12)

Box Flat No. 7 (14)

Moura No. 2 (11)

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Year

0

5000

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40,000

96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

Year

No.

of e

mpl

oyee

s

0

2

4

6

8

10

12N

o. o

f fat

alit

ies

Figure 1 Fatalities All Queensland mines

Figure 2 Employee numbers and fatalities All Queensland mines



Permanent incapacitiesThere were four permanent incapacities in 2007-08: two in underground coal, one on a surface metalliferous operation and one on a quarry. This compares with three permanent incapacities in 2006-07. It is possible that these fi gures do not accurately refl ect the true number of personnel leaving the industry through permanent incapacity. It is also clear that these fi gures do not refl ect permanent incapacities such as hearing loss. The workers’ compensation statistics data sourced from the Queensland Offi ce of Economic and Statistical Research indicate that there were 49 successful hearing loss claims for 2007-08 in Queensland mining. It appears that there is some misunderstanding in the industry in relation to the recording and reporting of permanent incapacity.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some workers retire from, or leave, the industry due to injury or illness but they are not captured in the statistical data as a permanent incapacity. Some of them may be recorded as a disabling injury or they may have received a redundancy or retrenchment payment rather than workers’ compensation. The entry and processing of data is under review to ensure the permanent incapacity fi gures more accurately refl ect the cases in the industry.

A review of the training provided to mine and departmental personnel with respect to reporting of injuries and incidents is under way and the mines’ inspectors are reviewing the reporting and recording of injury and illness statistics routinely as part of their mine audits and inspections.

The permanent incapacities reported for 2007-08 were:

An employee was walking through a cut out to allow an Eimco (a diesel powered equipment/man transport vehicle) to pass. The machine changed direction suddenly and came into contact with the employee. The employee’s right foot was crushed under the weight of the Eimco. The injury resulted in amputation of the right leg below the knee.

An employee’s little fi nger was trapped while placing cog timber into a gap to raise a machine part. The machine part dropped onto the cog causing severe injury to the fi nger resulting in loss of the right hand little fi nger at the base of the nail.

A fi tter was replacing the adaptor on a shovel bucket when it slipped and pinched his fi nger against the old adaptor. The injury resulted in the fi tter’s left ring fi nger being amputated at the fi rst knuckle.

A quarry supervisor was supervising a crane lift of a crusher mantle when the single lug on the mantle broke, allowing the mantle to fall on his foot, resulting in amputation of his toes.

13

Total recordable injuriesThere has been much criticism of using lost time injuries as the main industry performance measure with respect to health and safety. The criticism centres on the fact that the number of injuries is not as critical as the nature of the injury, and it is believed that this parameter is manipulated by having injured or ill workers prematurely return to work and be placed on alternative or light duties so they do not appear in the statistics as a lost time injury.

Total recordable injuries (TRI) have been reported for the fi rst time in this year’s report. TRI is the sum of fatalities, lost time injuries, disabling injuries and medical treatment injuries. Medical treatment injuries are only reported to the Department of Mines and Energy for coal mines and not for metalliferous mines. For this reason TRI is only reported for coal mines. It is therefore not possible to compare the two sectors using this parameter.

As an alternative to TRI the sum of fatalities, lost time injuries and disabling injuries has been reported for all sectors. In addition severity and duration parameters have been calculated. These are indicators of the nature of the injury or illness.

These performance measures provide a more comprehensive assessment of injuries sustained in the mining industry than lost time injuries alone, as they take into account all injuries and they indicate the nature of the injury or illness.

Figure 3 shows an increase in the sum of lost time injuries and disabling injuries with increased employee numbers over the past nine years. Such an increase would be expected, particularly given the increasing number of new, inexperienced personnel entering the mining industry. It is, however, pleasing to note that numbers decreased from 2006-07 to 2007-08. It is interesting to note that LTI numbers have steadily decreased over the same nine year period (fi gure 4). This may indicate that injuries are less severe or that mines are more effectively managing rehabilitation of injured miners through assigning alternative duties. It is also possible that, with the past emphasis on LTI, mines were inclined to reduce this number by providing alternative duties and ensuring injured workers had no lost time in whatever way possible.

Figure 3 Employee numbers and lost time + disabling injuries All Queensland mines

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oyee

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No.

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TIs

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Is

1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Year ending 30 June



Signifi cant incidents

Coal mines

There were four major highwall failures, one of which resulted in a haul truck operator receiving multiple serious injuries. The highwall failed in the end wall area where an excavator was loading the haul truck in the pit. It was very fortunate that the excavator driver was not also seriously injured. There were a number of warning signs that the high wall could fail and those were ignored.

During the process of replacing a transmission into a Cat 632 scraper the new transmission was being lifted into place on the scraper. As the transmission was being manoeuvred into position a lifting eye bolt failed causing the transmission to fall on to the worker’s leg fracturing his femur. An incorrectly rated eye bolt had been used for the lift.

Whilst adjusting a nitrogen-charged suspension accumulator the fi tter conducting the work noted the cylinder was overcharged. To relieve the pressure the fi tter adjusted the screw valve. As he did, the cap fl ew off the end of the valve striking the fi tter between the nose and safety glasses.

Following welding on a coal load out bin two persons were observing the operation of the shutter doors. As they were monitoring the operation, burning coal fell from the bin and this ignited a build up of fi ne coal dust under the bin creating a fl are up which engulfed the two observers resulting in burns to both persons. The bins had not been effectively cleaned out prior to welding and the slag from welding above caused the coal in the lower section of the bin to ignite.

A contract employee received facial injuries and chemical burns to his eyes as a result of a release of pressure in a hydraulic line containing a dilute phenyl-based product. The contractor failed to observe the work procedures on disconnecting hoses in that he failed to relieve the pressure fi rst.

Figure 4 Employee numbers and lost time injuries All Queensland mines

No.

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oyee

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No.

of L

TI's

0

5000

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96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

Year ending 30 June

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1000

15

Whilst pulling a Bretby (a long heavy duty plastic cable handling and protection system used in longwall mining) with a wire rope the rope broke and the end swung violently striking a mine worker in various parts of the body.

A mine worker was drilling a hole into the rib on the off driver’s side of the continuous miner. He had his left hand on the drill steel as it commenced rotation. The steel kicked upwards and a steel barb caught the operator’s glove wrapping his glove hand around the steel. Serious injuries were sustained to the hand with a partial de-gloving (of skin).

Throughout the year there have been a number of dozer and truck rollovers, fortunately with no serious injuries occurring. In one instance a dozer was driven backwards off a highwall. The dozer stopped in a vertical position in a pile of loose coal and did not end up on its cab. In a truck incident a haul truck was reversed off an 18 metre high ROM (run of mine – area where coal is fed into the coal handling and preparation plant) and came to rest on its roof.

A mine worker was lucky to escape serious injury or death at a surface mine when he raised himself in a cherry picker into 11kV overhead high tension lines.

There were a number of incidents where persons were in a “No Go” zone. The most serious being when a mine worker had gone to the off driver’s side of the continuous miner to obtain materials and had not informed the driver. The worker had placed his leg between the miner and the rib. The miner driver moved the machine and it crushed the worker’s leg.

Metalliferous mines and quarries

A fork lift truck operator received several serious fractures to his leg when the forklift overturned when used on a rough inclined service road.

An explosives worker received a fractured skull when he fell 13 metres from a quarry bench during shot loading operations.

A quarry supervisor was supervising a crane lift of a crusher mantle when the single lug on the mantle broke allowing the mantle to fall on his foot, resulting in amputation of his toes.

When a blast furnace was returned to service following replacement of bricks, a build up of pressure inside the furnace caused a release of molten metal and hot air through the tap hole. An operator received extensive burns.

An excavator operator at an open cut mine received injuries when a misfi re in the broken ground he was digging detonated. A 20 kg rock was projected through the excavator window.

In an open cut mine being worked above old underground excavations, a drill rig fell into a hole caused by collapse of material in the underground workings.

During construction work at a processing plant, a worker used a boom lift to raise himself up to view a lift being carried out at the plant. He raised himself into an 11,000 bolt power line. Fortunately he received only slight burns.

There were numerous incidents of uncontrolled vehicle movements both on surface and underground. Many of these were single vehicle incidents on wet roads. Vehicle collisions occurred frequently between light vehicles and heavy earthmoving equipment.



Departmental initiatives

Earthmover tyre and rim safety – TYREgate launch

At Century Mine on 9 February 2004, a worker was fatally injured whilst working on the dual rear wheels of a Komatsu 630E haul truck. He was struck by the outer wheel rim and tyre when the inner tyre defl ated explosively. On 19 May 2006 the State Coroner of Queensland released the fi ndings of the inquest into the death.

The Coroner recommended that the Mines Inspectorate:

investigate how meaningful supervision can be delivered to a heterogeneous workforce of skilled autonomous workers engaged on a disparate site

publish their fi ndings and practical examples applicable to various mining activities

work with Simtars and industry participants to continue with the revision of AS4457

give special attention to tyre handling, lock ring retention and rim maintenance.

4457.2-2008 Earth-moving machinery – Off-the-road wheels, rims and tyres – Maintenance and repair – Tyres.

On 19 August 2008 TYREgate was released. TYREgate is a “Tyres and Rims Risk Management Decision Support Tool”. It allows the user to analyse a large and diverse range of tyre and rim related incidents and accidents, in ‘real time’.

TYREgate was funded by the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) and was a a joint project between the Department of Mines and Energy, the University of QLD – Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC) and Klinge & Co.

www.mirmgate.com/tyregate/index.php

A Safety Bulletin in relation to this issue was released on 25 June 2008.

Activities on narrow benches at mines and quarries

In the past few years, a fatality and several high potential incidents have involved persons driving or falling over the edge of excavations at mines and quarries. These incidents involved a variety of equipment performing different tasks at different locations. All were potentially fatal.

The fatal accident occurred several years ago at a small open-cut copper mine in north Queensland when an Air Trac drill rig toppled over the edge of a narrow bench and came to rest approximately 20 metres below. The driller was killed. The accident investigation concluded at least seven simultaneous defences failed and contributed to the accident.

These failures related to:

mine design

hierarchy of risk controls

Diagram courtesy of USA Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

The Department has prepared a Guidance Note – Effective Safety and Health Supervision – which will be made available to the industry in early 2009.

The revised version of AS4457 was released in 2007 and 2008: AS4457.1-2007 Earth-moving machinery – Off-the-road wheels, rims and tyres – Maintenance and repair – Wheel assemblies and rim assemblies; and AS

17

housekeeping

stability of equipment

operator experience

supervision

training.

A Safety Bulletin in relation to this issue was released on 2 June 2008.

Proximity detection systems

Since 2007 in Queensland, two fatalities have occurred in mines in close proximity to mobile mining equipment. An underground coal miner was fatally crushed by a shuttlecar in 2007 while in 2008 a miner was crushed between two vehicles at an underground metalliferous mine.

The hazards of working near mobile mining equipment are often underestimated, with incidences involving crushed light vehicles, passengers or bystanders still occurring too frequently.

Proximity detection technology, now a standard safety feature in most passenger cars to assist with parking and prevent driveway accidents, could be used in the mining industry to minimise incidents relating to vehicle proximity.

The visibility from a heavy vehicle cabin is very limited and thus these incidents are relatively common. The mining industry needs to collaborate with equipment designers and manufacturers, to apply this technology to increasing safety in the proximity of mobile mining equipment.

To raise awareness within the industry, a briefi ng was held in April 2008 to outline the general issues surrounding proximity detection systems. This provided delegates with data and information on four proximity detection systems currently available in the Australian marketplace.

Some companies are already trialling a system or consulting with manufacturers to scope and design proximity detection and warning systems. It is hoped that many more sites will actively adopt the technology.

The information presented at the briefi ng sessions is available at the Department of Mines and Energy website www.dme.qld.gov.au in the mines safety pages.

The fi eld of limited vision for a dump truck is illustrated by the darkened areas. Diagram courtesy of the Mining Industry Skills Centre.



Small mines initiative

A 2007-08 review of Queensland’s metalliferous mine fatalities over the previous 10 year period concluded amongst other things, that there is a small decreasing trend in the number of fatalities occurring at large mines while a simultaneous signifi cant increasing trend in fatalities was occurring in small mines and quarries. Australian minerals industry fatalities for this period indicate that like Queensland, recent fatalities have occurred more frequently in smaller mines, particularly extractive industries across the Australian minerals industry.

