A new report released by Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion is set to help lay the groundwork for further reductions in mining fatality and injury rates in West Australia.
The ‘Serious Injury Review’ forms part of the government’s wide ranging safety reform programme as well as determination to make a difference.
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Marmion said: "While injury rates have continued to drop, the trend for serious and potentially fatal injuries has now flattened.
"Despite a fatality free year in 2012 and six deaths in 2009, there have been on average two to three deaths per year on Western Australian mine sites.
"This report identifies an annual average of 200 high consequence injuries which have very similar causal factors to fatalities."
The inaugural report identifies risk profiles and reviews the rate of high severity injuries including amputations, fractures and crush injuries that could help provide key indicators.
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By GlobalDataIn order to conduct the review, the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) analysed 658 serious injuries, including three fatalities that were reported during the six months period from 1 July to 31 December 2013.
In 2014, a review was made of 52 fatal mining industry accidents that took place between 2000 and 2012.
Both the reviews identified three main hazards facing mine workers which include falling while working at height, being in the line of fire from objects or suspended loads.
The third danger faced by mine workers is being struck or crushed by machines or heavy components.
