Mine safety performance report, 2017-2018 · 2019-02-21 · MINE SAFET PERFORMANCE REPORT....

2017 - 2018

Mine safety performance report

NSWResourcesRegulator

Document control

Published by NSW Resources Regulator

Title: Mine safety performance report, 2017-18

First published: February 2019

Authorised by: Chief Compliance Officer

CM9 Reference: DOC19/92544-1

© State of New South Wales through the NSW Department of Planning and Environment 2019.

This publication is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal use or for non-commercial use within your organisation. To copy, adapt, publish, distribute or commercialise any of this publication you will need to seek permission from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

Disclaimer: The data in this report was extracted from the NSW Resources Regulator’s compliance database on 6 August 2018. Apart from serious injury classification data that was updated on 18 November 2018 and fatality data that was updated on 15 February 2019, all data analysis was performed on data as it was at the time of data extraction on 6 August 2018. However, because of receipt of new information, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date. If you are concerned about the currency of any of the information in the report, please check with the appropriate officer of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au

http://www.resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au

MINE SAFETY PERFORMANCE REPORT 2017-2018

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5

Key performance measures - summary ......................................................................................................... 7

EXPLANATORY NOTES 10

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW 11

Industry overview statistics and performance measures 2017-18 .....................................................................11

Industry statistics .................................................................................................................................... 12

Mines by sector ...................................................................................................................................... 12

Fatal injuries ........................................................................................................................................... 13

Serious injuries ....................................................................................................................................... 18

Lost time injuries .....................................................................................................................................24

Injury outcomes of seven days or more ......................................................................................................26

Total recordable injuries ...........................................................................................................................28

Complaints ............................................................................................................................................ 31

Safety notices .........................................................................................................................................32

COAL SECTOR 34

Statistics and performance measures 2017-18 ............................................................................................34

Fatal injury frequency rates ......................................................................................................................36



Injury outcomes of seven days or more ....................................................................................................... 41


Notified safety incidents ..........................................................................................................................45

Complaints ............................................................................................................................................46

Safety notices ......................................................................................................................................... 47

METALLIFEROUS SECTOR 49

Statistics and performance measures for 2017-18 ........................................................................................49

Serious injuries .......................................................................................................................................52


3NSW RESOURCES REGULATOR


Injury outcomes of seven days or more .......................................................................................................56


Notified safety incidents ..........................................................................................................................60

Complaints ............................................................................................................................................ 61

Safety notices .........................................................................................................................................62

EXTRACTIVES SECTOR 64

Statistics and performance measures for 2017-18 ........................................................................................64

Fatal injuries ...........................................................................................................................................65



Lost time injury frequency rates ................................................................................................................. 70

Injury outcomes of seven days or more ....................................................................................................... 71

Injury outcomes of seven days or more frequency rates ................................................................................72

Total recordable injuries ........................................................................................................................... 73

Notified safety incidents .......................................................................................................................... 75

Complaints ............................................................................................................................................ 76

Safety notices .........................................................................................................................................77

OPAL SECTOR 79

Fatal injuries, serious injuries and notified incidents .....................................................................................79

Complaints and safety notices ..................................................................................................................79

PETROLEUM SECTOR 80

Fatal injuries, serious injuries and notified incidents .....................................................................................80

Complaints and safety notices ...................................................................................................................80

NATIONAL TARGETS 2012 – 2022 81

Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 ................................................................................ 81

NSW Mining industry contributions to national targets ................................................................................. 81

APPENDICES 82

Appendix 1. Definitions ............................................................................................................................82

Appendix 2. Mine definitions....................................................................................................................85

Contents



Executive summary This report provides an overview of the health and safety performance of the NSW mining and petroleum industry as reported to the NSW Resources Regulator, in conjunction with selected regulatory activities over that same period. The report is for the financial year 2017-18, and comparisons are made with certain indicators over a ten year period from 2008-09.

While the report does not tell of the breadth of innovative and proactive risk management by the industry’s duty holders or detail the many activities of the Regulator, it does feature an important suite of measures to help guide future actions to improve health and safety performance and to allow industry to benchmark their performance against others in their sector.

Work health and safety regulatory intervention has been in place in the Australian mining industry for more than a century. While the NSW mining industry has continued to minimise the risk to health and safety of workers with zero fatalities in 2017-18, there were still 82 serious injuries, 239 lost time injuries, 226 injury outcomes (lost time and restricted duty) of seven days or more and 920 total recordable injuries reported to the NSW Resources Regulator in that period.

There has been a long term decrease in fatal injuries in the NSW mining coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors recorded since 1900. Since 2008-09, the rolling five year average frequency rate of fatal injuries ranged from a low of 0.014 to a high of 0.035 injuries per million hours worked. This is likely due to the small numbers of fatalities.

The rolling five year average frequency rate of serious injuries (per million hours worked) showed a decreasing trend over time until 2014-15 where the rate sharply rose. This is due to the introduction of the Work Health and Safety (Mining & Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 on 1 February 2015 which broadened the legislated definition of serious injury to now also include additional injury types, as well as any injury irrespective of its nature that results in immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital.Since the introduction of this new definition, the number of serious injuries reported has effectively doubled. This provides a valuable source of information on the types of injuries occurring in order to guide regulatory activity.

The most common serious injury hazard for coal mines, metalliferous and extractives mines in the period 2008-09 to 2017-18 is being hit by a moving object, followed by slips, trips and falls. Together those two mechanisms accounted for around three quarters of the serious injuries in 2017-18 (62 from 82).

Since 2008-09, the rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) has steadily declined from 10.865 to 4.631 in 2017-18, a reduction of around 57%. This rate was down 3% from 4.774 in 2016-17 to 4.631 in 2017-18.

Improved safety practices certainly have contributed to this result. In addition, other factors, including injury under reporting by industry and improved return to work and injury management practices would have also contributed to a smaller extent.

As always, it is important to caution against overreliance on failure (lag) data to monitor safety performance as that means that improvement or changes are only determined after something has gone wrong. While lag indicators like those in this report have a place in understanding control failure, our proactive safety assessment program is focused on checking whether critical controls are effective and operating as intended. Both are needed to provide a full and complete picture.


https://www.resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au/safety-and-health/mine-safety-regulatory-reform/safety-assessment-programs


In a high hazard industry, a concerted and sustained effort is required by both industry and the Regulator to maintain a dedicated focus on preventing catastrophic events. Our Incident Prevention Strategy shifts the focus of its compliance activity from incident investigation (reactive) to preventing incidents through planned, risk-based interventions (preventative).

During 2017-18, we embarked on significant activity through our compliance and enforcement strategy. Sixty one planned Targeted Assessment Programs (TAPs) were undertaken in order to assess the efficacy of a mining operation in controlling its most significant risks – or principal hazards. We also undertook seven reactive Targeted Intervention Programs (TIPs) which aim to maximise voluntary compliance to prevent multiple fatality and single fatality events, and serious injury, following an identified safety issue. See the Annual Business Activity Report 2017-18 for more details.

In addition, as part of the targeted assessments, interventions and investigations conducted during the year, we issued 1,385 mine safety notices including 244 prohibition notices in 2017-18. A similar amount of mine safety notices have been issued over the past four years (2014-15 to 2017-18). The opal sector saw a marked increase in safety notices in the last two years because more safety notices were issued in that sector in response to our targeted safety operation.

Between 2014-15 and 2017-18, the proportion of improvement notices relative to notices of concern (advice) continued to increase. There was also an increase in the number of prohibition notices in that time. This reflected our renewed focus on incident prevention where we sought to clearly identify matters that necessitate the issue of an improvement notice as compared to a written notice of concern.

Finally, the NSW mining industry is on track to contribute toward the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022 targets of a 20% reduction in fatalities, a 30% reduction in the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work, and a 30 % reduction in the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work due to musculoskeletal disorders. Similar measures in this report are showing favourable trends in line with the national targets.

Since 2008-09, the rolling five year average frequency rate of fatal injuries has ranged from a low of 0.014 to a high of 0.035 injuries per million hours worked.




https://www.resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/834590/RR-MineSafety-AnnualActivityReport_2017-2018-web-optimised.pdf


Fatalinjuries

Seriousinjuries

Lost timeinjuries

Injury outcomes

of seven days or more

Key performance measures - summary

Zero mining fatalities occurred during 2017-18.

In 2017-18, the rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) decreased by 6% compared to 2016-17 (from 0.035 to 0.033).

Note, the FIFR has ranged from a low of 0.014 to a high of 0.035 injuries per million hours worked in the ten years since 2008-09, showing an overall steady trend as the relatively small numbers can cause fluctuation. Since 1900, there has been a long term decrease over time in mining fatality numbers.

In the full three year period since the commencement of the Work Health and Safety (Mining & Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 (it commenced 1 February 2015), the number of serious injuries reported to the Regulator by the coal, metalliferous and extractives sector increased year on year. Under the new regulation, the definition of serious injury was expanded, contributing to the increases observed.

In 2017-18, the serious injury frequency rate (SIFR) for the coal, metalliferous and extractives sector was up to 1.116 from 1.012. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of approximately 10%. Over the ten year reporting period, the SIFR decreased by almost 6%.

