Improving the health and safety of workers at all mine and petroleum sitesThe Resources Regulator has developed a health control plan guide that will inform operators and other persons conducting a business or undertaking at a mine or petroleum site of their legislative requirements, to ensure the highest health and safety standards for workers are in place. In addition to scheduled workshops aimed at helping mines develop or update their health control plan, the regulator has produced a series of online educational videosand guidance materials. Developing a health control planUse our guide, tools and resources to develop a health control plan:
Exposure monitoringControlling health risks requires operators to monitor for the existence of health hazards and monitor the exposure of workers to those hazards. The exposure monitoring video (above) refers to quartz (or silica) being in high proportion in the earth’s crust. This is more accurately stated as “silica is a mineral found in high proportion in the earth’s crust. The most common crystalline form of silica is quartz. Quartz has been associated with a variety of diseases primarily affecting the lung.” Health monitoringSome prescribed hazards require health monitoring of exposed workers to be conducted. Health monitoring is conducted by a medical practitioner with experience or training in occupational medicine. Health control plan workshopsAll mines, quarries and petroleum sites are required to develop and implement a health control plan. To assist mines with this, the Resources Regulator will be delivering workshops ‘Develop and implement a health control plan’ workshop is targeting sites that are yet to develop and or implement their health control plan. Sites that have already implemented a health control plan or who are looking to bring their health management plan in-line with current legislative requirements, may find the ‘Evaluate and review a health control plan’ workshop of assistance. The workshop is best suited to those who have responsibility for the implementation of the Health Control Plan.
Health managementTele-survey reportThe Lead health indicator report was produced for the Health Management Advisory Committee to examine lead health indicators. The report details the outcomes from a telephone survey of mines and quarries about actions they are taking to address priority health issues including noise, fatigue, dust, diesel particulate and musculoskeletal disorders. Download copies of the reports:
Health indicator fact sheetsUse our health indicator fact sheets for information on best practice for managing specific health hazards and performance standards. These performance standards can be used to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of your controls.
Report on workers’ compensation claims data for lag health indicatorsA report examining 10 years of workers’ compensation claims data for lag health indicators was produced in 2011 and 2013 for the Health Management Advisory Committee. It examined data on three indicators:
Download copies of the reports:
Read more about the Mine Safety Advisory Council. Guidance materialsSafe Work Australia has a range of guidance materials in relation to health monitoring:
Airborne contaminantsAirborne contaminants are generated during mining activities and can be a risk to health if not properly managed. Mine Safety has developed a factsheet on Airborne contaminants Coal Services also has a range of publications on airborne contaminants including:
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[PDF, 69.04 KB] across NSW.