The cornerstone of Queensland’s safety and health legislation is risk management and the development and implementation of a Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) to effectively manage safety and health at mines. Currently, there is no obligation for mines employing 10 or less persons to have such a system unless by specifi c regulation.

Planned amendments to mining and quarrying legislation will require mines employing 10 personnel or less to have a SHMS in place by 2010. Opal and gemstone mines will be excluded from this requirement.

This legislative change is expected to have a signifi cant impact in the quarrying industry, the sector in which many of the small mines operate. To assist mines employing 10 persons or less to meet their obligations by July 2010 the Mines Inspectorate, in conjunction the Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA), will be conducting seminars across the State.

Guidance Note – QGN12 Radiation protection from naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) during exploration – released April 2008

This Guidance Note will assist persons to meet their obligations under the Queensland Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999, to protect the safety and health of mine workers and those affected as a result of exploration. This specifi cally relates to radiation protection and radioactive waste management on exploration sites.

Guidance note – QGN13 Safe Work near Drawpoints in Underground Metalliferous Mines – released March 2008

This Guidance Note for Safe Work near Drawpoints in Underground Metalliferous Mines will assist mine operators identify the hazards and possible controls associated with working in the vicinity of such openings.

This Guidance Note was developed after a recommendation from a Coronial Inquiry into the death of a mine worker who was struck by a rock defl ecting out of a stope. It also includes information from a subsequent workshop facilitated by the Department of Mines and Energy Mines Inspectorate in October 2005.

While this Guidance Note deals largely with hazards from falling rocks, hazards from other falling debris should also be considered when establishing potential safe working controls.

19

Legislative changesOn 16 October 2007 the Queensland Parliament amended the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999. The amendments came into effect from 14 December 2007. The new amendments require that all deaths at mines, not just those resulting from accidents, be reported to the Mines’ Inspectorate. This change was brought about in response to a recommendation made in the Queensland Mines Inspectorate Review, 2 March 2005, conducted by ACIL Tasman, New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd and Shaw Idea Pty Ltd. The recommendation stated “Non-traumatic fatalities and serious incidents should be investigated rigorously”, and was in response to the review fi nding that deaths that were suspected to be due to natural causes, such as heart attack, were not routinely investigated thoroughly. Deaths that are found to be due to natural causes do not form part of the annual statistics. The new amendments also include increased penalties to be in line with those in the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, the appointment of inspectors with limited powers, and the appointment of authorised offi cers.

On 14 May 2008, the Clean Energy Act 2008 was passed by the Queensland Parliament. That Act amended the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 and the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and these amendments came into effect on June 2008.

Issues covered in the amendments were

clarifi cation of the powers of inspectors, inspection offi cers and authorised offi cers relating to investigations

specifi cation of the information to be supplied as soon as possible about an accident, incident or death by the site senior executive to an inspector, industry safety and health representative or district workers representative

specifi cation of information that an inspector, inspection offi cer or authorised offi cer may require a person to provide about an accident, incident or death.

The amendments to the functions and powers of inspectors, inspection offi cers and authorised offi cers make it clear that they may investigate any matter affecting the successful management of risk to persons.

Amendments to sections of the Acts relating to notifi cation of accidents, incidents and deaths were introduced following a death at a Queensland mine when the investigating offi cers had diffi culty in fi nding out the accurate location of the accident. As a result of this diffi culty, it was not until 28 hours after the accident that the scene could be inspected. The amendments require site senior executives to provide relevant information (known as primary information) to Mines Inspectorate offi cers, industry safety and health representatives and district workers representatives. Similar primary information must also be supplied by any person with the information if requested to do so by a Mines Inspectorate Offi cer. The primary evidence is not admissible in evidence against the person providing the evidence in any criminal proceeding.



ProsecutionsOn 21 December 2007, prosecutions were heard in the Moranbah Industrial Magistrates Court in relation to an accident at the Broadmeadow underground coal mine in February 2006. In the accident, a coal mine worker received extensive and life threatening burns when the water truck he was driving ran down a surface access ramp, overturned and burst into fl ames. Investigations by the Mines Inspectorate revealed faults and poor maintenance on the truck brakes. Prosecutions were commenced against the coal mine operator, the site senior executive, a contracting company and a mechanic employed by the contractor for failure to meet their obligations under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999.

The coal mine operator, BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd (BMA) pleaded guilty to the offences and was fi ned $35,000 with costs of over $9300. The complaint against the site senior executive was dismissed.

The charges against the contractors were heard in the Mackay Industrial Magistrates Court on 29 February 2008. The contracting company, CQE Hire Pty Ltd, and a mechanic employed by the contractor both pleaded guilty to the offences. CQE Hire Pty Ltd was fi ned $44,000 with $18,000 investigation costs. The mechanic was fi ned $4400.

Following an accident at the Goonyella Riverside open cut coal mine in July 2004, prosecutions were commenced against BMA and the site senior executive of the coal mine for failure to meet their obligations under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999. In the accident, two workers were seriously injured by a large quantity of falling mud while trying to clear a build-up of mud from under the body of a large excavator.

In an out of court settlement, BMA paid $300,000 to the Department of Mines and Energy towards coal mine safety research in Queensland and $236,000 investigation and court costs. The complaints against BMA and the site senior executive were dismissed.

On 22 May 2008, the site senior executive and a worker of a far north Queensland quarry pleaded guilty to breaches of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 in the Mareeba Industrial Magistrates Court. The charges related to a fatal accident at the Wongabel quarry on 27 July 2006 in which Mr John Potter was run over by a Caterpillar loader.

The site senior executive was fi ned $3000 with $4000 costs. The worker was fi ned $1000.

Coroners’ inquests into mine fatalitiesIn May 2008, the coroner’s inquest into the death of Mr Barry Cusack at the Mount Norma open-cut copper mine on 24 November 2004 was held in Cloncurry and Mount Isa. The fi ndings and recommendations of the inquest were unavailable as at 30 June 2008. Mr Cusack died when he and his Air Trac drill rig fell over the edge of a bench. The inquest was delayed because of prosecutions of the mine operator and the site senior executive and the unavailability of coroners in north west Queensland.

In June 2008, a Coroner’s Inquest hearing began in the Mackay Magistrates Court into the fatal accident to Mr Jason Blee, who died on 9 April 2007 when crushed between a shuttle car and the rib underground at the Anglo Coal’s Moranbah North coal mine. Findings and recommendations from the inquest are expected in fi nancial year 2008-09.

As at 30 June 2008, Coroner’s Inquests hearings had yet to start in relation to fatal accidents to Mr John Potter at Wongabel quarry on 27 July 2006; Mr Noel Lovell at the Watershed Exploration Project on 27 October 2006; and Mr Daniel Hensler at Cannington on 15 December 2006, because of prosecutions in relation to those deaths.

21

Complaints about safety and health at minesQueensland mine safety legislation, under section 254 of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 and section 275 of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999, allows mine workers or their representatives to make confi dential complaints about safety and health matters to the Mines Inspectorate.

Seventy complaints were received by the Mines Inspectorate during the 2007-08 reporting period, of which 60 were complaints from mine workers or their representatives. The 70 complaints are divided into the types shown in fi gure 5. ‘Mine Worker Safety’ complaints covered such issues as alleged incorrect use of out of service tags on equipment, lack of maintenance on equipment, inadequate bunding, inadequate training and amenities, poor electrical safety, vehicle roadworthiness and lack of exploration safety. The majority of complaints were received by phone, however three were via letter, one was referred from another department, and two were referred through union representatives. All 70 complaints have been fully completed and closed out as of 25 November 2008.

Mineworker safety 40

Mineworker health 6

Hazardous substances 1

Nuisance – dust 2

Nuisance – noise 4

Vibration 5

Undermining 1

Public safety 7

Public health 2

Other 2

Figure 5 Complaint types and numbers received in 2007-08



High potential incidentsA high potential incident (HPI) is defi ned in mining legislation as an event or series of events that causes, or has the potential to cause, a signifi cant adverse effect on the safety or health of a person. The reporting of HPIs enables industry to implement proactive strategies for managing the identifi ed risks before someone is injured. This is why HPIs have been called ‘free lessons’.

The reporting of HPIs at mines and quarries is mandated by legislation. The ramifi cations of these incidents are often costly, both in human and commercial terms. It is therefore important that this data is gathered and not lost. The publication of this collective data benefi ts industry by raising awareness of repeat incidents at mines so that corrective action can be taken. An effective incident reporting system is also indicative of a mature industry that treats safety seriously.

Periodic summaries of reported HPIs – in the form of general incident descriptions and quarterly year-to-date graphs – are circulated to mines via email. Also, graphical breakdowns and statistics on HPIs by each mining sector are available on the department’s web site at www.dme.qld.gov.au

The number of HPIs has steadily increased as the number of personnel in the industry has increased – see fi gure 6. This is to be expected and shows that the industry is continuing to be vigilant in identifying incidents that may lead to more serious events.

Figure 7 shows the number of each type of high potential incident (HPI). The top fi ve HPIs in terms of number of reported incidents are fi re, electrical, loss of control/unplanned movement, mobile plant, and vehicle.

Figure 6 Employee numbers and HPIFR

0

5000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

Empl

oym

ent

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

HPI

FR

Employment – all sectors HPIFR (Trendline)

23

Figure 7 High potential incidents in the Queensland industry 2007-08

Incident type in ascending order 2007-08 results

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Fire

Electrical

Loss of control/unplanned movement

Mobile plant

Vehicle

Other

Falls or slips of ground

Falling or flying material

Use of explosives

Equipment/structural failure

Person falling

Explosion

Physical work environment

Hydraulics/compressed air

Winding, haulageor conveyor

Physiological/psychological

Hot surface/material

Chemical (use of,or exposure to)

Gas ignition

Inrush/inundation

Lightning strike

Noxious/asphyxiating gas

Spontaneouscombustion

Gas outbursts

BiologicalH

igh

pote

ntia

l inc

iden

t typ

e

Number of HPIs

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08



A number of Safety Alerts, Safety Bulletins and Safety Incident Reports have been issued in relation to these hazards. Further information on these and other HPIs are available at Safety Information, Alerts and Bulletins at www.dme.qld.gov.au/mines/safety_information_bulletins.cfm

Fire:

Safety Alert 207 – Recent Electrical Equipment Failures and Workmanship Issues www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert207.pdf

Safety Alert 189 – Failures of Flameproof Plug and Receptacle www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert189.pdf

Safety Bulletin 86 – Fires on Mine Sites www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_bulletin86.pdf

Safety Bulletin 83 – Diesel Engine – Turbocharger Fires www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_bulletin83a.pdf

Electrical:

Safety Alert 207 – Recent Electrical Equipment Failures and Workmanship Issues www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert207.pdf

Safety Alert 200 – Management of Contractors and Contractors’ Obligations www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert200.pdf

Queensland Mining Electrical Incident Summary www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/inspectorate_pdf/mineselectrical_incidentupdate_april07b.pdf

Loss of control/unplanned movement:

Safety Alert 202 – Capsized Pump Pontoon www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert202.pdf

Safety Alert 194 – Well Done! Collision Saved by Centre Rill on Haul Road www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert194.pdf

Signifi cant Incident Report 70 – Driller’s Feet Crushed in Drill Foot Clamps www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/incident_report70.pdf

Signifi cant Incident Report 71 – Serious Injury – Hydraulic Torque Wrench www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/incident_report71.pdf

Mobile plant:

Safety Alert 210 – Dozer Falls from Bench www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert210.pdf

Safety Alert 206 –Crushed Between Mobile Equipment www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert206.pdf

Vehicle:

Safety Alert 205 – Heavy and Light Vehicle Interaction www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert205.pdf

Safety Alert 187 – Vehicle/Mobile plant support stands www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert187.pdf

Safety Alert 192 – Dump truck brake failure and rollover at escape ramp www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_fi les/Mines_Teri/safety_alert192.pdf

The reporting of HPIs is generally viewed as a positive performance indicator as it can be viewed as a measure of proactive behaviour at a mine site. In general the proportion of mines reporting no HPIs is decreasing and it is hoped that this trend will continue. The quarrying sector in particular is showing signifi cant improvement.

