Best Practice Safety Standards for the Mining Industry
Mining & Quarry Industry Guide to Safety 2013/14 – Released
The Pike River Coal mine disaster on New Zealand’s West Coast has focused international attention on the extractive industry, and mostly for the wrong reasons. The investigation into the event by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the subsequent Royal Commission of Enquiry identified poor regulatory oversight, inadequacies of the self regulatory model of health and safety compliance generally within the industry, a lack of management oversight and commitment to health and safety, and substandard practices by the workforce. It is therefore a collaborative effort made by Pro‑Visual Publishing and the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM) to release this year’s Mining & Quarry Industry Guide to Safety 2013/14, with a focus on the repercussions of the Pike River Coal mine incident along with other standard safety practices.
Legislation in both Australia and New Zealand clearly places duties on those who control organisations to ensure required standards of compliance are achieved. NZ’s Health and Safety in Employment Act requires those with duties under the Act to take “all practicable steps” to ensure those duties are fulfilled. The executive leadership and responsibility of directors, when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of workers and all involved in the company, is a prominent topic of this year’s guide.
Managing contractors and implementing successful procedures for guarding belt conveyors are topics considered to be key action areas for implementation of health and safety procedures. Conveyors, for example, are used extensively for materials handling throughout the extractive industry. Flat belt, chain link, screw auger, and powered roller types are the most common and have similar related hazards. Risk management and monitoring of operations as well as employee health are required for the safety and wellbeing of workers within the industry to be maintained.
“I would like to thank all of the sponsors of the Mining & Quarry Industry Guide to Safety 2013/14. Their support has made it possible for the guide to be distributed free of charge”, said John Hutchings, CEO, Pro-Visual Publishing.
Pro-Visual Publishing is the leading specialist in wall-mounted workplace health & safety, food safety & hygiene and health and wellbeing information resource charts. Each chart is practical and informative, providing a quick reference point for management and staff. Pro-Visual Publishing’s charts are designed to inform, motivate, educate and above all keep people and their workplaces safe!
For further information, or to obtain additional copies of the Chart, please call +61 2 8272 2611, email enquiries@provisual.co.nz or visit www.provisual.co.nz
For Media Enquiries or images please contact Deanna Davenport at Pro-Visual Publishing on +61 2 8272 2611 or ddavenport@provisual.com.au
Jamers Poulin says
hello, I’m searching to find regulations in place for the mining of clay and sand. I have a mining operation in my back yard in Connecticut that I feel will become unsafe to the surrounding area if they continue to dig down without widening the hole. expecially because its clay and sand and deterioration on my own property is evident over the years. there must be a study to how deep you can dig down in clay until in becomes a unsafe operation for workers as well as surrounding property’s.
Dave Collins says
Sorry, I don’t know of anything specific for your country and state – you really should consult with a geotechnical expert rather than a safety person who thinks they know everything 🙂