The most common serious injury hazard for coal mines and metalliferous and extractives mines in the reporting period is being hit by a moving object, followed by slips, trips and falls. Together those two mechanisms accounted for three quarters of all serious injuries (62 of the 82) in 2017-18.

Since 2008-09, the rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rates (LTIFR) has steadily declined from 10.865 to 4.631 in 2017-18, a reduction of around 57%.

Improved safety practices contributed to this result. In addition, other factors, including injury under reporting by industry and improved return to work and injury management practices could have also contributed.

In 2017-18, there were 226 lost time or restricted duty injuries of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days or more). This is up 29 compared to the previous year. Whilst this number has shown a small increase since the previous year, in the ten years since 2008-09, the number of injuries of this type has almost halved, from 413 in 2008-09 to 226 in 2017-18. The rolling five year average frequency rate of LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days or more has decreased by almost 40% when compared to 2012-13.

ExECutivE suMMary



In 2017-18, the number of safety incident notifications to the Regulator were similar to those recorded in the previous year (1986 in 2017-18 and 1971 in 2016-17). Across the reporting decade, the coal sector accounted for almost 84% of all notified safety incidents, in 2017-18, 82% of safety incidents notified were from the coal sector.

In 2016, we streamlined and centralised our complaints reporting and incident notification processes. We also changed the way we recorded complaints. As a result, the number of complaints showed a marked increase in 2016-17 and 2017-18 when compared to previous years. In 2017-18, the number of complaints were similar to those in 2016-17 (from 117 to 106 respectively). This provides a rich source of intelligence in order to guide regulatory activity.

In 2017-18, we issued 1,385 safety notices which is a similar result when comparing the past four years (2014-15 to 2017-18).

The opal sector saw the biggest change in the last two years where more safety notices were issued in that sector in response to our targeted safety operation.

From 2016, the proportion of improvement notices relative to notices of concern (advice) increased. There was also an increase in the number of prohibition notices. This reflects our renewed focus on incident prevention where we sought to clearly identify matters that necessitated the issue of an improvement notice as compared to a written notice of concern.

Though a small increase in total recordable injuries (TRI) was recorded in 2017-18 compared to 2016-17, the number of total recordable incidents has shown an overall declining trend since 2008-09. The rolling five year average total recordable injuries frequency rate (TRIFR) decreased by approximately 3% from 2016-17 to 2017-18. Since 2012-13, an overall steady downward trend in TFIFR was observed for coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors.

Total recordable incidents

Notified safety

incidents

Complaints

Safety notices

ExECutivE suMMary



tablE 1. NSW COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES COMPARISON OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2016-17 AND 2017-18

Key

Perf

orm

ance

In

dica

tors

Coa

l Und

erg

roun

dC

oal S

urfa

ceC

oal T

otal

Met

allif

erou

s U

nder

gro

und

Met

allif

erou

s Su

rfac

eM

etal

lifer

ous

Tota

lEx

trac

tives

Coa

l, M

etal

lifer

ous

and

Ext

ract

ives

To

tal

20

16-1

72

017

-18

20

16-1

72

017

-18

20

16-1

72

017

-18

20

16-1

72

017

-18

20

16-1

72

017

-18

20

16-1

72

017

-18

20

16-1

72

017

-18

20

16-1

72

017

-18

Mill

ion

hour

s w

orke

d13

,05

8,4

76

13,3

84

,078

2

8,0

69,

25

3

28

,54

5,2

03

4

1,12

7,72

9

41,

929,

28

1 6

,817

,78

8

6,4

95,5

49

5

,310

,54

0

5,5

47,0

52

12

,12

8,3

28

12

,04

2,6

01

5,3

34

,38

5

5,1

91,

62

3

58

,59

0,4

42

5

9,16

3,5

05

Full

time

equi

vale

nt

emp

loye

es6

,52

9

6,6

92

14,0

35

14

,273

2

0,5

64

2

0,9

65

3

,40

9

3,2

48

2

,65

5

2,7

74

6,0

64

6

,02

2

2,6

67

2,5

96

2

9,2

95

29,

58

3

Fata

l inj

urie

s (F

I)0

0

1

01

01

0

0

0

1 0

0

0

2

0

FIFR

5 y

ear a

vera

ge

0.0

240.

027

0.0

21

0.0

21

0.0

22

0.0

23

0.0

83

0.0

670.

00

00.

00

00.

06

00.

047

0.0

83

0.0

81

0.0

35

0.0

33

Lost

tim

e in

jurie

s (L

TI)

123

10

9

53

6

0

176

16

9

24

12

19

21

43

3

3

46

37

2

65

2

39

LTIF

R 5

yea

r ave

rag

e8

.74

08

.614

2.3

38

2.2

20

4.6

68

4.4

673

.497

3.4

182

.83

93

.04

53

.33

43

.393

10.0

40

9.6

09

4.7

744

.63

1

Rest

ricte

d d

uty

inju

ries

(RD

I)18

7

257

6

8

69

2

55

3

26

87

67

24

2

5

111

92

17

52

3

83

47

0

Med

ical

trea

tmen

t in

jurie

s (M

TI)

738

05

23

812

511

84

024

21

116

13

54

957

23

52

10

Tota

l rec

ord

able

inju

ries

(TRI

)3

83

4

46

17

4

168

5

57

614

15

2

103

6

4

57

216

16

0

112

14

6

88

5

920

TRIF

R 5

yea

r ave

rag

e3

1.17

93

1.9

42

6.4

796

.267

15.4

71

15.1

34

22

.03

12

0.4

66

11.4

28

11.7

43

19.0

50

17.8

31

27.9

742

6.6

33

17.1

89

16.6

43

Serio

us in

jurie

s (S

I)4

8

29

2

1 2

6

69

5

5

17

6

4

6

21

12

12

13

102

8

0

SIFR

5 y

ear a

vera

ge

1.8

54

2.0

25

0.4

52

0.5

40

0.9

42

1.0

471.

08

01.

115

0.92

20.

96

10.

98

61.

02

61.

741

1.97

51.

012

1.11

6

LTIs

/RD

Is ≥

7 d

ays

147

16

6

38

4

8

185

2

14

7

3

1 3

8

6

4

6

19

7

22

6

LTI/

RDI ≥

7 d

ays

FR 5

ye

ar a

vera

ge

12.7

7212

.314

1.6

09

1.5

22

5.6

735

.24

90.

66

10.

64

51.

010

0.93

10.

759

0.73

11.

86

51.

751

4.3

38

4.0

05

Safe

ty In

cid

ent

notifi

catio

ns1,

133

1,

047

4

56

57

3

1,5

89

1,

62

0

168

19

1 78

5

2

246

24

3

135

12

0

1,97

0

1,9

83

Safe

ty C

omp

lain

t no

tifica

tions

21

21

31

41

52

62

115

37

1412

172

08

39

4

Safe

ty N

otic

es is

sued

413

3

68

13

4

207

5

47

575

14

3

184

3

8

77

18

1 2

61

42

9

46

2

1,15

7

1,2

98

ExECutivE suMMary



Explanatory Notes NSW mining industry data was extracted from Resources Regulator’s database in 2018

This report presents health and safety performance data on injuries (fatal, serious injuries, lost time and lost time or restricted duty with outcomes of seven days or more), notified safety incidents, complaints and hours worked. All information presented was either reported to the NSW Resources Regulator within the Department of Planning and Environment (the Regulator) by the NSW mining and extractives industry through quarterly work health and safety reporting or through incident notification, or was information obtained from safety (enforcement and advice) notices issued by the Regulator. See Appendix 1 for definitions.

Sector based chapters in the report have been included for the following mining operation types: coal, metalliferous, extractives, petroleum, opal sectors. While exploration sites are included within each relevant operation type, a stand-alone sector has also been included. Appendix 2 lists further details about operation types.

Data in this report was extracted from the Regulator’s compliance database on 6 August 2018. Apart from serious injury classification data that was updated on 18 November 2018 and fatality data that was updated on 15 February 2019, all data analysis was performed on data as it was at the time of data extraction on 6 August 2018. The reporting period is for ten years, from 2008-09 to 2017-18.

Rate based frequency measures are calculated using quarterly report data

In NSW, coal, metalliferous and extractives mining operations are required to submit quarterly work health and safety forms with lost time and restricted duty injury information as well as hours worked. This information was used to generate frequency rates.

It is worth noting that mandatory quarterly reporting commenced as follows for the:

• coal sector - beginning of 2007-08

• metalliferous and extractives - second quarter of 2008-09

• coal exploration sites - 1 February 2015.

Until the beginning of 2007-08, hours worked, and lost time injury data for the coal sector were sourced from Coal Services Pty Ltd. Until quarter two 2008-09, metalliferous and extractives hours worked, and lost time injuries were compiled from several sources and included some estimation.

Frequency rates (per million hours worked) have been calculated for each injury measure. Rates were based on hours worked data submitted by the coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors as part of the quarterly reporting requirements listed above. Petroleum sites, underground small gemstone mines, opal mines and tourist mines are not required to submit quarterly reports. Frequency rates are therefore not available for the non-coal other (such as opal mines) and petroleum (onshore) sectors.

