The NSW coal mining industry has been urged to keep safety at the forefront of its thoughts, as the world pauses today to commemorate Workers’ Memorial Day and those who have died due to a workplace incident or occupational disease.
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With April 28 also marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, NSW Minister for Resources Don Harwin said it was a timely reminder that the entire industry must work together to ensure each worker returns home safely after every shift.
“The NSW coal mining industry’s impressive health and safety track record is a testament to the collaboration and dedication of government and industry,” Mr Harwin said.
“Workplace health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. From workers and employers, to local communities coal mines operate in and all levels of government - we must continue to work together to deliver the best possible health and safety outcomes every day.”
Northern Mining & NSW Energy CFMEU, president Peter Jordan, said the health and safety of workers must remain the industry’s number one priority.
“The industry currently employs more than 19,000 men and women in coal production across NSW, and there is nothing more important than their health and safety. One person with a workplace illness or injury is one too many,” he said.
Coal Services is the Specialised Health and Safety Scheme for the NSW coal mining industry.
Managing Director CEO, Lucy Flemming, said a holistic approach was necessary as the industry continued to work towards achieving its goal of zero harm.
“Workers’ Memorial Day is a reminder of the importance of continuous improvement in the areas of health and safety,” Ms Flemming said.
“Our multi-pronged approach focuses on the four key pillars of prevention, detection, enforcement and education, and we are constantly working with industry to ensure workplace injuries and illnesses are avoided,”
NSW Minerals Council CEO, Stephen Galilee, said the sector’s success in ensuring safe workplaces and a healthy workforce was a collective effort.
“Here in NSW, we are fortunate that the State’s stringent regulatory approach is coupled with an unwavering commitment from all industry stakeholders to the highest safety culture standards,” Mr Galilee said.
“However, we cannot become complacent. Continued collaboration is the key to ensuring our systems and processes remain best practice, and that we are able to best protect every single worker within the industry.’