The Regulator starts a targeted intervention campaign this month at open cut mines across NSW to build on our engagement with industry on the issue of vehicle safety at surface operations and underground metalliferous mines.
This year’s intervention campaign builds on our ongoing engagement with industry and supports the targeted awareness campaign conducted in April 2021. That campaign engaged with more than 13,000 mine workers and included 41 inspectors delivering presentations to more than 300 work crews at 37 mines across the state.
This year’s targeted intervention campaign will run from 23 May until 3 June and will focus on the role leadership and workers play in ensuring safe vehicle operations. We view the role of each mine’s leadership team and workers as critical to improving vehicle safety at their sites.
A key element for vehicle interactions is the implementation and enforcement of the required procedures and standards to maintain safe vehicle operations.
The purpose of our targeted intervention campaign is to challenge each mine’s leadership team and workers on their commitment to uphold compliance of their mines’ documented standards and procedures.
Near miss incidents involving vehicles have the potential to seriously injure or kill, due to the sheer size of the equipment typically involved.
During the period from 2017 to 2021 there have been 2 fatalities, 21 injuries and 840 reportable incidents from vehicle interactions across all NSW mines. This year there have been 68 reportable incidents.
Mine workers are being reminded of the risk and their obligation to look after their safety, as well as the safety of their workmates.
