Safety Net Tightens for Queensland Resources Workers

Australia’s toughest mine safety laws have officially taken effect in Queensland, with executives now facing up to 20 years’ jail if resources sector workers die because of their criminal negligence.

A new independent statutory body – Resources Safety and Health Queensland – has also come into effect. It has responsibility for regulating safety and health across the state’s mines, quarries, petroleum and gas sites, and the explosives supply chain.

Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the new industrial manslaughter offence would better protect the state’s 66,000 sector workers.

“Sadly eight workers have died on the job in our mines and quarries in the past two years and just in May this year five miners were seriously injured at an underground coal mine,” Dr Lynham said.

“In the 21^st century, this is unacceptable. I sincerely hope the new industrial manslaughter laws never have to be used, and that instead, everyone takes full responsibility for their obligations on-site to protect the safety and health of our workers.”

The changes complement a suite of sweeping mine safety and health reforms in Queensland, the most substantial suite of reforms in 20 years. They include:

• better detection and prevention of black lung, and other mine dust lung diseases, and an improved safety net for affected workers.
• increased maximum penalties for offences to $4 million and powers for the regulator to issue fines without going to court.
• statewide safety reset sessions for mine and quarry workers to refocus on health and safety.
• $35 million to deliver reforms to improve the safety and health of mineworkers.
• powers to suspend or cancel statutory certificates of competency.
• a commitment to tighter controls on mine dust levels.
• extra mines inspectors.

Last month, the Queensland government also announced that the state’s 15,000 mineral mine and quarry workers would soon have free lung health checks for life to protect them from mine dust lung diseases like silicosis.

The mandatory free checks will apply from 1 September.