In 2007-08, 14.0 per cent of surface coal mines reported no HPIs, (fi gure 8) compared with 15.4 per cent in 2006-07. In 2007-08, 14.3 per cent of all underground coal mines reported no HPIs, compared with 6.7 per cent in 2006-07. In 2007-08, 39.5 per cent of all surface metalliferous operations reported no HPIs (fi gure 10), the same as in 2006-07. In 2007-08, 43.8 per cent of major underground metalliferous mines reported no HPIs (fi gure 11), compared with 41.2 per cent in 2006-07. In 2007-08, 54.9 per cent of quarries reported no HPIs (fi gure 12) compared with 66.0 per cent in 2006-07.

25

Figure 8 Surface coal mines – number of high potential incidents reported per mine 2007-08

Figure 9 Underground coal mines – number of high potential incidents reported per mine 2007-08

10 or more 46.4%

6-9 9.3%

3-516.3%

1-2 14.0%

0 14.0%

10 or more 28.6%

6-9 42.9%

3-57.1%

1-2 7.1%

0 14.3%



Figure 10 Surface metalliferous mines – number of high potential incidents reported per operation 2007-08

Figure 11 Underground metalliferous mines – number of high potential incidents reported per mine 2007-08

10 or more 16.3%

6-94.7%

3-5 9.3%

1-230.2%

0 39.5%

10 or more 25%

6-9 12.5%

3-5 6.2%

1-2 12.5%

0 43.8%

27

Figure 12 Quarries – number of high potential incidents reported per mine 2007-08

4 2.0%

5 or more 3.9%

3 9.8%

2 9.8%

1 19.6%

0 54.9%

Performance indicatorsPerformance data for the past fi ve fi nancial years are shown in tables 2 and 3. Data for mines within the various sectors are shown individually in section 4.

Long-term trends in the mining sector are shown as lost time injury frequency rates (fi gure 13) and lost time injury severity rates (fi gure 14). A new addition this year is the inclusion of lost time injury plus disabling frequency rate (fi gure 15) and severity rate (fi gure 16). Lost time injury plus disabling duration rate has also been provided (fi gure 17). Furthermore, the number of lost time injuries and disabling injuries have been plotted against employment numbers for the coal sector (fi gure 18) and for the metalliferous and quarrying sectors (fi gure 19).



Table 2 Historical data 2003-04 to 2007-08

Number of lost time injuries 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 116 90 106 127 146

Coal - underground 91 87 101 112 77

Coal subtotal 207 177 207 239 223

Metalliferous - surface 65 53 44 51 40

Metalliferous - underground 51 31 36 38 37

Metalliferous subtotal 116 84 80 89 77

Quarries 20 17 21 23 24

All operations 343 278 308 351 324

Lost time injuries days 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 9947 5658 5513 7371 5776


Coal subtotal 15,425 10,572 12,204 12,325 8064




Quarries 168 586 165 456 241

All operations 20,767 16,615 14,878 16,386 10,776

Total hours worked (millions) 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 24.3 28.6 37.8 40.3 40.7

Coal - underground 6.5 7.3 8.4 8.9 9.6

Coal subtotal 30.9 35.9 46.2 49.2 50.3

Metalliferous - surface 14.5 14.2 15.3 18.6 18.3

Metalliferous - underground 7.4 8.0 9.3 10.0 10.3

Metalliferous subtotal 21.9 22.2 24.6 28.6 28.6

Quarries 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.5 4.7

All operations 55.4 60.8 73.5 80.3 83.6

Number of employees at 30 June 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 11,559 13,207 17,081 16,456 19,606


Coal subtotal 15,271 16,786 21,400 20,539 23,935



Metalliferous subtotal 7980 9360 10,504 11,281 12,854

Quarries 1201 1234 1228 1272 1503

All operations 24,452 27,380 33,132 33,092 38,292

29

Table 2 (continued) Historical data 2003-04 to 2007-08

Number of medical treatments 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 350 254 384 577 608


Coal total 790 492 758 1,132 1,155

Number of disabling injuries 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 126 101 169 221 145


Coal subtotal 320 255 405 420 299




Quarries 1 2 5 7 3

All operations 547 384 515 557 413

Number of disabling injuries days 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 2794 3295 5185 11,142 4233


Coal subtotal 7273 7308 10,374 18,324 7377




Quarries 15 110 134 35 78

All operations 9365 11,807 12,856 21,488 9557

Number of reported high potential incidents 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 232 290 451 616 606


Coal subtotal 295 402 574 831 712




Quarries 27 39 32 35 52

All operations 536 715 839 1128 1027

Total recordable injuries coal (LTI + DI + MTI) 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 592 445 659 925 899


Coal subtotal 1317 924 1370 1791 1677



Table 2 (continued) Historical data 2003-04 to 2007-08

Number of lost time + disabling injuries 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 242 191 275 348 291


Coal subtotal 527 432 612 659 522




Quarries 21 19 26 30 27

All operations 890 662 823 908 737

Number of permanent incapacity injuries 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 1 2 1 0 0


Coal subtotal 1 3 2 1 2




Quarries 1 0 1 2 1

All operations 4 3 4 3 4

Number of fatalities 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 0 0 2 0 0


Coal subtotal 0 0 2 1 0




Quarries 0 1 0 1 0

Exploration 0 0 0 1 0

All operations 1 4 2 4 1

31

Table 3 Performance indicators 2003-04 to 2007-08

Lost time injuries frequency rate 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 4.8 3.1 2.8 3.1 3.6


Coal subtotal 6.7 4.9 4.5 4.9 4.4




Quarries 7.4 6.3 7.8 9.3 5.1

All operations 6.2 4.6 4.2 4.4 3.9

Lost time injuries severity rate 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 409 198 146 183 142


Coal subtotal 500 294 264 250 160




Quarries 63 218 61 185 51

All operations 375 273 202 204 129

Lost time injuries duration rate 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 85.8 62.9 52.0 58.0 39.6


Coal subtotal 74.5 59.7 59.0 51.6 36.2




Quarries 8.4 34.5 7.9 19.8 10.0

All operations 60.5 59.8 48.3 46.7 33.3

Lost time injuries per million tonnes 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.8


All coal mines 1.0 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.9



Table 3 (continued) Performance indicators 2003-04 to 2007-08

Disabling injuries frequency rate (disabling injuries/million hours worked)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 5.2 3.5 4.5 5.5 3.6


Coal subtotal 10.4 7.1 8.8 8.5 5.9




Quarries 0.4 0.7 1.9 2.8 0.6

All operations 9.9 6.3 7.0 6.9 4.9

Permanent incapacity frequency rate (Permanent incapacities/million hours worked)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 0.04 0.07 0.03 0.00 0.00


Coal subtotal 0.03 0.08 0.04 0.02 0.04




Quarries 0.37 0.00 0.37 0.81 0.21

All operations 0.07 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.05

Fatal injuries frequency rate (fatalities/million hours worked)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00


Coal subtotal 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.02 0.00




Quarries 0.00 0.37 0.00 0.41 0.00

All operations 0.02 0.07 0.03 0.05 0.01

33

Table 3 (continued) Performance indicators 2003-04 to 2007-08

Lost time + disabling injuries frequency rate (LTI + DI/million hours worked)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 10.0 6.7 7.3 8.6 7.1


Coal subtotal 17.1 12.0 13.2 13.4 10.4




Quarries 7.8 7.1 9.6 12.2 5.7

All operations 16.1 10.9 11.2 11.3 8.8

Total recordable injuries frequency rate (LTI + DI + MTI/million hours worked)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 24.4 15.6 17.4 22.9 22.1


Coal total 42.7 25.7 29.7 36.4 33.3

Lost time + disabling injuries duration rate (days lost/injuries)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 52.6 46.9 38.9 53.2 34.4


Coal subtotal 43.1 41.4 36.9 46.5 29.6




Quarries 8.7 36.6 11.5 16.4 11.8

All operations 33.9 42.9 33.7 41.7 27.6

Lost time + disabling injuries severity rate (days lost/million hours worked)

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Coal - surface 524 313 283 459 246


Coal subtotal 736 498 489 623 307




Quarries 68 259 111 199 68

All operations 544 467 377 472 241



Figure 13 Lost time injuries frequency rate – fi ve-year period

Figure 14 Lost time injuries severity rate – fi ve-year period

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

Inju

ries

per

mill

ion

hour

s

Coal - open-cut Metalliferous - surface Coal - underground Metalliferous - underground All operations

Quarries

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

Day

s lo

st p

er m

illio

n ho

urs

wor

ked


Quarries

35

Figure 15 Lost time injuries + disabling injuries frequency rate – fi ve-year period

Figure 16 Lost time injuries + disabling injuries severity rate – fi ve-year period

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

Inju

ries

per

mill

ion

hour

s


Quarries

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

Day

s lo

st p

er m

illio

n ho

urs

wor

ked


Quarries



Figure 17 Lost time + disabling injuries duration rate – fi ve-year period

Figure 18 Queensland coal mining – lost time + disabling injuries versus employment numbers

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

2003–04 2004–05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

LTI +

TRI

(col

umn)

0

5000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

Num

ber o

f em

ploy

ees

(lin

e)

Coal LTIs Coal DIs Number of employees

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

Ave

rage

day

s lo

st fo

r per

LTI

/DI


Quarries

37

Figure 19 Queensland metalliferous mines and quarries – lost time + disabling injuries versus

employment numbers

0

50

100

150

200

250

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Financial year

LTI +

DI (

colu

mn)

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10,000

12,000

14,000

Num

ber o

f em

ploy

ees

(lin

e)

Metalliferous and quarries LTIs Metalliferous and quarries DIs Number of employees



Injury classifi cation dataFigures 20 to 24 show the distribution of injuries by body parts injured; nature of injury; mechanism of injury; breakdown agency; and classifi cation of injuries. Back and hand injuries account for just less than 40 per cent of injuries, sprains and strains account for 40 per cent, 14 per cent are falls/slips/trips, and earth-moving equipment accounts for 14 per cent of the injuries in terms of the breakdown agency or the equipment most closely associated with the incident. They also show similar patterns from sector to sector, suggesting that solutions identifi ed in one sector may be transferable to the others.

Figure 20 Body parts injured

Categories in ascending order of 2007-08 results

The incidence of injury and illness by gender is detailed in table 4. This table indicates that female workers are less prone to injury however the imbalance may be simply a refl ection of the nature of the work being performed. In addition there is only one year’s data available to date and further analysis is required.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Combined others

Hand/finger/thumb

Back - upper/lower

Ankle

Knee

Shoulder

Eye

Neck

Foot/toe

Lower leg

%

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

39

Figure 21 Nature of injury


Figure 22 Mechanism of injury


0 10 20 30 40

Combined others

Fall/slip/trip onthe same level

Muscular stress:lift/lower/carry

Being hit bymoving object

Trapped between stationaryand moving object

Fall/slip/tripfrom a height

Being hit byfalling object

Unspecifiedmechanisms of injury

Muscular stress: noobject being handled

%

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

0 10 20 30 40 50

Sprain/strain

Fracture (not of vertebral column)

Contusion with intact skin surface/crush

Other and unspecifiedinjury

Open wound

Foreign body(not superficial skin injury)

Traumatic amputation

Superficial injury

Burn

Multiple injuries

Poisoning/toxic effect

%

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08



Figure 23 Breakdown agency


Figure 24 Classifi cation of injuries


0 10 20

Earth-moving equipment

Other non-powered equipment/objects

Other mobile equipment

Non-powered tools

Haul trucks

Task/environment factors (see causal factors)

Powered tools and appliances

Coal and ore cutting equipment

Drills

%

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

0 10 20 30 40 50

Manual handling ofequipment/material

Moving on foot

Other

Equipment access

Travelling in equipment/vehicle

Operation of non–powered hand tools

Unknown/unspecified

Operation of portablepowered tools

Welding

%

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

41

Table 4 Distribution of injuries by gender

Mine type Employees Contractors Employees and contractors

Male Female Male Female Male Female

Coal - surface

Workforce 90% 10% 86% 14% 88% 12%

Lost time injuries 91% 9% 93% 7% 92% 8%

Disabling injuries * * * * 90% 10%

Coal - underground

Workforce 95% 5% 94% 6% 96% 4%



Metalliferous - surface

Workforce 81% 19% 89% 11% 84% 16%


Disabling injuries * * * * * *

Metalliferous - underground

Workforce 90% 10% 94% 6% 91% 9%


Disabling injuries * * * * * *

Quarries

Workforce 91% 9% 98% 2% 93% 7%



Total

Workforce 89% 11% 89% 11% 89% 11%


* Data not available



Positive performance indicatorsPositive performance indicators (PPI) are measures of actions or initiatives that assist in preventing workplace injury and disease. A list of PPI was included in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 census and the data is presented here. The PPI covered areas of risk management, audits and reviews, and high potential incidents and were designed to cover safety issues concerning both employees and contractors.