Wherever possible, a rolling five year average was calculated for rate based measures. This statistical smoothing technique charts the average annual value for the past five years enabling a long-term trend to be produced directly from raw data. It is particularly useful where values may vary widely from year to year.

All data is subject to continuous improvement due to internal audit and validation processes and updates from external sources. Incorrectly classified information from past years is sometimes found and reclassified in source databases. The Regulator’s reporting employs the best available data at the time of data extraction, which may differ from previously published figures.



industry overview

• Zero fatal injuries recorded in 2017-18

• Rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) was down almost 6% from 0.035 in 2016- 17 to 0.033 in 2017-18. Note, relatively small numbers can cause fluctuation

• 82 serious injuries – most common mechanism is being hit by moving object

• Rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) up 10% from 1.012 in 2016-17 to 1.116 in 2017-18

• 239 lost time injuries – a decrease of almost 10% compared to the previous year

• Rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) down 3% from 4.774 in 2016-17 to 4.631 in 2017-18

• Together, being hit by a moving object, followed by slips, trips and falls, accounted for 62 of the 82 of

serious injuries (76%) in 2017-18

• 226 injury (lost time or restricted duty) outcomes of seven days or more. Since 2008-09, the number of injuries of this type has fallen by 45%

• Rolling five year average (lost time or restricted duty) outcomes of seven days or more rate (per million hours worked) down almost 8% from 4.338 in 2016-17 to 4.005 in 2017-18

• 920 total recordable injuries

• Rolling five year average total recordable injuries rate (per million hours worked) down 3% from 17.189 in 2016-17 to 16.643 in 2017-18

• 1,986 safety incidents notified to the Regulator

• 117 complaints

• 1,385 safety notices – 244 were prohibition notices

Industry overview statistics and performance measures 2017-18

7,438TOTAL ACTIVE

MINING OPERATIONS

59.6MILLION HOURS

WORKED

84

195

3,928

690

3,510

2,588

3,478

403

OTHER ACTIVE MINING OPERATIONS

ACTIVE COAL MINING OPERATIONS

SURFACE OPERATIONS

ACTIVE METALLIFEROUS MINING OPERATIONS

UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS

ACTIVE EXTRACTIVES MINING OPERATIONS

ACTIVE OPAL MINING OPERATIONS

ACTIVE PETROLEUM MINING OPERATIONS

39.28 19.88 31.66 27.51MILLION HOURS

WORKED - SURFACEMILLION HOURS

WORKED - UNDERGROUND

MILLION HOURS WORKED BY EMPLOYEES

MILLION HOURS WORKED BY OTHERS

E.G. CONTRACTORS



Industry statisticsMines by sector

During the twelve months covered by this report; a total of 7,438 mining operations were reported as ‘active’ (open mines, open mines that operate intermittently, mines that are under care and maintenance and open tourist mines) to the Regulator. Breakdown by sector includes: 195 coal, 690 metalliferous, 2,588 extractives, 403 petroleum, 3,478 opal and 84 other (e.g. coal handling preparation plants and workshops).

Hours worked

From 2016-17 to 2017-18, work activity in the NSW mining industry increased overall by 1% from 58.59 to 59.16 million hours. The vast majority of hours were worked in the coal sector (71%, or 41.93 million of the total 59.16 million).

The number of hours worked in the coal sector in 2017-18 increased by 2% when compared to 2016-17. However, the number of hours worked in the extractive and metalliferous sectors decreased by almost 3% and 1% respectively in that same time.

At the close of the ten year reporting period, the number of hours worked had also increased by 14% from 51.81 million hours worked in 2008-09 to 59.16 million hours worked in 2017-18. For the coal sector, hours worked increased by 14%, metalliferous by 15%, and the extractives sector increased its hours worked by 14%.

The opal and petroleum sectors are not represented in NSW hours worked figures because mining operators in these sectors are not required to submit quarterly reporting data to the Regulator.

FigurE 1. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES HOURS WORKED BY SECTOR 2008-09 TO 2017-18

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180M

5M

10M

15M

20M

25M

30M

35M

40M

45M

50M

55M

60M

65M

70M

75M

10.50M10.95M

14.01M

15.93M 14.96M

14.83M

13.63M

11.65M12.13M 12.04M

36.75M40.24M

44.69M

52.67M 52.93M48.10M

42.84M39.75M 41.13M 41.93M

4.56M3.91M

4.06M

4.53M 4.77M

4.76M

5.05M

4.22M5.33M 5.19M

51.81M55.10M

62.75M

73.13M 72.65M

67.70M

61.51M

55.63M58.59M 59.16M

Extractive mines Metalliferous mines Coal mines

iNdustry ovErviEw


The worker was driving an articulated dump truck as part of rehabilitation activities at the mine. After being loaded with topsoil, the dump truck was seen to veer off the haul road and come to a stop about 250 metres away. The driver was found unresponsive and attempts to resuscitate the worker were unsuccessful.

NSW Police, NSW Ambulance Service and the NSW Resources Regulator responded to the incident.

The NSW Resources Regulator conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the worker’s death. As a result of the information obtained during the investigation, the NSW Resources Regulator does not consider the worker’s death to be work-related.

See Incident Information Release - IIR18-01 and IIR18-13.

Spotlight: Non-work-related death: Worker at an open cut coal mine in Glendell, 17 January 2018


Fatal injuries

Fatal injuries during 2017-18

In 2017-18 there were zero mining fatalities recorded in NSW. There was one non-work-related death reported at an open cut coal mine.

iNdustry ovErviEw


https://www.resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/798206/PUB18-16-Investigation-Information-Release-Fatality_Glendell_mine17Jan2018-IIR18-01-IU.pdf

https://www.resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/847542/Investigation-Information-Release-Death-of-worker-at-the-Glendell-Mine-on-17-January-2018.pdf


Fatal injuries in NSW mining since 1900

There has been a long term overall decrease in the number of NSW mining fatal injuries in the coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors. It is important to note that from 1989, fatal injury data for all sectors became available.

FigurE 2. FATAL INJURIES BY SECTOR 1900 TO 2017-18

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 402017-182015-162013-142011-122009-102007-082005-062003-042001-021999-001997-981995-961993-941991-921989-901987-881985-861983-841981-821979-801977-781975-761973-741971-721969-70

19681966196419621960195819561954195219501948194619441942194019381936193419321930192819261924192219201918191619141912191019081906190419021900

Coal mines Metalliferous and Extractives mines

Opal mines Petroleum sites

105

iNdustry ovErviEw



Fatal injuries by sector

Fatal injuries in the coal sector represent just over half (53%) of all fatal injuries that occurred in the ten year period since 2008-09, accounting for nine out of the 17 fatal injuries in the period.

FigurE 3. FATAL INJURIES BY SECTOR 2008-09 TO 2017-18

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

1

2

3

4

5

6

1

2

1

1

1

1

13

1

4

1

3

1 1 1

5

2

1

3

Petroleum and Geothermal sites

Opal minesExtractives minesMetalliferous minesCoal mines

iNdustry ovErviEw



Fatal injury frequency rate

There has been a long term decrease in the number of NSW mining fatal injuries since 1900 in the coal, metalliferous and extractives sector. Further, the rolling five year average (per million hours worked) is down almost 6% from 0.035 in 2016-17 to 0.033 in 2017-18.

It is worthwhile noting that relatively small numbers of fatalities recorded can cause fluctuating frequency rates. The rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) has ranged from a low of 0.014 to a high of 0.035 injuries per million hours worked in the ten years since 2008-09 showing an overall fairly steady trend over time.

FigurE 4. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

0.054

0.028 0.027

0.060

0.024

0.000

0.0220.019

0.024

0.086

0.027

0.086

0.027

0.014

0.022

0.015

0.042

0.021

0.035

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.023

0.021

0.028

0.030

0.083

0.0280.033

0.017

0.025

0.047

0.019 0.018

0.081

Coal mines Metalliferous mines Extractive mines Coal, Metalliferous and Extractive mines

The rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) is down almost 6% from 0.035 in 2016-17 to 0.033 in 2017-18.

iNdustry ovErviEw



Fatal hazards

The most common fatal hazard in the period 2008-09 to 2017-18 is being hit by a moving object (11 from a total of 17 fatalities or 65%) followed by vehicle incidents (4 from a total of 17 fatalities).

FigurE 5. FATAL INJURIES BY HAZARD MECHANISM 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

4

5

6

1

1

3

1

3

1 1 1

2

1

2

3

1 1 1

5

2

1

3

Falls, trips and slips of a person

Unspecified mechanisms

Heat, electricity and other environmental factors

Vehicle incidents andother incidents

Being hit by movingobjects

iNdustry ovErviEw



Serious injuries

Serious injuries by sector

There were 82 serious injuries reported in the mining industry during 2017-18. Since the Work Health and Safety (Mining & Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 commenced in February 2015, the number of serious injuries reported to the Regulator has more than doubled. The new regulation broadened the legislated definition of serious injury to also include additional injury types, as well as any injury irrespective of its nature that results in immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital. This has contributed to the observed increase.

