The CFMEU says that the major report into Queensland mining fatalities released in Parliament warns that more workers will die unless the industry comprehensively changes its approach to safety.
The Brady Review of all fatal accidents in Queensland mines and quarries from 2000 to 2019 is a thorough and timely report that points to industry complacency on safety and a disturbing lack of basic measures like training and supervision contributing to fatalities, the Miners’ Union said.
“I commend Dr Brady on his thorough work and his broad-reaching findings,” said CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Stephen Smyth.
“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.
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“It is sobering to read that fatalities are more often caused by ‘banal, straightforward’ events than freak accidents.”
The report finds that system failures were a greater factor than human error in 47 fatalities across the mining industry:
“Almost all of the fatalities were the result of systemic, organisational, supervision or training failures, either with or without the presence of human error. Human error alone would not have caused these fatalities.”
It also finds that complacency had crept into the industry after a period of lower fatalities, with employers willing to tolerate a higher level of risk.
“This report is damning about the state of safety in the Queensland mining industry,” said Mr Smyth.
“The Union supports its 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.”
Source: News Release CFMEU
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