The data is presented in graphs as follows:

Figure 25: Per cent of sites in each sector with a risk register

Figure 26: Per cent of site in each sector using a formal system to identify hazards

Figure 27: Per cent of sites in each sector that have undertaken formal risk assessments within the last 12 months and the number of risk assessments performed

Figure 25 Per cent of sites in each sector with a register of key hazards on site

Figure 26 Per cent of sites in each sector where key hazards on site are identifi ed using a formal system

Figure 28: Number of workers routinely involved in conducting formal risk assessments

Figure 29: Number of audits (internal and external) conducted within the last 12 months

Figure 30: Per cent of sites in each sector with no outstanding actions that came out of audits

Figure 31: Number of workers involved in internal audits as auditors in the last 12 months

Figure 32: Per cent of sites in each sector with a formal system for capturing and reporting high potential incidents

Figure 33: Number of improvement actions resulting from investigations into high potential incidents

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metal

Coal

Quarry

Sec

tor

% sites with register

2006-07 2007-08

200 40 60 80 100

% sites with formal system

Metal

Quarry

Coal

Sec

tor

2006-07 2007-08

43

Figure 27 Per cent of sites in each sector that have undertaken formal risk assessments within the last

12 months and the number of risk assessments performed

0 20 40 60 80 100

0

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-100

>100

No.

of r

isk

asse

ssm

ents

% sites undertaking risk assessments

Coal 2007-08 Metal 2007-08 Quarry 2007-08Metal 2006-07 Quarry 2006-07Coal 2006-07

Figure 28 Number of workers and contractors routinely involved in conducting formal risk assessments

1-5

6-10

11-15

>15

No.

of p

eopl

e in

volv

ed

0 20 40 60 80 100

% of sites




Figure 29 Number of audits (internal and external) conducted in last 12 months

Figure 30 Per cent of sites in each sector with no outstanding improvement actions that came out of audits

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0

1-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

>20

No.

of a

udit

s

% sites undertaken audits

Coal 2007-08Coal 2007-08

Coal 2006-07Coal 2006-07

Metal 2007-08Metal 2007-08

Metal 2006-07Metal 2006-07

Quarry 2007-08Quarry 2007-08

Quarry 2006-07Quarry 2006-07

200 40 60 80 100

% sites with no outstanding actions

Metal

Quarry

Coal

Sec

tor

2006-07 2007-08

45

Figure 31 Number of workers involved in internal audits as auditors in the last 12 months

% o

f sit

e’s

wor

kers

as

audi

tors

0 20 40 60 80 100

0- <1%

1-5%

6-10%

11-15%

>16%

% of sites


Figure 32 Per cent of sites in each sector with a formal reporting system for capturing and reporting

high potential incidents

Figure 33 Number of improvement actions resulting from investigations into HPIs

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metal

Coal

Quarry

Sec

tor

% sites with formal system

2006-07 2007-08

0

Metal

Coal

Quarry

Sec

tor

No. of improvement action

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

2006-07 2007-08



2. Health report

Occupational health covers a wide range of activities including fi tness for duty, managing lost time due to illness and injury, and examining long-term occupational illnesses and their causes.

The general thrust of the mining safety and health legislation is that, under their obligations, employers are required to ensure their workers are not adversely affected by the work environment. Employers are required to have in place safety management systems to manage risks, safeguard workers and prevent injury and ill health caused by their working environment.

While the Department of Mines and Energy coordinates the development and administration of legislation, publishes statistics and consults widely with industry, employers are ultimately responsible for effective occupational health management on their mines and quarries.

The Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 allowed the establishment of the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme (as detailed in the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2001). The scheme requires persons entering the coal mining industry to undergo a health assessment by a nominated medical adviser prior to starting work; the health assessment reports are sent to the department for storage and analysis.

The Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2001 provides for mine-based health surveillance to manage risks at metalliferous mines and quarries. Currently, metalliferous mines and quarries are not required to systematically report this surveillance data to the Department of Mines and Energy.

Departmental initiatives

Health Improvement and Awareness Committee

A review of the Queensland Mines Inspectorate (QMI)conducted in March 2005 by ACIL Tasman, New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd and Shaw Idea Pty Ltd. recommended that the QMI should have access, either internally or externally, to the necessary expertise to deal with organisational, occupational hygiene, ergonomics and other risks.

In implementing this recommendation, the department recognised that a collaborative approach is the most effective means for managing health hazards across the mining industry. An initiative was therefore taken to establish a tri-partite Committee to combine efforts to reduce health risks in mining.

The Queensland Mining Health Improvement and Awareness Committee (HIAC) was established to assist industry to anticipate, identify, evaluate and control health hazards in the mining environment.

Health and safety management efforts in mining have traditionally focused on the safety aspects. This is often because the outcomes of safety hazards are usually immediate and the consequences are visually graphic (e.g. loss of limb, chemical burn). In most cases these hazards are well understood and easily recognised (for example, an unguarded drive motor on a conveyor, unsupported roof in a development heading or an unprotected opening on a platform).

In contrast, the outcomes of health hazards may be progressive and not realised until it is too late. The effects are not often visible and in some cases the hazard is not clearly understood and diffi cult to measure. The same vigour and effort that has always been dedicated to the pursuit and management of safety hazards needs to be devoted to managing health hazards in mining. HIAC aims to focus its efforts on health hazards in the mining industry. The committee will provide a forum to monitor emerging health issues and discuss those which are not clearly understood.

HIAC has been established to enable the inspectorate, unions and industry to work in unison to provide a greater emphasis on worker health and the prevention of illness and disease.

47 2. Health report

Coal mine health assessmentsDue to the time lag between employees undertaking health assessments and the entry of data into the department’s health database, statistics from the database are reported from the previous fi nancial year. Note that this presentation of data differs from previous annual reports, where the number of health assessments per calendar year was reported.

Under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme, 10,881 persons had their initial health assessments processed in 2006-07 (table 5).

Table 5 Health assessments

Year

2005-06 2006-07

New industry entrants 11,718 10,881

Periodic follow-up medicals for existing workers

6959 5532

Total 18,677 16,413


3. Workers’ compensation data

The mining industry injury compensation data is sourced from the Queensland Offi ce of Economic and Statistical Research and covers the 2007-08 fi nancial year period. The data includes compensation information provided by Workcover Queensland and the self-insurers. The data in this report has been aggregated for each of the coal, metalliferous and quarry sectors.

The number of claims and associated costs (table 6) for 2007-08 were:

coal mining sector incurred 966 claims costing $6.6 million

metalliferous sector had 603 claims costing $4.5 million

quarry sector had 81 claims costing almost $300,000.

Across all sectors, trauma to muscles and tendons was the most common (20%) and costly injury in total. Hearing loss or deafness was a signifi cant occupational disease with 24 coal miners and 25 metalliferous/quarry miners affected. There was one case of asbestosis from the metalliferous sector which accounted for the highest cost per claim at $464,991. Fracture of the vertebral column without spinal cord lesion was the next highest cost per claim for an occupational disorder – $25,479, followed by trauma to tendon – $22,211.

49 3. Workers compensation data

Table 6 Workers’ compensation data

Injury Coal mining Metalliferous mining

Quarrying All Cost per claim

Asbestosis Payment $ 464,991 464,991 $464,991

No. of claims 1 1

Contusion, bruising and superfi cial crushing Payment $ 215,615 140,435 50,629 406,679 $3476

No. of claims 73 38 6 117

Deafness Payment $ 176,139 157,582 333,721 $6811

No. of claims 24 25 49

Disc displacement, prolapse, degeneration or hernia

Payment $ 117,795 157,491 275,286 $18,352

No. of claims 10 5 15

Fracture of vertebral column without mention of spinal cord lesion

Payment $ 62,010 873 13,553 76,436 $25,479


Hot burn Payment $ 171,671 149,766 1295 322,732 $12,413


Laceration or open wound not involving traumatic amputation

Payment $ 152,436 130,336 13,019 295,791 $2241

No. of claims 75 44 13 132

Other fractures, not elsewhere classifi ed Payment $ 465,135 207,260 70,394 742,789 $10,175


Soft tissue injuries due to trauma or unknown mechanisms with insuffi cient information to code elsewhere

Payment $ 1,267,827 413,698 16,838 1,698,363 $7227

No. of claims 171 51 13 235

Trauma to joints and ligaments, unspecifi ed Payment $ 578,607 317,473 26,460 922,540 $6407


Trauma to muscles and tendons, unspecifi ed Payment $ 1,408,557 1,260,319 36,846 2,705,722 $8199

No. of claims 148 173 9 330

Trauma to tendon Payment $ 89,318 88,371 177,689 $22,211

No. of claims 6 2 8

Traumatic amputation Payment $ 38,766 52,720 91,486 $15,248

No. of claims 2 4 6

Other Payment $ 1,900,359 974,137 70,660 2,945,156 $5764

No. of claims 323 166 22 511

Total Payment $ 6,644,235 4,515,452 299,694 11,459,381 $6945

No. of claims 966 603 81 1650


Figure 34 Workers’ compensation claims – major injury/illness types

Figure 35 Three year comparison of workers’ compensation claims per sector

Number of claims

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Trauma to muscles and tendons, unspecified

Soft tissue injuries due to trauma or

unknown mechanisms

Trauma to joints and ligaments, unspecified

Contusion, bruising and superficial crushing

Deafness

Disc displacement,prolapse, degeneration

or hernia

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

Coal mining Metalliferous mining Quarrying All

Sector

Num

ber o

f cla

ims

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

51 4. Sector analysis

4. Sector analysis

This section of the report details the performance measures for individual mines in each sector.

Changes in total recordable injury frequency rate (coal mines), lost time injury and disabling injury frequency rate (metalliferous mines and quarries), lost time injury and disabling injury severity and duration rates by individual mines or operations between 2005-06 and 2007-08 are included to provide some perspective of movements over a three-year period. These are shown for surface and underground sectors of coal and metalliferous mines, and for quarries in the fi rst three fi gures for each sector. Fatalities are assigned a value of 220 days lost for the purpose of these calculations.

The dominant position of Xstrata Copper and Xstrata Zinc in the metaliferous sector tends to strongly infl uence industry trends. For this reason, Xstrata data is reported separately. This allows smaller mine operators to better identify their performance in the industry.

Surface coal minesThe following section is an analysis of the data for surface coal mines, as shown in tables 1, 2 and 3 (pages 6, 28 and 31 respectively).

Compared with the previous year:

The number of lost time injuries increased 15 per cent from 127 to 146.

The number of disabling injuries decreased from 221 to 145.

The number of medical treatments reported was 608.

The number of high potential incidents decreased from 616 to 606.

The number of total recordable injuries decreased from 925 to 899.

The number of LTI days decreased from 7371 to 5776.

The number of DI days on alternative duties decreased from 11,142 to 4233.

The lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) increased from 3.1 to 3.6.

The total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) decreased from 23 to 22.

The LTI + DI severity rate decreased from 459 to 246.

The LTI + DI duration rate of injuries decreased from 53.2 days to 34.4 days.

During the 2007-08 reporting period:

Approximately 19,606 persons were employed in surface coal mines as at 30 June 2008.

Forty-three surface coal mines were operating.

Safety performance (as measured by TRIFR) improved at 21 mines.

Table 7 and fi gures 36 to 39 show the performance of the various mines in the surface coal sector over the past three years.