FigurE 6. SERIOUS INJURIES BY SECTOR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

17

12

13

10

12

26

21

12

2833 30

36 32

19

4153

69

55

45

5

5

7

6 8

5

944 4642

53

38

29

58

98102

82

Petroleum and Geothermal sites

Opal minesExtractives minesMetalliferous minesCoal mines

Since February 2015, the definition of a serious injury was expanded and includes any injury that results in immediate treatment as an in-patient at a hospital.

iNdustry ovErviEw



Serious injury frequency rates

For the coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors, the rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (SIFR) to 2017-18 was 1.116. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of approximately 10%.

It is important to note that in the ten years since 2008-09, despite the recent increases, the industry has experienced a 6% decrease in the rolling five year average frequency rate of serious injuries. Again, it should be noted that the legislated definition of serious injury was expanded in early 2015 to now also include additional injury types, as well as any injury irrespective of its nature that results in immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital. This will have contributed to the observed increase.

FigurE 7. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE SIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

1.2181.208

1.975

1.110

0.941

0.8520.830

1.281

1.490

1.151

1.741

0.9461.026

0.676

1.184

0.774

1.225

0.482

0.942

1.012

0.751

0.6180.512

0.635

0.867

0.605

1.116

0.9960.858

0.708

1.065

0.699 0.670

0.689

0.832


iNdustry ovErviEw



Serious injuries hazards

The total number of serious injuries reduced from 102 in 2016-17 to 82 in 2017-18 which represents a decrease of almost 20%. The total number of serious injuries has increased by 86% when comparing 2008-09 to 2017-18.

The most common serious injury hazard for coal mines and metalliferous and extractives mines in the period 2008-09 to 2017-18 is being hit by a moving object, followed by slips, trips and falls. Together those two mechanisms accounted for 62 of the 82 of serious injuries (76%) in 2017-18.

FigurE 8. SERIOUS INJURIES BY HAZARD MECHANISM OF INJURY 2008-09 TO 2017-18


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

36

14

12 21 19

24

1615

1622

26

26

16 12 1218

12

29 33

55

5

4

57

4

8

8

4

6

9

6

8

44 4642

53

38

29

58

98102

82

Sound and pressure Body stressing

Heat, electricity and other environmental factors

Unspecified mechanisms

Being hit by moving objects

Vehicle incidents and other incidents

Hitting objects with a part of the body

Falls, trips and slips of a person

Chemicals and other substances

The total number of serious injuries reduced by almost 20% from 2016-17 to 2017-18.

iNdustry ovErviEw



During the 2008-09 to 2017-18 period, the most common nature of serious injury was factures, followed by wounds, lacerations, amputations and internal organ damage. Together those two natures accounted for 53 of the 82 of serious injuries (65%) in 2017-18.

FigurE 9. SERIOUS INJURIES BY NATURE OF INJURY 2008-09 TO 2017-18


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

11

11

18

37

42

22

34 36 3847

3225

32 3037

31

4

5

4

5

4

9

4

47

6 5

444 4642

53

38

29

58

98102

82

Traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injury

Injury to nerves and spinal cord

Fractures

Musculoskeletel and connective tissue diseases

Intracranial injuries

Burn

Trauma to muscles and tendons

Wounds, lacerations, amputations and internal organ damage

Residual soft tissue disorders due to trauma or unknown mechanisms

Other Injuries

Other claims

iNdustry ovErviEw



The most frequent body location for serious injuries during the 2008-09 to 2017-18 period were upper limbs, followed by lower limbs. Together those two body locations accounted for 59 of the 82 of serious injuries (72%) in 2017-18.

FigurE 10. SERIOUS INJURIES BY BODILY LOCATION 2008-09 TO 2017-18


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

11

16

10

13

15

17

12 1016

10

11

11

1519

20

14 15 17 2032

49 5239

5

5

4 6

4

6

9 8 7 4

4

4

8

7

6 56

8

6

6

4

6

44 4642

53

38

29

58

98102

82

Trunk

NeckSystemic locations

Unspecified locations

Head Lower limbs Upper limbs

Multiple locations

The most frequent body location for serious injuries during the 2008-09 to 2017-18 period were upper limbs, followed by lower limbs.

iNdustry ovErviEw



In 2017-18, the highest proportion of serious injuries (71%) were experienced by employees of the operator. As compared to contractors, employees of mining operators accounted for the vast majority of serious injuries over the ten year period.

FigurE 11. SERIOUS INJURIES BY EMPLOYMENT TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

18 1716

16

16

14

22

28

23

26 29 2537

21 21

44

7565

58

7

7

44 4642

53

38

29

58

98102

82

Employee of contractor, other than labour hire company

Work experienceVisitorOther

Employee of operator

Employee of labour hire company

iNdustry ovErviEw



Lost time injuries

Lost time injuries by sector

The number of lost time injuries has decreased to 239 in 2017-18. This was a decrease of almost 10% compared to the previous year.

The majority of lost time injuries in 2017-18 occurred in the coal sector (169 of 239, or 71%). Again, this is likely due to the fact that the coal sector accounted for 71% of all hours worked in the mining sector in 2017-18.

Over the ten year reporting period, the total number of lost time injuries has dropped by almost 40%.

FigurE 12. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES LOST TIME INJURIES BY SECTOR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

301 286 271 276244

216232

158176 169

5645

53 44

57

49

43

47 46

37

3547

3138

36

31

58

6243

33

392378

355 358

337

296

333

267 265

239


Over the ten year reporting period, the total number of lost time injuries has dropped by almost 40%.

iNdustry ovErviEw



Lost time injury frequency rates

The rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) has continued to decrease. For the coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors, the rolling five year average LTIFR in 2017-18 was 4.631, down 3% compared to the previous year.

There has been a steady downward trend in the rolling five year average LTIFR for coal, metalliferous and extractives over the ten years since 2008-09, decreasing from 10.865 in 2008-09 to 4.631 in 2017-18, an overall reduction of around 57%.

FigurE 13. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE LTIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

13.192

6.975

10.865

6.2426.447

5.923 5.502 5.488

9.187

5.3065.285

11.014

10.040

4.966

10.444

8.447

9.4679.898

8.105

3.393

4.963

3.3343.334

11.703

4.668

10.777

9.609

10.839

4.5234.5214.774

3.112

4.467

8.949

4.631

2.677

2.9402.926

4.056

11.303


iNdustry ovErviEw



Injury outcomes of seven days or more

Injury outcomes of seven days or more by sector

In 2017-18, there were 226 injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7days). Whilst this number has shown a small increase since the previous year (from 197 to 226, or an increase of 15%), the overall trend in absolute numbers is downward.

In the ten years since 2008-09, the number of injuries of this type has fallen from 413 in 2008-09 to 226 in 2017-18, a reduction of 45%.

FigurE 14. LTI / RDI ≥ 7 DAYS 2008-09 TO 2017-18


50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

460

404 396 404432

367

289

194240

185214

16

16413 417 425

457

385

310

216

264

197226

Opal mines Extractive mines Metalliferous mines Coal mines

In 2017-18, there were 226 injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of one week or more.

iNdustry ovErviEw



Injury outcomes of seven days or more frequency rates

For the coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors, the rolling five year average injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7days) frequency rate in 2017-18 was 4.005 down almost 8% compared to the previous year.

Since 2012-13, an overall steady downward trend for rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7days was observed across each of the sectors. In 2017-18, the rate was around 40% less than the rate in 2012-13.

Note, a rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7days frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in coal incident notification requirements from the beginning of 2007 and metalliferous and extractives incident notification requirements from the second quarter of 2008-09.

FigurE 15. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE LTI/RDI ≥ 7DAY FR 2011-12 TO 2017-18

FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

6.989

7.912

10.007

5.306

6.441

4.933

6.660

5.249

2.4442.520

4.005

6.018

8.822

1.751

4.338

2.590

5.673

1.865

0.651 0.7310.732 0.7590.618

2.723

0.627

Extractive minesMetalliferous minesCoal mines Coal, Metalliferousand Extractive mines

iNdustry ovErviEw


A small increase in total recordable injuries (TRI) was recorded in 2017-18 compared to 2016-17.


Total recordable injuries

Total recordable injuries by sector

A small increase in total recordable injuries (TRI) was recorded in 2017-18 compared to 2016-17. The figures rose from 885 in 2016-17 to 920 in 2017-18, or an increase of almost 4%. However, since 2008-09, total recordable injuries is showing a total general trend downward for the coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors.

FigurE 16. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES TOTAL RECORDABLE INJURY AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,198 1,1361,046 1,029

185209

175 177

167170

100126

112 146

266239

282 293

294262

258

251216 160

856 813670

581 557 614

1,6491,584

1,503 1,499

1,3171,245

1,028958

885920


iNdustry ovErviEw



Total recordable injury frequency rates

For the coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors, the rolling five year average total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) to 2017-18 was 16.643, down 3% on the previous year.

Since 2012-13, an overall steady downward trend in the rolling five year average TRIFR was observed for coal, metalliferous and extractives sectors.

