Skip to main content

A NSW Government website

Mechanical Engineering Safety Seminar

2024 Draft Agenda

32nd Mechanical Engineering Safety Seminar (MESS) agenda

The following 2024 agenda 'at a glance' outlines the broad range of seminar topics, including new and emerging technologies, creative solutions to mining issues, findings from incidents, and opportunities to learn from other industries and sectors.

Please note, this agenda may be subject to change.

Seminar agenda | Day 1 (Wednesday 7 August)

8:00am – 9:00am  |  Registration


9:00am – 10:25am  |  Session 1 

  • Welcome and Resources Regulator update – Chief Inspector, NSW Resources Regulator 
  • Industry address - Cameron McNeil, Metals Acquisition Limited | CSA Mine

10:25am – 10:55am  |  Morning tea


10:55am – 12:45pm  |  Session 2 

  • Lifting in the Industry, Peter Berkholz – NSW Resources Regulator
  • Hot work whilst working at heights in confined spaces - Risk management in unforgiving environments, David Bell – DBC Group
  • New Zealand mining industry, John Ewen – SafeWork NZ

12:45pm – 1:30pm  |  Lunch


1:30pm – 3:20pm  |  Session 3 

  • “Don’t overcook the chook”, Sara Pazell, Alan Girle and Trajce Cvetkovski, WHYWORK® PODCAST 
  • Bulk coal winder upgrade, Executing work in high-risk environments, Gabby FoodeyTim Shirvington & Gabrielle Foodey- SIEMAG TECBERG Australia

3:20pm – 3:45pm  |  Afternoon tea


3:45pm – 5:00pm  |  Session 4

  • Update on Australian Standards, Osama Ali - Caterpillar, CMEIG
  • Journey of a young STAT engineer, Hayden Ticehurst – Centennial Coal

Conference dinner


6:15pm – 7:00pm  |  Pre-dinner drinks – Ballroom foyer

7:00pm – 10:00pm  |  Dinner with special guest speaker 

Seminar agenda | Day 2 (Thursday 8 August)

8:00am – 8:30am  |  Registration


8:30am – 10:30am  |  Session 1 

  • Appin shaft sinking project, Nigel Bennett and Nigel Slonker – South 32
  • Investigation techniques and integrating HOF in the workplace, Nicole Gray – Kiel Centre

10:30am – 11:00am  |  Morning tea


11:00am – 12:35pm  |  Session 2 

  • Autonomous Drilling, Brendan Watson – Theiss Mt Pleasant 
  • CAT 777G Front RH Wheel assembly failure at Marulan South Limestone, Cameron Atkinson and Brett – Boral WesTrac
  • Tahmoor surface infrastructure reinforcement for LW subsidence, Ross Barber and David Talbert – SIMEC

12:35pm – 1:15pm  |  Lunch


1:15pm – 3:10pm  |  Session 3

  • QLD and NSW Inspectorate views on Fires on mobile plant (FOMP), Pat Hurley and Mick Howes
  • Lessons for the safe implementation of automation in mining, Robin Burgess Limerick
  • Jumbo improvements - entanglement prevention, Brad Goodfellow – North Parkes

How can I register?

Tickets are now available and include the 2-day seminar and dinner. Numbers are limited. 

For further information and registration options, please use the link below or email rr.workshops@regional.nsw.gov.au

Seminar information and registration