Table 7 Surface coal mines injuries statistics

Mine LTI DI MTI HPI TRI LTI days DI days

Baralaba 0 0 2 9 2 0 0

Blackwater 28 21 9 66 58 1024 1309

Blair Athol 1 0 3 0 4 3 0

Boundary Hill/Callide 9 0 72 23 81 743 0

Broadlea 0 0 0 5 0 0 0

Burton 5 0 9 0 14 130 0

Clermont Coal Mine Project * 0 0 2 6 2 0 0

Collinsville 5 1 2 4 8 28 1

Commodore 0 0 2 18 2 0 0

Coppabella 4 13 2 20 19 80 242

Curragh 14 15 28 26 57 330 182

Dawson (Moura) includes mine and coal handling prep plant

3 12 21 46 36 16 458

Eaglefi eld 0 1 0 2 1 0 12

Ensham 2 2 5 4 9 0 9

Foxleigh 2 4 21 15 27 62 175

German Creek 5 7 18 10 30 287 328

Dragline Erection Pad - Lake Lindsay

0 0 4 0 4 0 0

Goonyella-Riverside 1 7 271 55 279 38 288

Gregory 0 6 36 14 42 0 92

Hail Creek 4 3 2 22 9 60 106

Isaac Plains 0 0 7 2 7 0 0

Jeebropilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jellinbah 6 0 7 13 13 203 0

Kogan Creek 0 1 4 1 5 0 10

* In development stage


Mine LTIFR TRIFR LTI + DI severity

rate

LTI + DI duration

rate

TRI incidence

rate

TRI per million tonnes

Baralaba 0 16 0 0 2 6

Blackwater 9 19 778 48 4 4

Blair Athol 1 5 4 3 1 0

Boundary Hill/Callide 0 69 633 83 15 8

Broadlea 0 0 0 0 0 0

Burton 6 16 150 26 3 4

Clermont Coal Mine Project * 0 2 0 0 0

Collinsville 5 8 29 5 2 2

Commodore 0 12 0 0 3 1

Coppabella 5 23 382 19 5 6

Curragh 5 20 181 18 5 5

Dawson (Moura) includes mine and coal handling prep plant

1 11 149 32 2 4

Eaglefi eld 0 6 70 12 0 1

Ensham 1 5 5 2 1 2

Foxleigh 3 47 410 40 10 13

German Creek 2 11 234 51 2 30

Dragline Erection Pad - Lake Lindsay

0 33 0 0 3 4

Goonyella-Riverside 0 82 96 41 16 18

Gregory 0 66 145 15 12 23

Hail Creek 4 8 152 24 2 1

Isaac Plains 0 24 0 0 5 5

Jeebropilly 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jellinbah 10 21 332 34 5 3

Kogan Creek 0 48 95 10 10 2


Table 7 (continued) Surface coal mines injuries statistics




Lake Vermont 0 0 1 0 1 0 0

Meandu 0 1 2 4 3 0 10

Middlemount 0 0 1 5 1 0 0

Millennium 1 0 5 13 6 8 0

Minerva 2 0 1 18 3 239 0

Moorvale 0 4 1 7 5 0 14

New Acland 3 1 5 20 9 8 2

New Oakleigh 1 0 1 5 2 58 0

Newlands 1 2 8 7 11 14 2

Norwich Park 0 6 4 1 10 0 74

Oaky Creek 3 5 0 2 8 103 131

Peak Downs 7 12 9 13 28 77 158

Poitrel 0 0 5 0 5 0 0

Rolleston 2 0 14 5 16 100 0

Saraji 18 17 14 107 49 1572 583

Sonoma 1 0 3 2 4 0 0

South Walker 8 2 4 15 14 384 2

Wilkie Creek 1 2 3 10 6 0 45

Yarrabee 9 0 0 11 9 209 0

Total 2007-08 146 145 608 606 899 5776 4233

Total 2006-07 127 221 577 616 925 7371 11,142





rate

LTI + DI duration

rate

TRI incidence

rate


Lake Vermont 0 6 0 0 1 0

Meandu 0 5 16 10 1 1

Middlemount 0 8 0 0 1 0

Millennium 3 20 27 8 3 4

Minerva 4 7 521 120 2 1

Moorvale 0 12 34 4 3 2

New Acland 6 19 21 3 3 1

New Oakleigh 8 16 459 58 4 2

Newlands 1 9 13 5 2 1

Norwich Park 0 7 49 12 2 2

Oaky Creek 10 27 795 29 4 0

Peak Downs 3 11 91 12 2 2

Poitrel 0 15 0 0 3 1

Rolleston 4 33 207 50 7 2

Saraji 7 18 792 62 4 5

Sonoma 2 7 0 0 2 2

South Walker 10 18 487 39 4 5

Wilkie Creek 1 8 59 15 4 2

Yarrabee 27 27 616 23 7 6

Total 2007-08 3.6 22 246 34 5 5

Total 2006-07 3.1 23 459 53 6 5



Figure 36 Surface coal mines – total recordable injuries frequency rate – in order of 2007-08 performance

( ) = Number of employees as at 30/6/08

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines

Goonyella-Riverside (1405)

Boundary Hill/Callide (556)

Gregory (339)

Kogan Creek (52)

Ensham (738)

German Creek (1312)

Rolleston (234)

Oaky Creek (208)

Yarrabee (130)

Isaac Plains (138)

Coppabella (415)

Jellinbah (274)

Millennium (194)

Curragh (1083)

Blackwater (1598)

New Acland (292)

Saraji (1393)

South Walker (319)

Burton (441)

Baralaba (91)

New Oakleigh (55)

Poitrel (185)

Moorvale (164)

Commodore (68)

Foxleigh (267)

Dawson (Moura) (1479)

Peak Downs (1684)

Newlands (550)

Hail Creek (537)

Collinsville (459)

Wilkie Creek (149)

Middlemount (90)

Sonoma (184)

Norwich Park (409)

Minerva (192)

Lake Vermont (83)

Dragline Erection Pad - Lake Lindsay (130)

Blair Athol (281)

Meandu (328)

Eaglefield (223)

Clermont Coal Mine Project (406)

Broadlea (96)

Jeebropilly (21)

TRI per million hours worked

"zero" TRIFR

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

57

Figure 37 Surface coal mines – lost time injuries + disabling injuries severity rate – in order of 2007-08 performance


0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

2319.9

1498.8

1503.7

1951.6

1701.133,918.81426

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines

Jeebropilly (21)

Ensham (738)

South Walker (319)

Oaky Creek (208)

Coppabella (415)

Saraji (1393)

Blackwater (1598)

Hail Creek (537)

Millennium (194)

Norwich Park (409)



Newlands (550)

Gregory (339)


Curragh (1083)

Moorvale (164)

New Acland (292)

Foxleigh (267)

Kogan Creek (52)

New Oakleigh (55)

Collinsville (459)

Jellinbah (274)

Peak Downs (1684)


Wilkie Creek (149)

Eaglefield (223)

Meandu (328)

Blair Athol (281)

Burton (441)

Baralaba (91)

Broadlea (96)


Commodore (68)

German Creek (1312)

Isaac Plains (138)

Lake Vermont (83)

Middlemount (90)

Minerva (192)

Poitrel (185)

Rolleston (234)

Sonoma (184)

Yarrabee (130)

LTI + DI days lost per million hours worked

"zero" LTI + DI severity rate

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

4. Sector analysis


Figure 38 Surface coal mines – lost time injuries + disabling injuries duration rate – in order of 2007-08 performance


0 50 100 150 200 250 300

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines

Foxleigh (267)


Newlands (550)

South Walker (319)

Millennium (194)

Norwich Park (409)


Hail Creek (537)

Saraji (1393)

Coppabella (415)

Oaky Creek (208)

Blackwater (1598)

German Creek (1312)

Gregory (339)


Ensham (738)

New Acland (292)

Wilkie Creek (149)

Moorvale (164)

Curragh (1083)

Collinsville (459)

Eaglefield (223)

Kogan Creek (52)

Meandu (328)

New Oakleigh (55)

Peak Downs (1684)

Jellinbah (274)

Blair Athol (281)

Burton (441)

Baralaba (91)

Broadlea (96)


Commodore (68)


Isaac Plains (138)

Jeebropilly (21)

Lake Vermont (83)

Middlemount (90)

Minerva (192)

Poitrel (185)

Rolleston (234)

Sonoma (184)

Yarrabee (130)

"zero" LTI + DI duration rate

Average days lost for each LTI/DI

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

59

High potential incidentsThe most disconcerting issue here is that the high potential incidents from last year in surface coal mines have not changed.

Fires are still the most common incident and the main causes were around engine bays, turbos and brakes and were often associated with burst hydraulic and fuel lines. A detailed safety alert was issued at the start of the current year and it is hoped that mine offi cials and all mineworkers pay attention to this problem and eliminate the root causes before someone is seriously injured.

The second most common incident was electrical. There were several instances of cable damage, electric shocks to employees while repairing equipment and also using electrical equipment in wet conditions.

Loss of control of heavy and light vehicles due to roads being over watered continues to be an issue and there are several simple solutions that can overcome this problem. However, many operations fail to implement actions to eliminate the root causes. There were also several occasions when there was loss of control of a vehicle caused by failing to negotiate corners (speed factor) or falling asleep at the wheel (fi gure 39).

Vehicle interface is still a major issue and the use of vehicle proximity devices is being actively pursued by many operators. Some operators are also actively segregating heavy and light vehicles wherever possible.

Figure 39 Surface coal mines high potential incidents 2007-08

Fire 19.3%

Mobile plant 12.5%

Electrical 11.9%

Vehicle 9.2%

Other 6.9%

Falls/slips of ground 6.1%

Use of explosives 4.3%

Falling/flying material 3.8%

Equipment/structural failure 3.1%Person falling 2.0%

Explosion 1.8%Physical work environment 1.2%

Physiological/psychological 1.2%Lighting strike 0.5%

Hydraulics/compressed air 0.3%Winding, haulage or conveyor 0.3%

Inrush/inundation 0.2%Chemical (use of, or exposure to) 0.2%

Gas ignition 0.2%Hot surface/material 0.2%

Loss of control/unplanned movement 14.8%

4. Sector analysis


Comparisons with other state operationsFigure 40 compares the lost time injury frequency rate for surface coal mines by state for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Other state fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Comparisons with overseas operationsFigure 41 compares the lost time and disabling injury frequency rate for Queensland surface coal mines with that of operations in the United States for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Overseas fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Figure 40 State surface coal mining lost time injuries frequency rate

Figure 41 Queensland lost time injuries frequency rate and USA surface coal mining non fatal days

frequency rate

Source: Minerals Council of Australia, Safety and Health of the Australian Minerals Industry 2006-07.

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Queensland

New South Wales

Western Australia

Victoria

South Australia

Tasmania

LTI per million hours worked

2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Queensland

USA

LTI + DI per million hours worked

2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

Source: Minerals Council of Australia, Safety and Health Performance Report of the Australian Minerals Industry 2006-07.

61

Underground coal minesThe following section is an analysis of lost time injuries in underground coal mines, as shown in tables 1, 2 and 3.


The number of lost time injuries decreased 31 per cent from 112 to 77.


The number of medical treatments reported was 547.


The number of total recordable injuries decreased from 866 to 778.

The number of LTI days lost decreased from 4954 to 2288.

The number of DI days on alternative duties decreased from 7182 to 3144.

The lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) decreased from 12.1 to 8.0.

The total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) decreased from 98 to 81.



4. Sector analysis


Approximately 4329 persons were employed in underground coal mines (as at 30 June 2008).

Fourteen underground coal mines were operating.

Safety performance (as measured by TRIFR) improved at 10 mines.

Table 8 and fi gures 42 to 44 show the performance of the various mines in the underground coal sector over the past three years.