Note, a rolling five year average TRIFR frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in coal quarterly reporting requirements from the beginning of 2007-08 and metalliferous and extractives quarterly reporting requirements from the second quarter of 2008-09.

FigurE 17. COAL, METALLIFEROUS AND EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE TRIFR 2011-12 TO 2017-18

FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

34.052

31.724

20.450

28.378

18.298

19.518

16.712

41.830

23.941

18.290

23.16619.113

26.633

19.050

21.573

19.37020.695

15.471

40.758

27.974

17.189 17.831

15.13416.643


iNdustry ovErviEw



Notified safety incidentsIn 2017-18, the number of safety incident notifications were similar to those recorded in the previous year (1,986 in 2017-18 and 1,971 in 2016-17). Across the reporting decade, the coal sector accounts for almost 84% of all notified safety incidents. In 2017-18, 82% of safety incidents notified were from the coal sector.

Note that any multiple gas trips that were reported to the Regulator in a single incident notification have been included as individual incident notifications in this report. See the Annual Business Activity Report 2017-18 for more details about the safety incident notifications received by the regulator in 2017-18.

FigurE 18. NOTIFIED SAFETY INCIDENTS BY SECTOR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

3200

2,5672,739 2,770

2,623 2,627

2,298

1,812 1,891

1,589 1,620

127146

135 120

139

172 159199 221

216

220237

246 243

2,775

2,989 3,0312,911 2,935

2,627

2,1642,281

1,971 1,986

Other Non-coal minesOpal mines

Petroleum sitesExtractives minesMetalliferous minesCoal mines

Across the reporting decade, the coal sector accounts for almost 84% of all notified safety incidents.

iNdustry ovErviEw





ComplaintsIn 2016, the Regulator streamlined and centralised its complaints reporting and notifications processes. The Regulator also changed the way it recorded complaints. As a result, the number of complaints showed a marked increase in 2016-17 and 2017-18 when compared to previous years, though both years show similar numbers (106 in 2016-17 and 117 in 2017-18).

The increase in complaint notifications was more evident in the coal and non-mines sectors.

Complaints represent a valuable source of information that is now being better captured in order to guide the Regulator’s activities.

FigurE 19. COMPLAINTS BY SECTOR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

20

18

11

18

1416

13

17

20

1510

14

12

5262

5

5

99

9

7 7 77

8

5 7

19

34

2722

1821

29

36

106

117



Non-mine

iNdustry ovErviEw


The increase in safety notices seen in the opal sector in the past two years is because more safety notices were issued in that sector in response to our targeted safety operation.


Safety notices

Safety notices by sector

Notices issued by the Regulator include notices of concern (advice notices), improvement, prohibition, investigation and explosives enforcement notices.

In 2017-18, the Regulator issued 1,385 safety notices which is a similar result when comparing the past four years (2014-15 to 2017-18).

The increase in safety notices seen in the opal sector in the past two years is because more safety notices were issued in that sector in response to our targeted safety operation.

FigurE 20. SAFETY NOTICES BY SECTOR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

159

444

623

584

598 488433

511 544

429

462

153

126

181261

364

621

800

614 626 651779

710

547 575

64

50

72

72

8682

85

876

1,347

1,489

1,309 1,283

1,190

1,402 1,4001,328

1,385



Non-mine

iNdustry ovErviEw



Safety notices by notice type

Between 2014-15 and 2017-18, the proportion of improvement notices relative to notices of concern (advice) continued to increase. There was also an increase in the number of prohibition notices. This reflected the Regulator’s renewed focus on incident prevention where it sought to clearly identify matters that necessitate the issue of an improvement notice as compared to a written notice of concern.

FigurE 21. NOTICES BY NOTICE TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

1,044

1,292

1,105 1,124 1,119

118

154

118

141

110

116 133108 244

137133

289

463

784

652

992935

734

339

93

95

64

68

876

1,347

1,489

1,309 1,283

1,190

1,402 1,4001,328

1,385

Explosives Investigation Prohibition Improvement

Advice

iNdustry ovErviEw



Coal sector

Statistics and performance measures 2017-18

43UNDERGROUND

OPERATIONS

152SURFACE

OPERATIONS

195ACTIVE COAL

MINING OPERATIONS

41.93MILLION HOURS

WORKED

28.55MILLION HOURS

WORKED - SURFACE

13.38MILLION HOURS


20.97MILLION HOURS

WORKED BY EMPLOYEES

20.96MILLION HOURS WORKED BY

OTHERS E.G. CONTRACTORS

• Zero fatal injuries in the coal sector

• Rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR, per million hours worked) down 5% from 0.022 in 2016-17 to 0.023 in 2017-18. Since 2008-09, the rolling five year average FIFR has ranged from a low of 0.017 to a high of 0.028 injuries per million hours worked showing an overall steady trend

• 55 serious injuries – most common mechanism is being hit by moving object

• Rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) up 11% from 0.942 in 2016-17 to 1.047 in 2017-18. However, this rate decreased by approximately 9% overall compared to 2008-09

• 169 lost time injuries

• Rolling five year average lost time injury rate (per million hours worked) down 4%

from 4.668 in 2016-17 to 4.467 in 2017-18

• 214 injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty seven days or more)

• Rolling five year average injury outcome rate (lost time or restricted duty of seven days or more) (per million hours worked) down 7% from 5.673 in 2016-17 to 5.249 in 2017-18


• Rolling five year average total recordable injury rate (per million hours worked) down 2% from 15.471 in 2016-17 to 15.134 in 2017-18

• 1,620 notifiable safety incidents

• 62 complaints – 41 complaints lodged by surface coal operations

• 575 safety notices issued – 116 prohibition notices



Fatal injuries

Fatal injuries and hours worked

In 2017-18 zero mining fatalities occurred in the coal sector.

Figure 2, on page 14, presents fatal injuries in NSW mines from 1900 to 2017-18 and shows the sustained long term decrease in coal mining fatal injuries in NSW.

FigurE 22. COAL FATAL INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

4

5

Fata

l inj

urie

s

0M

5M

10M

15M

20M

25M

30M

35M

40M

45M

50M

55M

Hours W

orked

3

0

1

0 0

4

0 0

1

44.69M42.84M

52.93M

41.93M

52.67M

41.13M

36.75M

40.24M

48.10M

39.75M

Coal mines

Coal sECtor


Since 2008-09, the rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) has shown an overall steady trend.


Fatal injury frequency rates In the coal sector, the rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) to 2017- 18 was down 5% compared to previous year (from 0.022 in 2016-17 to 0.023 in 2017-18). It is worthwhile noting that relatively small numbers of fatalities recorded can cause fluctuating frequency rates.

Since 2008-09, the rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) has ranged from a low of 0.017 to a high of 0.028 injuries per million hours worked, showing an overall steady trend.

FigurE 23. COAL FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

0.0410.045

0.061

0.032

0.031

0.058

0.0140.014

0.0220.021

0.014

0.0210.0220.0230.021 0.021

0.0280.027

0.028

0.017

0.025

0.052

0.019

0.0000.0000.0000.0000.000

0.018

0.024

Surface Underground All

Coal sECtor



Serious injuries

Serious injuries and hours worked

There were 55 serious injuries reported in the coal sector during 2017-18, this is down 14 compared to the previous year. In the full three year period since the Work Health and Safety (Mining & Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 commenced, the number of serious injuries reported to the Regulator by the coal sector has increased year on year. The broadened definition of serious injuries in 2015 (as previously noted) has contributed to the observed increase.

FigurE 24. COAL SERIOUS INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Serio

us in

jurie

s

0M

5M

10M

15M

20M

25M

30M

35M

40M

45M

50M

55M

Hours W

orked

2833

3036

32

19

41

53

69

55

44.69M42.84M

52.93M

41.93M

52.67M

41.13M

36.75M

40.24M

48.10M

39.75M

Coal mines

Coal sECtor


For the coal sector, the rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate was up approximately 11% from 0.942 in 2016-17 to 1.047 in 2017-18.



For the coal sector, the rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (SIFR) was up approximately 11% from 0.942 in 2016-17 to 1.047 in 2017-18. The recent amendment to the definition of serious injury in 2015 has contributed to this increase. However, in the ten years since 2008-09, the coal industry rolling five year average SIFR decreased by approximately 9% overall.

FigurE 25. COAL FIVE YEAR AVERAGE SERIOUS INJURY FREQUENCY RATE (SIFR) 2008-09 TO 2017-18


0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

1.431

1.521

2.025

1.370

0.852

1.151

0.774

0.942

1.854

1.211

0.751

1.077

0.452

0.575

0.3990.397

1.197

0.635

0.384

1.181

1.749

0.996

0.540

0.708

1.047

0.3240.352

0.505

0.689

0.347


Coal sECtor



Lost time injuries

Lost time injuries and hours worked

In 2017-18, the number of lost time injuries reported to the Regulator was 169, down 7 compared to the previous year. In the ten years since 2008-09, lost time injuries decreased by approximately 44%.

