Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion yesterday launched a new video campaign titled “Know Your Hazards”, aimed at raising issues about mine site hazards after a study conducted in Western Australia revealed a strong downward trend in WA mine site deaths since 2002.
Image credit: www.dmp.wa.gov.au
The study conducted in WA also revealed that most mining accidents involve miners that have been working on mine sites for less than a year and occur as a result of incorrect use of equipment.
According to the Minister’s statement, the new video series will be incorporated into WA’s world-class underground mine training centre “The Cut” in Perth and will be shown all over WA during the The Mines Safety Roadshow that will travel to Geraldton, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Newman, Karratha, Port Hedland and Mandurah and finish in Perth on 29 October 2014.
“This is about saving lives, and what could be more important? The Department of Mines and Petroleum has identified some dangerous lifting and rigging practices that have led to a disturbing number of fatalities, serious accidents and near misses in recent years. To protect yourself you must know what can harm you, and these videos provide key pointers on the basics of friction, tensile strength and centre of gravity,” the Minister said.
“That is why these videos are vital and places like the education centre are so important, giving prospective miners as realistic an experience as possible before they enter the workplace.”
The videos will also be available online.