Table 8 Underground coal mines injuries statistics


Aquila 0 0 6 6 6 0 0

Broadmeadow - G.E.A. 3 14 2 1 19 20 93

Bundoora 1 0 10 7 11 74 0

Carborough Downs 6 30 45 8 81 125 316

Cook 7 1 16 3 24 136 14

Crinum 8 21 115 12 144 171 391

Grasstree 4 0 48 16 52 265 0

Kestrel 5 0 1 12 6 99 0

Moranbah North 4 3 14 9 21 96 17

Newlands Northern Underground

4 14 15 0 33 306 329

Newlands Underground 0 0 1 0 1 0 0

North Goonyella No. 1 27 33 186 16 246 585 300

Oaky Creek No. 1 4 10 9 8 23 45 224

Oaky North Underground 4 28 79 8 111 366 1460

Total 2007-08 77 154 547 106 778 2288 3144

Total 2006-07 112 199 555 215 866 4954 7182

63

Table 8 (continued) Underground coal mines injuries statistics


rate

LTI + DI duration

rate

TRI incidence

rate


Aquila 0 46 0 0 11 13

Broadmeadow - G.E.A. 5 30 181 7 11 5

Bundoora 5 58 388 74 14 13

Carborough Downs 11 150 814 12 32 98

Cook 19 65 406 19 14 57

Crinum 8 150 586 19 29 35

Grasstree 4 58 297 66 11 14

Kestrel 5 5 89 20 1 1

Moranbah North 3 15 82 16 3 5

Newlands Northern Underground

5 38 722 35 16 6

Newlands Underground 0 9 0 0 2 0

North Goonyella No. 1 32 287 1034 15 57 102

Oaky Creek No. 1 5 27 317 19 7 4

Oaky North Underground 5 147 2418 57 33 21

Total 2007-08 8 81 563 24 18 18

Total 2006-07 12 98 1368 39 21 24

4. Sector analysis


Figure 42 Underground coal mines – total recordable injuries frequency rate – in order of 2007-08 performance


TRI per million hours worked

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines

North Goonyella No. 1 (428)

Crinum (495)

Carborough Downs (251)

Oaky North Underground (333)

Cook (176)

Grasstree (478)

Bundoora (78)

Aquila (56)

Newlands Northern Underground (209)

Broadmeadow - G.E.A. (174)

Oaky Creek No. 1 (327)

Moranbah North (651)

Newlands Underground (53)

Kestrel (620)

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

65

Figure 43 Underground coal mines – lost time injuries + disabling injuries severity rate – in order of 2007-08 performance


0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines





Crinum (495)

Cook (176)

Bundoora (78)


Grasstree (478)


Kestrel (620)


Aquila (56)



"zero" LTI + DI severity rate

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

4. Sector analysis


Figure 44 Underground coal mines – lost time injuries + disabling injuries duration rate – in order of 2007-08 performance


0 20 40 60 80 100 120

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines

Bundoora (78)

Grasstree (478)



Kestrel (620)

Crinum (495)


Cook (176)





Aquila (56)


"zero" LTI + DI duration rate


2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

67

Figure 45 Underground coal mines high potential incidents 2007-08

High potential incidentsAs with the surface operations, the major incident below ground is a common one from the previous fi scal year: electrical incidents ranging across the board from cable damage to poorly maintained equipment and equipment being incorrectly installed. These issues are particularly disconcerting when they are occurring in hazardous zones. A safety bulletin detailing concerns relative to electrical incidents has recently been produced and issued.

Considering the publicity the fatality in April 2007 received where a miner driver was crushed against the coal rib by a shuttle car, it is a concern to continue to receive numerous incident reports on persons being in a “No Go” zone.

A number of incidents have been reported where persons have been injured whilst using continuous miner roof and rib bolters, particularly rib bolters.

Loss of control/unplanned movement was also a common incident reported. Several incidents involved continuous miners, vehicle brake or steering failure. There was also a reported case of an Eimco being driven up a ramp with an empty trailer in tow. The Eimco was driven over a slight bump in the road and the trailer pin became dislodged. The trailer rolled back approximately 5m and stopped in a drain.

There were several incidents involving fi re. These mainly involved vehicles and often resulted from oil (engine transmission or hydraulic) spraying onto exhausts and engines. There was also an incident where the return belting of a belt conveyor system was tracking off. This caused damage to the edge of the belting which resulted in fi bres building up around a conveyor roller. The friction from the moving belting against the structure caused the fi bres to ignite.

Fire 5.7%

Electrical 48.2%

Mobile plant 3.8%

Vehicle 0.9%

Other 10.4%



Equipment/structural failure - 0.9%

Person falling 2.8%

Physical work environment 0.9%

Physiological/psychological 0.9%Hydraulics/compressed air 0.9%

Winding, haulage or conveyor 1.9%Gas ignition 1.9%


4. Sector analysis


Comparisons with other state operationsFigure 46 compares the lost time injury frequency rate for underground coal mines in New South Wales and Queensland for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (NSW fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Comparisons with overseas operationsFigure 47 compares the lost time and disabling injury frequency rate for Queensland underground coal mines with that of United States operations for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (United States fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Figure 46 Queensland and New South Wales underground coal mining lost time injuries frequency rate

Figure 47 Queensland lost time injury frequency rate and USA underground coal mining non fatal days

frequency rate



0

Queensland

New South Wales


10 20 30 40

2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

0

Queensland

USA


5 10 15 20 25 30 35

2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

69

Surface metalliferous operationsThe following section is an analysis of lost time injuries on surface metalliferous operations, as shown in tables 1, 2 and 3. (The tables and graphs show only metalliferous surface operations with 10 or more employees.)




The number of high potential incidents increased from 129 to 163.

The number of LTI days lost decreased 1805 to 797.

The number of DI days on decreased from 781 to 651.


The LTI + DI frequency rate decreased from 5.5 to 4.2.




Approximately 7697 persons were employed in surface operations as at 30 June 2008.

Thirty-four large and medium metalliferous surface mines were operating (excluding the four plant and service units at Xstrata’s Mount Isa mines).

Safety performance (as measured by lost time and disabling injuries frequency rate) improved at ten operations.

Table 9 and fi gures 48 to 50 show the performance of the various operations in the surface metalliferous sector over the past three years.

4. Sector analysis


Table 9 Surface metalliferous operations injuries statistics (10 or more employees or LTIFR greater than zero shown)

Mine LTI DI HPI LTI + DI LTI days DI days

Ablatio Sandstone 0 0 0 0 0 0

ACI Sand (Unimin) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Bajool Salt Cheetham 1 0 2 1 1 0

Cape Flattery 0 0 0 0 0 0

Carpentaria Gold (Sarsfi eld) 2 0 5 2 3 0

Century Mine 6 0 32 6 90 0

CRL (NSI) 0 0 13 0 0 0

East End 0 0 0 0 0 0

Elbow Valley (Unimin) 0 0 1 0 0 0

Ernest Henry 0 4 14 4 0 116

Gurulmundi (Unimin) 1 0 1 1 0 0

Hill of Stone 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kagara - Mt Garnet 0 0 1 0 0 0

Kagara - Surveyor Mine 7 0 0 7 98 0

Kunwarara 0 6 6 6 0 62

Lady Annie 3 3 8 6 34 27

Marmor 0 0 0 0 0 0

Monto Minerals 2 0 1 2 8 0

Mountainside 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mt Cuthbert 4 0 15 4 12 0

Mt Rawdon 2 0 5 2 2 0

Ningi Silica Sand Mine 0 0 0 0 0 0

Phosphate Hill 0 0 3 0 0 0

Riverton (Unimin) 1 0 1 1 125 0

Small mines O/C Brisbane 0 0 1 0 0 0

O/C = open–cut

71

Table 9 (continued) Surface metalliferous operations injuries statistics (10 or more employees or LTIFR greater than zero shown)

Mine LTIFR LTI + DI frequency

rate

LTI + DI severity

rate

LTI + DI duration

rate

LTI + DI incidence

rate

Ablatio Sandstone 0 0 0 0 0

ACI Sand (Unimin) 0 0 0 0 0

Bajool Salt Cheetham 10 10 10 1 2

Cape Flattery 0 0 0 0 0

Carpentaria Gold (Sarsfi eld) 3 3 5 2 1

Century Mine 2 2 27 15 1

CRL (NSI) 0 0 0 0 0

East End 0 0 0 0 0

Elbow Valley (Unimin) 0 0 0 0 0

Ernest Henry 0 2 68 29 1

Gurulmundi (Unimin) 28 28 0 0 5

Hill of Stone 0 0 0 0 0

Kagara - Mt Garnet 0 0 0 0 0

Kagara - Surveyor Mine 15 15 206 14 2

Kunwarara 0 21 220 10 5

Lady Annie 5 9 94 10 3

Marmor 0 0 0 0 0

Monto Minerals 16 16 64 4 3

Mountainside 0 0 0 0 0

Mt Cuthbert 13 13 40 3 4

Mt Rawdon 6 6 6 1 2

Ningi Silica Sand Mine 0 0 0 0 0

Phosphate Hill 0 0 0 0 0

Riverton (Unimin) 24 24 2945 125 4

Small mines O/C Brisbane 0 0 0 0 0

O/C = open–cut

4. Sector analysis




Small mines O/C Mackay 0 0 0 0 0 0

Small mines O/C Mareeba 0 0 0 0 0 0

Small mines O/C Mount Isa 0 0 1 0 0 0

Small mines O/C Rockhampton 0 0 0 0 0 0

Skardon River 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stuart Oil Shale 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sunstate Sands 0 0 0 0 0 0

Tanamerah Sandstone 0 0 1 0 0 0

Taragoola 0 0 2 0 0 0

Thalanga 0 0 0 0 0 0

Twin Hill Mine 5 0 16 5 8 0

Weipa - bauxite 2 1 5 3 44 21

Wolfram Camp 0 0 0 0 0 0

Yuleba 0 0 1 0 0 0

All mines excluding Mount Isa Mines

36 14 135 50 425 226

Mount Isa Mines operations

Copper surface operations 1 1 15 2 92 47

Lead/zinc surface operations 0 14 10 14 0 197

Surface support operations 0 1 2 1 0 8

Metallurgical plant operations 3 7 1 10 280 173

Mount Isa Mines total 4 23 28 27 372 425

Total 2007-08 40 37 163 77 797 651

Total 2006-07 51 52 129 103 1805 781

O/C = open–cut

73



rate

LTI + DI severity

rate

LTI + DI duration

rate

LTI + DI incidence

rate

Small mines O/C Mackay 0 0 0 0 0

Small mines O/C Mareeba 0 0 0 0 0

Small mines O/C Mount Isa 0 0 0 0 0

Small mines O/C Rockhampton 0 0 0 0 0

Skardon River 0 0 0 0 0

Stuart Oil Shale 0 0 0 0 0

Sunstate Sands 0 0 0 0 0

Tanamerah Sandstone 0 0 0 0 0

Taragoola 0 0 0 0 0

Thalanga 0 0 0 0 0

Twin Hill Mine 61 61 98 2 12

Weipa - bauxite 1 1 28 22 0

Wolfram Camp 0 0 0 0 0

Yuleba 0 0 0 0 0


2.6 4 47 13 1


Copper surface operations 3 6 404 70 1

Lead/Zinc surface operations 0 17 240 14 3

Surface support operations 0 1 5 8 0

Metallurgical plant operations 2 6 291 45 1

Mount Isa Mines total 0.9 6 180 30 1

Total 2007-08 2.3 4.2 79 19 1

Total 2006-07 2.7 5.5 139 25 2

O/C = open–cut

4. Sector analysis


Figure 48 Surface metalliferous operations – lost time injuries + disabling injuries frequency rate – in order of 2007-08 performance

( ) = Number of employees as at 30/6/08 O/C = open–cut


0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

All metalliferous mines

Surface mines

Underground mines

Twin Hill Mine (41)

Gurulmundi (Unimin) (20)

Riverton (Unimin) (23)

Kunwarara (132)

Monto Minerals (68)

Kagara - Surveyor Mine (281)

Mt Cuthbert (100)

Bajool Salt Cheetham (46)

Lady Annie (178)

Lead/Zinc surface operations (404)

Mt Rawdon (107)

Copper surface operations (158)

Metallurgical plant operations (1043)

Carpentaria Gold (Sarsfield) (211)

Ernest Henry (617)

Century Mine (1033)

Weipa - bauxite (800)

Surface support operations (823)

Ablatio Sandstone (14)

ACI Sand (Unimin) (15)

Cape Flattery (83)

CRL (NSI) 282

East End (51)