FigurE 26. COAL LOST TIME INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

Lost

tim

e in

jurie

s

0M

5M

10M

15M

20M

25M

30M

35M

40M

45M

50M

55M

Hours W

orked

301286

271 276244

216232

158176 169

44.69M42.84M

52.93M

41.93M

52.67M

41.13M

36.75M

40.24M

48.10M

39.75M

Coal mines

Coal sECtor


Over the ten years since 2008-09, the coal sector experienced a decrease in the rolling five year average LTIFR by approximately 66%.



The rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) for the coal sector has continued to decrease. The rolling five year average LTIFR in 2017-18 was 4.467 compared to 4.668 in 2016-17. This represented a 4% decrease.

Over the ten years since 2008-09, the coal sector experienced a decrease in the rolling five year average LTIFR by approximately 66%.

FigurE 27. COAL FIVE YEAR AVERAGE LTIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

20.616

12.180

13.192

6.975

10.709

6.242

9.7819.694

5.856

5.5025.488

15.140

17.561

9.1369.187

11.014

2.8312.799

4.966

8.740

2.571

8.614

2.513

4.6684.049

4.905

2.3612.338

4.467

2.220


Coal sECtor




Injury outcomes of seven days or more and hours worked

In 2017-18, there were 214 coal injury outcomes (lost time or and restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7days). This is up to 29 compared to the previous year. Over the ten year reporting period, the number of injuries of this type has almost halved, from 406 in 2008-09 to 214 in 2017-18.

FigurE 28. COAL LTI/RDI ≥ 7 DAYS AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Lost

tim

e in

jurie

s/R

estri

cted

dut

y in

jurie

s >=

7 d

ays

0M

5M

10M

15M

20M

25M

30M

35M

40M

45M

50M

55M

Hours W

orked

406 396 404432

367

289

194240

185214

44.69M42.84M

52.93M

41.93M

52.67M

41.13M

36.75M

40.24M

48.10M

39.75M

Coal mines

Coal sECtor


Since 2011-12, an overall steady downward trend for LTI/RDI ≥ 7days frequency rates was observed for underground coal.



For the coal sector, the rolling five year average injury outcome (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7days) frequency rate to 2017-18 was 5.249, down 7% on the previous year.

Since 2011-12, an overall steady downward trend for the rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7days frequency rates was observed for underground coal. In 2017-18, coal rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7days frequency rates were around 48% less than the 2012-13 rate.

Note, a rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7days frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in coal incident notification requirements from the beginning of 2007.

FigurE 29. COAL FIVE YEAR AVERAGE LTI / RDI ≥ 7 DAYS FREQUENCY RATES 2011-12 TO 2017-18

FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

14.965

16.221

19.963

6.989

14.082

7.912

10.007

6.441

17.570

12.314

5.249

1.830

8.822

1.7612.101

5.673

12.772

2.3432.3361.5221.609


Coal sECtor




Total recordable injuries by hours worked

Between 2008-09 and 2017-18, total recordable injuries (the total number of fatal injuries and injuries resulting in lost time, restricted duty or medical treatment) has shown a decreasing trend overall.

In 2017-18, the number of total recordable injuries was up 10% on the previous year, from 557 in 2016-17 to 614 in 2017-18.

FigurE 30. COAL TOTAL RECORDABLE INJURY AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

Tota

l rec

orda

ble

inju

ries

0M

5M

10M

15M

20M

25M

30M

35M

40M

45M

50M

55M

Hours W

orked

1,1981,136

1,046 1,029

856 813

670581 557

614

44.69M 42.84M

52.93M

41.93M

52.67M

41.13M

36.75M

40.24M

48.10M

39.75M

Coal mines

Coal sECtor


In 2017-18, the rolling five year average total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) was down approximately 2% compared to the previous year.


Total recordable injuries frequency rates

In 2017-18, the rolling five year average total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) was down approximately 2% compared to the previous year, from 15.471 to 15.134. From 2011-12, a steady decrease in the TRIFR has also been observed.

Note, a rolling five year average TRIFR frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in coal quarterly reporting requirements from the beginning of 2007-08.

FigurE 31. COAL FIVE YEAR AVERAGE TRIFR 2011-12 TO 2017-18

FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

52.699

38.704

35.513

20.450

28.378

18.298

42.927

32.932

16.712

31.942

23.166

7.684

9.637

31.179

7.162

15.471

6.777

15.134

8.5316.479

6.267


Coal sECtor



Notified safety incidentsIn 2017-18 compared to 2016-17, notified safety incidents for the coal sector increased by almost 2%. The greatest proportion of notified safety incidents were reported by underground coal sector. Note that any multiple gas trips that were reported to the Regulator in a single incident notification have been included as individual incident notifications in this report.

FigurE 32. COAL NOTIFIABLE INCIDENTS BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

2,1792,334 2,268

2,024 1,990

1,650

1,360 1,3771,133 1,047

388

405 502

599 637

648

452 514

456 573

2,567

2,739 2,770

2,623 2,627

2,298

1,8121,891

1,589 1,620

Surface Underground

Coal sECtor


In 2017-18, coal sector complaints increased to 62, up 10 complaints compared to the previous year.


Complaints In 2017-18, coal sector complaints increased to 62, up ten complaints compared to the previous year. Improvements to the Regulator’s complaints notification processes contributed to this increase.

FigurE 33. COAL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18

FY 2009 FY 2011 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

31

41

21 21

34

41 1 3

35

7

52

62

Surface Underground

Coal sECtor



Safety notices

Safety notices by operation type

In 2017-18, the Regulator issued 575 safety notices (notices of concern, improvement, prohibition, investigation and explosives enforcement notices) in the coal sector, an increase of almost 5% compared to the previous year.

There are no clear increasing or decreasing trends in the number of notices issued over the ten years since 2008-09.

FigurE 34. COAL NOTICES BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

206

334

231 246230

253

260

134 207

265

415466

383 380421

526450

413368

99

364

621

800

614 626651

779

710

547575

Surface Underground

Coal sECtor




From 2017-18, the proportion of improvement notices relative to notices of concern (advice) continued to increase. This reflected the Regulator’s renewed focus on incident prevention where it sought to clearly identify matters that necessitate the issue of an improvement notice as compared to a written notice of concern.

Also of note in 2017-18, the proportion of all notices that were prohibition notices was 20% (116 of 575 total). This has increased as compared to 2016-17 where prohibition notices accounted for 10% of all notices in the coal sector.

FigurE 35. COAL NOTICES BY NOTICE TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

116177

246

293

249

473

701

500558 552

630

435

235

156

84

96

67

81

40 51

57

73

5649

34

78

364

621

800

614 626651

779

710

547575

Investigation Prohibition Improvement Advice

In 2017-18, the proportion of all notices that were prohibition notices was 20% (116 of 575)

Coal sECtor



Metalliferous sector

Statistics and performance measures for 2017-18

42UNDERGROUND

OPERATIONS

648SURFACE

OPERATIONS

690ACTIVE METALLIFEROUS

MINING OPERATIONS

12.04MILLION HOURS

WORKED

5.55MILLION HOURS

WORKED - SURFACE

6.50MILLION HOURS


6.92MILLION HOURS

WORKED BY EMPLOYEES

5.13MILLION HOURS WORKED BY

OTHERS E.G. CONTRACTORS

• There were no fatal injuries in the metalliferous sector in 2017-18

• Rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) down around 22% from 0.060 in 2016-17 to 0.047 in 2017-18

• 12 serious injuries

• Rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) up 4% from 0.986 in 2016-17 to 1.026 in 2017-18


• Rolling five year average lost time injury rate (per million hours worked) up almost 2% from 3.334 in 2016-17 to 3.393 in 2017-18

• Six injury outcome (lost time or restricted duty) of seven days or more

• Rolling five year average lost outcome rate (lost time or restricted duty of seven days or more) (per million hours worked) down around 4% from 0.759 in 2016-17 to 0.731 in 2017-18


• Rolling five year average total recordable injury rate (per million hours worked) down 6% from 19.050 in 2016-17 to 17.831 in 2017-18

• 243 notifiable safety incidents notified to the Regulator

• 12 complaints – five complaints lodged in relation to underground metalliferous operations

• 261 safety notices issued – 184 issued in underground operations, 35 were prohibition



Fatal injuries


While there were no fatal injuries in the metalliferous sector in 2017-18, in the ten years since 2008-09, there have been a total of four fatal injuries, all of which occurred in underground operations.

Figure 2, on page 14, presenting fatal injuries in NSW mines from 1900 to 2017-18, shows the sustained decrease in fatal injuries occurring in metalliferous mining operations from 1989-90. The year 1999-2000 was a notable exception.

FigurE 36. METALLIFEROUS FATAL INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

Fata

l inj

urie

s

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

6M

7M

8M

9M

10M

11M

12M

13M

14M

15M

16M

Hours W

orked

0 0 0 0

1 1

0

1 1

0

13.63M

15.93M

12.13M

14.01M

12.04M

10.50M

11.65M10.95M

14.83M14.96M

Metalliferous mines

MEtalliFErous sECtor


From 2011-12 onwards, a small steady overall increase in the rolling five year average FIFR has been observed.


Fatal injury frequency rates

For the metalliferous mining sector, the rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) to 2017-18 was down around 22% compared to the previous year (from 0.060 in 2016-17 to 0.047 in 2017-18).

