PERTH (miningweekly.com) – New laws will come into effect in Queensland on Wednesday, with executives facing up to 20 years’ jail if the state’s resources sector workers die because of their criminal negligence, Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said.
He noted that the new legislation would better protect the state’s 66 000 resources sector workers, while workers would also have their own safety and health champion in a new independent resources safety and health authority.
“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,” Lynham said.
“In the twenty-first 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.
“Health and safety responsibility resides with everyone, from executives in head office to workers on site.”
Meanwhile, a new independent statutory body, Resources Safety and Health Queensland, also came into existence on Wednesday. It has responsibility for regulating safety and health across the state’s mines, quarries, petroleum and gas sites, and the explosives supply chain.
The regulator will report directly to the Minister.