Elbow Valley (Unimin) (16)

Hill of Stone (13)

Kagara - Mt Garnet (159)

Marmor (10)

Mountainside (16)

Ningi Silica Sand Mine (51)

Phosphate Hill (350)

Small mines O/C Brisbane (141)

Small mines O/C Mackay (12)

Small mines O/C Mareeba (96)

Small mines O/C Mount Isa (30)

Small mines O/C Rockhampton (31)

Skardon River (25)

Stuart Oil Shale (12)

Sunstate Sands (11)

Tanamerah Sandstone (10)

Taragoola (28)

Thalanga (93)

Wolfram Camp (50)

Yuleba (13)

"zer0" LTI + DI frequency rate

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

75

Figure 49 Surface metalliferous operations – lost time injuries + disabling injuries severity rate – in order of 2007-08 performance


4. Sector analysis


2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

2945

6570

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines





Kunwarara (132)


Twin Hill Mine (41)

Lady Annie (178)

Ernest Henry (617)

Monto Minerals (68)

Mt Cuthbert (100)


Century Mine (1033)


Mt Rawdon (107)





Cape Flattery (83)

CRL (NSI) (282)

East End (51)



Hill of Stone (13)


Marmor (10)

Mountainside (16)



Skardon River (25)







Sunstate Sands (11)


Taragoola (28)

Thalanga (93)

Wolfram Camp (50)

Yuleba (13)

"zer0" LTI + DI severity rate


Figure 50 Surface metalliferous operations – lost time injuries + disabling injuries duration rate – in order of 2007-08 performance



0 10 20 30 40 50 60

92

77

199

80269

110

62

108

123

177

70

125

All coal mines

Surface mines

Underground mines




Ernest Henry (617)


Century Mine (1033)



Kunwarara (132)

Lady Annie (178)


Monto Minerals (68)

Mt Cuthbert (100)

Twin Hill Mine (41)



Mt Rawdon (107)



Cape Flattery (83)

CRL (NSI) 282

East End (51)



Hill of Stone (13)


Marmor (10)

Mountainside (16)



Skardon River (25)







Sunstate Sands (11)


Taragoola (28)

Thalanga (93)

Wolfram Camp (50)

Yuleba (13)

"zer0" LTI + DI duration rate

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

77

Figure 51 Surface metalliferous operations high potential incidents 2007-08

High potential incidentsVehicle incidents were the most common type reported. Several of these incidents involved collisions while reversing, failing to apply brakes and falling asleep at the wheel. There was an incident when a vehicle was being driven along a tailings dam road and something fl ew into the window (thought to be a bird). This caused the driver to swerve and the vehicle went over an embankment.

The second most common incident was electrical. There were several instances of employees getting an electric shock whilst carrying out maintenance work. There was an incident where a dump truck, with the tray still up, connected with power lines and brought them down to the ground.

There were numerous incidents involving loss of control/unplanned movement. There were several incidents which involved brake or steering failure. There was an incident where a light vehicle was travelling from the portal to the surface store. The driver misjudged the corner to the access road and the vehicle ran up a windrow on the inside of the corner. The vehicle rolled onto its side and came to rest. The driver and passenger were not injured (fi gure 51).

4. Sector analysis

Noxious/asphyxiating gas 1.2%

Hot surface/material 1.2%

Chemical (use of, or exposure to) 1.8%

Explosion 2.5%


Fire 8.0%

Electrical 14.1%

Mobile plant 11.8%

Vehicle 15.4%

Other 7.4%



Equipment/structural failure - 1.8%

Person falling 1.8%


Hydraulics/compressed air 1.8%



Comparisons with other state operationsFigure 52 compares the lost time injury frequency rate for surface metalliferous mines by state for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Other state fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Comparisons with overseas operationsFigure 53 compares the lost time and disabling injury frequency rate for Queensland surface metalliferous mines with that of other overseas operations for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Overseas fi gures 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication. Ontario (Canada) fi gures are LTIFR only.)

Figure 52 State surface metalliferous mining lost time injuries frequency rate

Figure 53 Queensland lost time injury frequency rate and overseas surface metalliferous mining disabling non

fatal days frequency rate


0 5 10 15 20

Queensland

New South Wales

Western Australia

Victoria

Southern Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory


2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Queensland

USA

Ontario


2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03


79

Underground metalliferous operationsThe following section is an analysis of lost time injuries in underground metalliferous operations, as shown in tables 1, 2 and 3.






The number of DI days on decreased from 2348 to 1451.


The LTI + DI frequency rate decreased from 12 to 11.




Approximately 5157 persons were employed in underground operations as at 30 June 2008.

Thirteen major underground metalliferous mines were operating.

Safety performance (as measured by lost time and disabling injuries frequency rate) improved at six operations.

Table 10 and fi gures 54 to 56 show the performance of the various mines in the metalliferous underground sector over the past three years.

4. Sector analysis


Table 10 Underground metalliferous mines injury statistics

Mine LTI DI HPI DI + LTI LTI days DI days

Biggenden 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cannington 11 20 16 31 879 182

Carpentaria Gold (Bucks Reef) 0 1 1 1 0 18

Carpentaria Gold (Mt Wright) 2 0 0 2 6 0

Charters Towers Gold Mines 1 0 0 1 1 0

Collingwood Tin 2 0 1 2 24 0

Cracow 2 1 3 3 69 8

Eloise 5 11 8 16 33 100

Mount Gordon 2 0 8 2 225 0

Kagara Zinc - Mungana Exploration Decline

1 0 0 1 1 0

Osborne 5 2 25 7 59 8

Pajingo 1 0 0 1 0 0

Small mines Brisbane 1 0 0 1 0 0

Small mines Rockhampton 0 0 0 0 0 0


33 35 62 68 1297 316


Mount Isa Mine copper u/g operations

3 16 16 19 333 157

Mount Isa Mine lead/zinc u/g operations

1 23 22 24 44 978

Mount Isa Mines total 4 39 38 43 377 1135

0

Total 2007-08 37 74 100 111 1674 1451

Total 2006-07 38 78 133 116 1800 2348

81

Table 10 (continued) Underground metalliferous mines injury statistics

4. Sector analysis


rate

LTI + DI severity

rate

LTI + DI duration

rate

LTI + DI incidence

rate

Biggenden 0 0 0 0 0

Cannington 6 16 557 34 4

Carpentaria Gold (Bucks Reef) 0 19 349 18 4

Carpentaria Gold (Mt Wright) 28 28 84 3 2

Charters Towers Gold Mines 4 4 4 1 1

Collingwood Tin 10 10 115 12 50

Cracow 5 7 192 26 2

Eloise 9 29 244 8 8

Mount Gordon 2 2 246 113 0

Kagara Zinc - Mungana Exploration Decline

15 15 15 1 2

Osborne 5 7 69 10 2

Pajingo 5 5 0 0 1

Small mines Brisbane 265 265 0 0 50

Small mines Rockhampton 0 0 0 0 0


5.9 12 278 24 3


Mount Isa Mine copper u/g operations

1 7 187 26 1

Mount Isa Mine lead/zinc u/g operations

1 13 548 43 3

Mount Isa Mines total 0.9 10 337 35 2

Total 2007-08 3.7 11 304 28 2

Total 2006-07 3.8 12 414 36 3


Figure 54 Underground metalliferous mines – lost time injuries + disabling injuries frequency rate – in order

of 2007-08 performance( ) = Number of employees as at 30/6/08


0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

265.3


Surface mines

Underground mines

Small mines Brisbane (2)

Eloise (205)

Carpentaria Gold (Mt Wright) (125)

Carpentaria Gold (Bucks Reef) (26)

Cannington (544)

Kagara Zinc - Mungana Exploration Decline (48)

Mount Isa Mine lead/zinc u/goperations (842)

Collingwood Tin (4)

Cracow (196)

Mount Isa Mine copper u/goperations (1605)

Osborne (383)

Pajingo (124)

Charters Towers Gold Mines (152)

Mount Gordon (440)

Biggenden (10)

Small mines Rockhampton (10)


2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

83

Figure 55 Underground metalliferous mines – lost time injuries + disabling injuries severity rate – in order



0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200


Surface mines

Underground mines

Cannington (544)

Mount Isa Mine lead/zinc u/g operations (842)


Mount Gordon (440)

Eloise (205)

Cracow (196)


Collingwood Tin (4)


Osborne (383)

Kagara Zinc - MunganaExploration Decline (48)


Biggenden (10)

Pajingo (124)




2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

4. Sector analysis


Figure 56 Underground metalliferous mines – lost time injuries + disabling injuries duration rate – in order



0 20 40 60 80 100 120

245


Surface mines

Underground mines

Mount Gordon (440)

Mount Isa Mine lead/zinc u/goperations (842)

Cannington (544)


Cracow (196)


Collingwood Tin (4)

Osborne (383)

Eloise (205)



Kagara Zinc - Mungana ExplorationDecline (48)

Biggenden (10)

Pajingo (124)




2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

85

High potential incidentsFires were the most common incident reported. Most were associated with vehicles and often resulted from oil (engine transmission or hydraulic) spraying onto exhausts and engines.

The second most common incident reported was loss of control/unplanned movement. Several of these incidents were caused by brake failure. Another example of this type of incident was whilst tramming a development rig to the workshop for a service, the rig ran up a windrow and rolled onto its side.

Figure 57 Underground metalliferous high potential incidents 2007-08

There were numerous incidents which involved falls or slips of ground. There were several rock falls ranging in size from small to falls of approximately 200 tonnes. These falls were often close to where blasting had just taken place (fi gure 57).

4. Sector analysis

Hot surface/material 1.0%Chemical (use of, or exposure to) 1.0%


Fire 19.3%

Electrical 4.9%

Mobile plant 3.9%

Vehicle 4.9%

Other 1.0%



Equipment/structural failure 3.9%

Person falling 2.9%


Hydraulics/compressed Air 3.9%


Inrush inundation 1.0%

Explosion 1.0%Spontaneous combustion 1.9%

Winding, haulage or conveyor 6.8%


Comparisons with other state operationsFigure 58 compares the lost time injury frequency rate for underground metalliferous mines by state for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Other state fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Comparisons with overseas operationsFigure 59 compares the lost time and disabling injury frequency rate for Queensland underground metalliferous mines with that of other overseas operations for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Overseas fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication. Ontario (Canada) fi gures are LTIFR only.)

Figure 58 State underground metalliferous mining lost time injuries frequency rate

Figure 59 Queensland lost time injury frequency rate and overseas underground metalliferous mining

non fatal days lost frequency rate



Queensland

New South Wales

Western Australia

Victoria

Southern Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory

20 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18


2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

Queensland

USA

Ontario


20 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

87

QuarriesThe following section is an analysis of lost time injuries in quarries, as shown in tables 1, 2 and 3. (The tables and graphs show only quarries with ten or more employees)


The number of lost time injuries increased 4 per cent from 23 to 24.


The number of high potential incidents increased from 35 to 52.


The number of DI days on increased from 35 to 78.


The LTI + DI frequency rate decreased from 12 to 6.




Approximately 1503 persons were employed in quarries as at 30 June 2008.

Forty-fi ve major quarries were operating.

Safety performance (as measured by lost time injuries and disabling frequency rate) improved at twelve quarries.

Table 11 and fi gures 60 to 62 show the performance of the various quarries.