From 2011-12 onwards, a small steady overall increase in the rolling five year average FIFR has been observed for underground metalliferous mining operations. It is worthwhile noting that relatively small numbers of fatalities recorded can cause fluctuating frequency rates.

FigurE 37. METALLIFEROUS FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

0.0410.040

0.038

0.000

0.083

0.036

0.028

0.027

0.060

0.024

0.031

0.022

0.057

0.019

0.023

0.015

0.042

0.067

0.047

0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000





Serious injuries


In 2017-18 there were 12 serious injuries reported in the metalliferous sector this was down nine from the previous year. The number of serious injuries reported to the Regulator since the Work Health and Safety (Mining and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 commenced has increased. The previously noted broadened definition of serious injury introduced by this regulation in 2015 has contributed to this increase.

FigurE 38. METALLIFEROUS SERIOUS INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

Serio

us in

jurie

s

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

6M

7M

8M

9M

10M

11M

12M

13M

14M

15M

16M

Hours W

orked

1012

26

21

12

68

35

9

13.63M

15.93M

12.13M

14.01M

12.04M

10.50M

11.65M10.95M

14.83M14.96M

Metalliferous mines



For the metalliferous sector, the rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate was up approximately 4% from 0.986 in 2016-17 to 1.026 in 2017-18.



For the metalliferous sector, the rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (SIFR) was up approximately 4% from 0.986 in 2016-17 to 1.026 in 2017-18. By operation type, the underground and surface rolling five year average SIFRs increased by almost 4% and just over 3% respectively. The expanded definition of serious injury introduced in 2015 has contributed to this observed increase.

FigurE 39. METALLIFEROUS FIVE YEAR AVERAGE SIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

0.7920.811

0.941

0.828

1.080

0.986

1.281

0.459

1.115 1.115

1.374

0.662

0.489

1.026

0.6580.676

1.120

0.922

0.642

1.225

0.482

0.463

0.683

1.308

1.078

0.487

0.512

0.961

0.605





Lost time injuries


In 2017-18, the number of lost time injuries reported to the Regulator was 33, down ten compared to the previous year.

FigurE 40. METALLIFEROUS LOST TIME INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

Lost

tim

e in

jurie

s

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

6M

7M

8M

9M

10M

11M

12M

13M

14M

15M

16M

Hours W

orked

35

47

31

38 3631

5862

43

33

13.63M

15.93M

12.13M

14.01M

12.04M

10.50M

11.65M

10.95M

14.83M14.96M

Metalliferous mines



The rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rate to 2017-18, compared to 2016-17, increased by almost 2%.



In the ten years since 2008-09 the metalliferous rolling five year average LTIFR has decreased by approximately 25%. However, over the ten year reporting period, a steady increase in the rolling five year average LTIFR for surface metalliferous operations was observed.

FigurE 41. METALLIFEROUS FIVE YEAR AVERAGE LTIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

4

5

6

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

4.286

6.0375.871

3.3933.3343.334

3.537 3.497 3.418

4.5234.521

3.411

2.3852.399

3.0453.112

2.278

3.302

2.2382.504

2.201

1.825

2.677

2.9402.926

2.839

4.056

5.204

1.904

3.064







In 2017-18, there were six metalliferous injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days). This is down from the eight recorded in the previous year. In the ten years since 2008-09, the number of severe injuries of this type has increased, from four in 2008-09 to six in 2017-18.

FigurE 42. METALLIFEROUS LTI/RDI ≥ 7 DAYS AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Lost

tim

e in

jurie

s/R

estri

cted

dut

y in

jurie

s >=

7 d

ays

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

6M

7M

8M

9M

10M

11M

12M

13M

14M

15M

16M

Hours W

orked

13

10

13

11

45

9 98

6

13.63M

15.93M

12.13M

14.01M

12.04M

10.50M

11.65M10.95M

14.83M14.96M

Metalliferous mines



Since 2012-13, an increasing trend for the rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days frequency rates was observed for surface metalliferous.



For the metalliferous sector, the rolling five year average injury outcome (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days) frequency rate in 2017-18 was 0.731, down around 4% on the previous year. Since 2012-13, an increasing trend for the rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days frequency rates was observed for surface metalliferous.

Note, a rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7days frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in metalliferous incident notification requirements from the second quarter of 2008-09.

FigurE 43. METALLIFEROUS LTI/RDI ≥ 7 DAYS FREQUENCY RATES 2012-13 TO 2017-18

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

1

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

0.9310.957

0.563

1.010

0.496

0.606

0.717

0.6450.647 0.651

1.098

0.7310.732

0.661

0.759

0.627






Total recordable injuries and hours worked

In 2017-18, the number of total recordable injuries (the total number of fatal injuries and injuries resulting in lost time, restricted duty or medical treatment) was down 26% on the previous year from 216 to 160. From 2012-13, a year on year decrease in the number of total recordable injuries was observed for the metalliferous sector.

FigurE 44. METALLIFEROUS TOTAL RECORDABLE INJURY AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

Tota

l rec

orda

ble

inju

ries

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

6M

7M

8M

9M

10M

11M

12M

13M

14M

15M

16M

Hours W

orked

266239

282 293 294262 258 251

216

160

13.63M

15.93M

12.13M

14.01M

12.04M

10.50M

11.65M10.95M

14.83M14.96M

Metalliferous mines



Since 2012-13, the rolling five year average TRIFR for the metalliferous sector has remained overall fairly steady.


Total recordable injuries frequency rates

The rolling five year average total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR, per million hours worked) was down 6% from 19.050 in 2016-17 to 17.831 in 2017-18.

Since 2012-13, the rolling five year average TRIFR for the metalliferous sector has remained overall fairly steady.

Note, a rolling five year average TRIFR frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in metalliferous quarterly reporting requirements from the second quarter of 2008-09.

FigurE 45. METALLIFEROUS FIVE YEAR AVERAGE TRIFR 2012-13 TO 2017-18

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

25.687

22.04322.03123.081 21.937

19.113 19.05019.370 18.922

20.695

17.831

20.466

11.37811.389 11.428 11.743

10.98211.144





Notified safety incidents In 2017-18, notified safety incidents in the metalliferous sector was down three compared to 2016-17, from 246 to 243. In the ten years since 2008-09 a steady overall increase in the number of notified safety incidents was observed. Improved industry reporting practices has contributed to this increase.

FigurE 46. METALLIFEROUS NOTIFIABLE INCIDENTS BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

100117 115

153176

158169 165 168

191

39

5544

46

4558

5172

7852

139

172

159

199

221 216 220

237246 243

Surface Underground



In 2017-18, there were 12 complaints made about safety in the metalliferous sector complaints.


Complaints In 2017-18, there were 12 complaints made to the Regulator about safety in the metalliferous sector complaints, down two compared to the previous year.

FigurE 47. METALLIFEROUS COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

114

8

1

3

3

1

14

3

7

3

76

1

4

67

65

7

15

7

4

7 7

8

10

14

12

Surface Underground




Safety notices


In 2017-18, the number of safety notices (notices of concern, improvement, prohibition, investigation and explosives enforcement notices) issued by the Regulator in the metalliferous sector was up 80 compared to the previous year, from 181 to 261. There has been an upward trend in notices in the ten years since 2008-09. In 2017-18 the number of safety notices had risen over 420% from 50 in 2008-09 to 261.

FigurE 48. METALLIFEROUS NOTICES BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

143

184

14

23 32

26

73

30 30

39

38

77

3649 40

6080

52 55

8750

72 72

86

153

82 85

126

181

261

Surface Underground



In 2017-18 the number of prohibition notices was up 13 compared to the previous year, from 22 to 35.



From 2017-18, the proportion of improvement notices relative to notices of concern (advice) continued to increase. The number of prohibition notices increased also. This reflected the Regulator’s renewed focus on incident prevention where it sought to clearly identify matters that necessitate the issue of an improvement notice as compared to a written notice of concern.

FigurE 49. METALLIFEROUS NOTICES BY NOTICE TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

147

131107

15

22

35

20

48

40

67 6380 73 73

9775

50

72 72

86

153

82 85

126

181

261

Investigation Prohibition Improvement Advice




Extractives sector

Statistics and performance measures for 2017-18

1

3.77

UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS

MILLION HOURS WORKED BY EMPLOYEES

2,587

1.42

SURFACEOPERATIONS

MILLION HOURS WORKED BY OTHERS E.G. CONTRACTORS

2,588ACTIVE EXTRACTIVES MINING OPERATIONS

5.19MILLION HOURS

WORKED

5.19MILLION HOURS

WORKED - SURFACE

• Zero fatal injuries

• Rolling five year average fatal injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) down 2% from 0.083 in 2016-17 to 0.081 in 2017-18

• 13 serious injuries

• Rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) up 13% from 1.741 in 2016 -17 to 1.975 in 2017-18


• Rolling five year average lost time injury rate (per million hours worked) down 4% from 10.040 in 2016 -17 to 9.609 in 2017-18

• Six injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more

• Rolling five year average injury outcome rate (lost time or restricted duty) with outcomes of seven days or more (per million hours worked) down 6% from 1.865 in 2016 -17 to 1.751 in 2017-18


• Rolling five year average total recordable injury rate (per million hours worked) down around 5%, from 27.974 in 2016-17 to 26.674 in 2017-18

• 120 safety incidents notified to the Regulator

• 20 complaints received in relation to the regulator – all 20 complaints lodged by surface operations

• 462 safety notices issued – 86 were prohibition notices



Fatal injuries


There were no fatal injuries in the extractives sector in 2017-18 financial year. Over the ten year reporting period there were two fatal injuries in the extractives sector. Both occurred in 2014-15.

