More modern and productive workplace practices will be required across the Sunshine State’s resources industry.
State Parliament recently passed the Resources Safety and Health Legislation Amendment Bill to improve employee safety and better protect individuals.
The most significant changes reflect the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry’s final recommendations about Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), following the 2020 methane explosion Anglo American’s Grosvenor underground coal mine, 199km southwest of Mackay.
The reforms also promote high reliability organisation behaviours, update regulatory enforcement powers and keep relevant legislation “contemporary and effective”. Mandatory critical controls will better address serious mine site risks while enforceable undertakings will be introduced for the first time.
“All changes to the Resources Safety Acts were informed by recommendations from the [2019 Sean] Brady review into fatal accidents at Queensland mines, Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry, coronial inquest into the death of Gareth Dodunski and industry consultation,” a spokesperson for State Resources and Critical Minerals Scott Stewart said in a public statement.
“RSHQ’s petroleum and gas inspectors will now be able to compel relevant people to give information or answer questions. This was a recommendation from the coroner after its inquest into the tragic [2013] death of Gareth Dodunski [at Fairwell Mining Camp].”
Stewart also thanked grieving parents Philip and Michelle Dodunski who “bravely recounted the devastating loss of their son during the Committee hearings”.
The couple previously described the responsible employers Santos and Saxon Energy Services Australia as “complete cowboys” who got away with it “every time”.
“RSHQ needs to be doing unannounced inspections … on these multinational companies. They are the sheriff of the industry – get out there and do your job,” they earlier said according to the Australian Associated Press.
Click here to read the full legislation wording.
Related articles
‘Catastrophic’ blow to head killed worker says authority
Mineral producers should put worker safety first says authority
Authority supports worker ‘right’ to ignore mining bosses
New mine site death reported in less than two years.
Add Comment