4. Sector analysis


Table 11 Quarries injury statistics (quarries with 10 or more employees or LTIFR greater than zero shown)


Albert 0 0 3 0 0 0

Beenleigh 0 0 3 0 0 0

Black River (Blackwater) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Black River (Townsville) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Bli Bli 0 0 1 0 0 0

Bargara 0 0 0 0 0 0

Bracalba 0 0 4 0 0 0

Bromelton 0 0 0 0 0 0

Burleigh 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cedars 0 0 0 0 0 0

Clutha Creek Sands 1 0 1 1 18 0

Cryna Rd 1 0 2 1 0 0

Darlington 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dundowran 1 0 2 1 21 0

Dundowran West 0 0 0 0 0 0

Edmonton 0 0 0 0 0 0

Farleigh 0 0 0 0 0 0

Glasshouse 0 0 0 0 0 0

Glenvale 0 0 1 0 0 0

Harlaxton 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hymix - Nerang 2 0 3 2 0 0

Image Flat 0 0 1 0 0 0

Jimbour 2 0 3 2 57 0

Keperra 0 0 7 0 0 0

Levitt Road 0 0 0 0 0 0

Malu 0 0 0 0 0 0

Maudsland Road 1 0 0 1 0 0

Moy Pocket 1 1 1 2 65 65

Mt Coot–tha 3 1 0 4 60 10

Mt Cotton 1 0 2 1 0 0

Mt Marrow 0 0 0 0 0 0

Narangba 0 0 1 0 0 0

Nerimbera 0 0 0 0 0 0

North Coast - Petrie 1 0 2 1 6 0

Ormeau 0 0 2 0 0 0

Purga 0 0 0 0 0 0

Redlands 0 0 0 0 0 0

Roseneath 0 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Brisbane 4 1 6 5 0 3

Small Quarries Townsville 0 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Mackay 0 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Mareeba 0 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Mount Isa 4 0 3 4 14 0

Small Quarries Rockhampton 1 0 1 1 0 0

Stapylton 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stoney Knob 0 0 0 0 0 0

Toolborough Road 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wellcamp Downs 0 0 1 0 0 0

West Burleigh 0 0 1 0 0 0

Whiteside 1 0 1 1 0 0

Yellowood 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 2007-08 24 3 52 27 241 78

Total 2006-07 23 7 35 30 456 35

89

Table 11 (continued) Quarries injury statistics (quarries with 10 or more employees or LTIFR greater than zero shown)

4. Sector analysis


rate

LTI + DI severity

rate

LTI + DI duration

rate

LTI + DI incidence

rate

Albert 0 0 0 0 0

Beenleigh 0 0 0 0 0

Black River (Blackwater) 0 0 0 0 0

Black River (Townsville) 0 0 0 0 0

Bli Bli 0 0 0 0 0

Bargara 0 0 0 0 0

Bracalba 0 0 0 0 0

Bromelton 0 0 0 0 0

Burleigh 0 0 0 0 0

Cedars 0 0 0 0 0

Clutha Creek Sands 46 46 828 18 7

Cryna Rd 30 30 0 0 6

Darlington 0 0 0 0 0

Dundowran 40 40 850 21 8

Dundowran West 0 0 0 0 0

Edmonton 0 0 0 0 0

Farleigh 0 0 0 0 0

Glasshouse 0 0 0 0 0

Glenvale 0 0 0 0 0

Harlaxton 0 0 0 0 0

Hymix - Nerang 24 24 0 0 5

Image Flat 0 0 0 0 0

Jimbour 85 85 2421 29 8

Keperra 0 0 0 0 0

Levitt Road 0 0 0 0 0

Malu 0 0 0 0 0

Maudsland Road 12 12 0 0 4

Moy Pocket 14 28 1843 65 5

Mt Coot–tha 61 81 1415 18 16

Mt Cotton 27 27 0 0 6

Mt Marrow 0 0 0 0 0

Narangba 0 0 0 0 0

Nerimbera 0 0 0 0 0

North Coast - Petrie 14 14 81 6 3

Ormeau 0 0 0 0 0

Purga 0 0 0 0 0

Redlands 0 0 0 0 0

Roseneath 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Brisbane 26 33 20 1 5

Small Quarries Townsville 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Mackay 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Mareeba 0 0 0 0 0

Small Quarries Mount Isa 282 282 986 4 6

Small Quarries Rockhampton 6 6 0 0 1

Stapylton 0 0 0 0 0

Stoney Knob 0 0 0 0 0

Toolborough Road 0 0 0 0 0

Wellcamp Downs 0 0 0 0 0

West Burleigh 0 0 0 0 0

Whiteside 17 17 0 0 5

Yellowood 0 0 0 0 0

Total 2007-08 5.1 6 68 12 2

Total 2006-07 9.3 12 199 16 2


Figure 60 Quarries – lost time injuries + disabling injuries frequency rate – in order of 2007-08 performance




500 100 150 200 250

Small Quarries Mount Isa (65)

Jimbour (24)

Mt Coot–tha (25)

Clutha Creek Sands (14)

Dundowran (12)

Small Quarries Brisbane (96)

Cryna Rd (17)

Moy Pocket (37)

Mt Cotton (17)

Hymix - Nerang (41)

Whiteside (20)

North Coast - Petrie (30)

Maudsland Road (24)

Small Quarries Rockhampton (87)

Albert (80)

Beenleigh (41)

Black River (Blackwater) (17)

Black River (Townsville) (15)

Bli Bli (20)

Bargara (13)

Bracalba (53)

Bromelton (11)

Burleigh (15)

Cedars (21)

Darlington (19)

Dundowran West (21)

Edmonton (17)

Farleigh (19)

Glasshouse (20)

Glenvale (16)

Harlaxton (21)

Image Flat (11)

Keperra (30)

Levitt Road (36)

Malu (10)

Mt Marrow (18)

Narangba (15)

Nerimbera (18)

Ormeau (16)

Purga (17)

Redlands (87)

Roseneath (18)

Small Quarries Townsville (56)

Small Quarries Mackay (62)

Small Quarries Mareeba (57)

Stapylton (28)

Stoney Knob (21)

Toolborough Road (15)

Wellcamp Downs (14)

West Burleigh (20)

Yellowood (23)

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

91

Figure 61 quarries – lost time injuries + disabling injuries severity rate – in order of 2007-08 performance




5000 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

Jimbour (24)

Moy Pocket (37)

Mt Coot–tha (25)


Dundowran (12)




Albert (80)

Beenleigh (41)



Bli Bli (20)

Bargara (13)

Bracalba (53)

Bromelton (11)

Burleigh (15)

Cedars (21)

Cryna Rd (17)

Darlington (19)

Dundowran West (21)

Edmonton (17)

Farleigh (19)

Glasshouse (20)

Glenvale (16)

Harlaxton (21)

Hymix - Nerang (41)

Image Flat (11)

Keperra (30)

Levitt Road (36)

Malu (10)

Maudsland Road (24)

Mt Cotton (17)

Mt Marrow (18)

Narangba (15)

Nerimbera (18)

Ormeau (16)

Purga (17)

Redlands (87)

Roseneath (18)





Stapylton (28)

Stoney Knob (21)


Wellcamp Downs (14)

West Burleigh (20)

Whiteside (20)

Yellowood (23)

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

4. Sector analysis


Figure 62 Quarries – lost time injuries + disabling injuries duration rate – in order of 2007-08 performance



Average days lost per LTI/DI

500 100 150 200 250

Moy Pocket (37)

Jimbour (24)

Dundowran (12)


Mt Coot–tha (25)




Albert (80)

Beenleigh (41)



Bli Bli (20)

Bargara (13)

Bracalba (53)

Bromelton (11)

Burleigh (15)

Cedars (21)

Cryna Rd (17)

Darlington (19)

Dundowran West (21)

Edmonton (17)

Farleigh (19)

Glasshouse (20)

Glenvale (16)

Harlaxton (21)

Hymix - Nerang (41)

Image Flat (11)

Keperra (30)

Levitt Road (36)

Malu (10)

Maudsland Road (24)

Mt Cotton (17)

Mt Marrow (18)

Narangba (15)

Nerimbera (18)

Ormeau (16)

Purga (17)

Redlands (87)

Roseneath (18)





Stapylton (28)

Stoney Knob (21)


Wellcamp Downs (14)

West Burleigh (20)

Whiteside (20)

Yellowood (23)

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

93

High potential incidentsThe most common reported incident involved vehicles. The majority of these incidents were collisions, especially while reversing.

The second most common incident was loss of control and unplanned movement. Most of these incidents involved vehicles. An example of one of these incidents was when a dump truck reversed into a stockpiling area. Both sets of rear wheels were placed onto the existing stockpile. The operator proceeded to raise the dump body when ground on the left hand side gave way. This caused the body of the truck to roll onto the stockpile and left the cab in an upright position.

Figure 63 Quarries high potential incidents 2007-08

There were several mobile plant incidents reported. One case involved a loaded truck reversing along a service road with its bucket raised. The left rear wheel moved off the side of the service road, causing the machine to lurch to one side and consequently roll onto its left hand side (fi gure 63).

Hot surface/material 1.9%


Electrical 5.8%

Mobile plant 11.5%

Vehicle 15.4%

Other 11.5%Falls/slips of ground 9.6%


Equipment/structural failure 5.8%

Person falling 7.7%


Hydraulics/compressed air 1.9%


Inrush/inundation 2.0%

Gas ignition 2.0%

4. Sector analysis


Comparisons with other state operationsFigure 64 compares the lost time injury frequency rate for quarries by state for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Other state fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Comparisons with overseas operationsFigure 65 compares the lost time and disabling injury frequency rate for Queensland quarries with that of operations in the United States for the fi ve fi nancial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. (Overseas fi gures for 2007-08 were not available at the time of publication.)

Figure 64 State quarrying lost time injuries frequency rate

Figure 65 Queensland lost time injury frequency rate and USA quarrying non fatal days frequency rate



0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Queensland

New South Wales

Western Australia

Victoria

Southern Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory

LTI per million hours

2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

Queensland

USA


0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

2006-072005-062004-052003-042002-03

95 5. Collection of information

5. Collection of information

Whenever a lost time injury (LTI) or high potential incident (HPI) occurs, the mine or quarry operator must submit a Queensland Mining Incident Report Form to the local inspector of mines.

Large mines and quarries (with 10 or more employees) also provide a monthly summary listing new and carryover lost time injuries and disabling injuries, re-opened claims, days lost and/or on alternative duties, and hours worked during the period.

Sixteen consecutive years of injury/disease data for coal and metalliferous mines are now available for analysis.

Most of the data in this report can be easily extracted using custom-built software within the Lost Time Accident Database.

Copies of this report are available on the Department of Mines and Energy web site www.dme.qld.gov.au.

More detailed analysis of injuries in the mining and quarrying industry is available from:

Safety and HealthDepartment of Mines and EnergyPO Box 15216City East Qld 4002Ph (07) 3404 3143 or [email protected]

Information requested from the databaseStatistical information was provided on the number of lost time injuries relating to sprains and strains over a fi ve year period. This information was requested by a Health and Safety graduate at a Queensland coal mine.

Queensland mines safety statistics were requested by a senior safety supervisor at a South American coal company. These statistics were used to compare the South American statistics to those of the Queensland coal industry.

Information on lost time and high potential incidents relating to drilling and gas explosions was provided. This information was requested by a mining engineer and ventilation consultant and was to be used in a presentation.

The number and causes of fatalities in Queensland mines were requested by a Commonwealth government department.

Statistical information over the last fi ve years on the number of lost time injuries and their root causes was requested by a safety advisor to a large engineering company. This data was to be used in a risk management analysis and the improvement of the quantifi cation of risk assessment.

Statistics on injuries that have occurred when using surface drilling machines (drill rigs) was provided to a mining company. This data was used in the risk assessments prior to a project commencing.

Statistics were provided on the types of injuries occurring in the mining industry. This information was requested by a physiotherapist who was presenting a paper at the Safety Institute of Australia conference.

Historical statistics (10-year period) were provided on the number of lost time injuries, high potential incidents and fatalities occurring in the Queensland mining industry. This data was requested by a federal government department and was to be used in a research project.

Statistics were provided on the number of bulldozer rollovers. This data was requested by a mining equipment company with a view to improving the safety of their equipment.


Access to the lost time accident databaseIndustry has access to selected data from the Mines Inspectorate’s lost time accident database, which was used in the compilation of this report. Individual mine operators can obtain their data, and the statistical sector-wide data.

Mine operators can also use this data as a benchmark in the preparation of their safety management systems (the Mines Inspectorate uses the data when planning audit programs).

Interested parties should contact the Mines Inspectorate at their nearest regional offi ce:

Brisbane (Head Offi ce): (07) 3404 3143

Woolloongabba (South Region): (07) 3238 3722

Rockhampton (Central Region): (07) 4938 4473

Mackay (Central Region): (07) 4967 0860

Townsville (North Region): (07) 4760 7404

Mount Isa (North Region): (07) 4747 2158.

DME08016

Department of

www.dme.qld.gov.au

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