‘Damning’ findings spark call for full mine safety inquiry

The State Opposition has called for a full Parliamentary inquiry into mine safety following the release of Dr Sean Brady’s report on industry deaths. Opposition spokesman for mines Dale Last said the report highlighted major failures in the industry and the State Labor Government. “The report damns Labor for overseeing a mine safety regulator that made it hard for miners and industry to report issues," he said. Opposition spokesman for mines Dale Last. “A failure to take incidents seriously, or even report them, is the root cause of the problem. “The report is very clear that without a full inquiry into mine safety Queenslanders will continue to die and be injured in our mines." CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Stephen Smyth said the Brady report was damning about the state of safety in the Queensland mining industry. "It is a disturbing finding that the tragic fatalities we have seen over the past 18 months are likely to continue unless urgent and comprehensive action is taken," he said. “It is sobering to read that fatalities are more often caused by ‘banal, straightforward’ events than freak accidents.” Mr Smyth said the union supported Dr Brady's call for a comprehensive overhaul of safety culture in the industry. "We will work through the findings and keep fighting for the necessary changes to protect mineworkers’ lives,” he said. Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the Brady review into fatalities would be considered in conjunction with the UQ Legislative Effectiveness Review as well as feedback from the industry-wide safety resets that occurred in the latter half of last year. "I am advised by the Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health that my two advisory committees, which she chairs, will form subcommittees and unions to prioritise, review and provide their advice on the UQ review recommendations they believe should be adopted," he said Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham. "They will also consider the findings of Dr Brady’s review as well as the outcomes of the statewide safety reset which industry completed in August last year." He said the advisory committees had already met with Dr Brady to discuss the recommendations of his report. "I have asked Dr Brady to provide me with an assessment of industry’s adoption of his recommendations in six months’ time, including changes that the regulator will make to perform its vital role," he said. Dr Lynham said work was already underway to improve the incident reporting system and establish a serious incident investigation unit, with specialist staff. https://www.i-q.net.au/main/mining-industry-caught-in-fatality-cycle-report-warns

‘Damning’ findings spark call for full mine safety inquiry

Industry Queensland

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