FigurE 50. EXTRACTIVES FATAL INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

Fata

l inj

urie

s

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

Hours W

orked

0 0 0 0 0 0

2

0 0 0

4.56M 4.53M 4.76M4.77M

3.91M

5.33M

4.06M

5.19M5.05M

4.22M

Extractive mines

ExtraCtivEs sECtor


Fatal injury frequency rate (per million hours worked) down 3% from 0.083 in 2016-17 to 0.081 in 2017-18.


Fatal injury frequency rates

In the extractives mining sector, the rolling five year average fatal injury incident rate (FIFR) to 2017-18 was down by almost 3% compared to previous year (from 0.083 in 2016-17 to 0.081 in 2017-18).

It is worthwhile noting that relatively small numbers of fatalities recorded can cause fluctuating frequency rates.

FigurE 51. EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

0.054

0.086 0.086

0.0000.0000.0000.0000.000

0.083 0.081

Surface

ExtraCtivEs sECtor



Serious injuries


There were 13 serious injuries reported in the extractives sector during 2017-18 this is up one compared to the previous year.

FigurE 52. EXTRACTIVES SERIOUS INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Serio

us in

jurie

s

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

Hours W

orked

17

1213

53 3

53

57

4.56M 4.53M 4.76M4.77M

3.91M

5.33M

4.06M

5.19M5.05M

4.22M

Extractive mines

ExtraCtivEs sECtor


For the extractives sector, the rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate was up 13% from 1.741 in 2016-17 to 1.975 in 2017-18.



For the extractives sector, the rolling five year average serious injury frequency rate (SIFR) was up 13% from 1.741 in 2016-17 to 1.975 in 2017-18. As noted, the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 introduced an expanded definition of serious injury. This has contributed to the observed increase since 2014-15.

FigurE 53. EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE SIFR 2008-09 TO 2017-18


0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

1.218 1.208

1.975

1.110

1.490

1.741

0.9460.8670.8580.832

Surface

ExtraCtivEs sECtor



Lost time injuries


In 2017-18, the number of lost time injuries was 37, down nine from the previous year. In the ten years since 2008-09, there has been no obvious trend in lost time injuries.

FigurE 54. EXTRACTIVES LOST TIME INJURIES AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

Lost

tim

e in

jurie

s

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

Hours W

orked

56

45

53

44

57

4943

47 46

37

4.56M 4.53M 4.76M4.77M

3.91M

5.33M

4.06M

5.19M5.05M

4.22M

Extractive mines

ExtraCtivEs sECtor


In 2016-17, rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rate was down 4% on the previous year from 10.040 to 9.609.


Lost time injury frequency ratesIn 2017-18, rolling five year average lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) was down 4% on the previous year from 10.040 to 9.609. Over the ten year reporting period, there has been no obvious increasing or decreasing trend in the rate of lost time injuries in the extractives sector.

FigurE 55. EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE LOST TIME INJURY FREQUENCY RATE (LTIFR) 2008-09 TO 2017-18


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

10.04010.444

8.447

9.898

11.703

10.777

9.609

10.839

8.949

11.303

Surface

ExtraCtivEs sECtor





In 2017-18, there were six metalliferous injury outcomes (lost time injuries or restricted duty injuries) seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days), up two on the previous year. Overall, there has been no obvious increasing or decreasing trend for LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days in the ten years since 2008-09.

FigurE 56. EXTRACTIVES LTI/RDI ≥ 7 DAYS AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Lost

tim

e in

jurie

s/R

estri

cted

dut

y in

jurie

s >=

7 d

ays

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

Hours W

orked

16 16

1213

78 8 8

46

4.56M 4.53M4.76M

4.77M

3.91M

5.33M

4.06M

5.19M5.05M

4.22M

Extractive mines

ExtraCtivEs sECtor


A downward trend for LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days frequency rates was observed for extractives since 2013-14.


Injury outcomes of seven days or more frequency ratesFor the extractives sector, the rolling five year average injury outcome (lost time or restricted duty of seven days or more) (LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days) frequency rate to 2017-18 was 1.751, down 6% on the previous year. Since 2013-14, a downward trend for the rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days frequency rates was observed for extractives and in 2017-18, the rate was about 31% less than the rate in 2012-13.

Note, a rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in extractives incident notification requirements from the second quarter of 2008-09.

FigurE 57. EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE LTI/RDI ≥ 7 DAYS FREQUENCY RATES 2012-13 TO 2017-18

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

1

2

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

2.4442.520

1.751

2.590

1.865

2.723

Surface

ExtraCtivEs sECtor




Total recordable injuries and hours worked

In 2017-18, compared to 2016-17, total recordable injuries increased by approximately 30%, from 112 up to 146. In the ten year period since 2008-09, total recordable injuries (the total number of fatal injuries and injuries resulting in lost time, restricted duty or medical treatment) has decreased by almost 21%.

FigurE 58. EXTRACTIVES TOTAL RECORDABLE INJURY AND HOURS WORKED 2008-09 TO 2017-18


20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

Tota

l rec

orda

ble

inju

ries

0M

1M

2M

3M

4M

5M

Hours W

orked

185

209

175 177167 170

100

126112

146

4.56M 4.53M 4.76M4.77M

3.91M

5.33M

4.06M

5.19M5.05M

4.22M

Extractive mines

ExtraCtivEs sECtor


In 2017-18, the five year rolling average total recordable injury frequency rate for the extractives sector was down approximately 5% compared to the previous year.


Total recordable injury frequency rates

In 2017-18, the five year rolling average total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) for the extractives sector was down approximately 5% compared to the previous year, from 27.974 to 26.633. From 2012-13, a steady decrease in the rolling five year average TRIFR has also been observed.

Note, a rolling five year average TRIFR frequency rate was unable to be calculated for the whole ten year period as this information was only included in extractives quarterly reporting requirements from the second quarter of 2008-09.

FigurE 59. EXTRACTIVES FIVE YEAR AVERAGE TRIFR 2012-13 TO 2017-18

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 20180

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

per m

illion

hou

rs w

orke

d

34.052 31.724

41.830

26.674

40.758

27.974

Surface

ExtraCtivEs sECtor



Notified safety incidents In 2017-18 compared to 2016-17, notified safety incidents for the extractives sector decreased by 15 from 135 to 120. There has been a steady upward trend in notified safety incidents over the ten years since 2008-09 so that they are currently almost two times higher than ten years ago.

FigurE 60. EXTRACTIVES NOTIFIABLE INCIDENTS BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

104

127

146

135

120

62

59

92

86 85

60

93

Surface Underground

ExtraCtivEs sECtor


In 2017-18, there were 20 complaints made about safety in extractives mines, up three on the previous year.


Complaints In 2017-18, there were 20 complaints made to the Regulator about safety in extractives mines, up three on the previous year. There has been a fluctuating trend overall in the number of complaints about extractives mines in the ten years since 2008-09.

FigurE 61. EXTRACTIVES COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

11

18

14

16

13

17

20

9 9 9

Surface

ExtraCtivEs sECtor



Safety notices


In 2017-18, the Regulator issued more safety notices (notices of concern, improvement, prohibition, investigation and explosives enforcement notices) in the extractives sector, up 33 on the previous year, from 429 to 462. There has been no obvious upwards or downwards trend in the number of safety notices issued in the ten years since 2008-09.

FigurE 62. EXTRACTIVES SAFETY NOTICES BY OPERATION TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

444

622583 598

488432

510542

429462

444

623

584598

488

433

511

544

429

462

Surface Underground

ExtraCtivEs sECtor




In 2017-18, the number of improvement notices issued rose sharply compared to the previous year from 150 in 2016-17 to 272 in 2017-18. The proportion of improvement notices relative to notices of concern (advice) also continued to increase. The Regulator’s renewed focus on incident prevention has contributed to this result where it sought to clearly identify matters that necessitate the issue of an improvement notices as compared with a written notice of concern.

Also of note, in 2017-18, the proportion of all notices that were prohibition notices was around 19% (86 of 462 total). This has increased as compared to 2016-17 where prohibition notices accounted for roughly 6% of all notices in the extractives sector.

FigurE 63. EXTRACTIVES SAFETY NOTICES BY NOTICE TYPE 2008-09 TO 2017-18


50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

150

272

348

485 498 515

423

346394 393

245

103

26

49

4553

36

55

53

51

2586

70

85 40 29

27

29

5084

444

623

584598

488

433

511

544

429

462

Explosives Investigation Prohibition Improvement

Advice

ExtraCtivEs sECtor

In 2017-18, the proportion of all notices that were prohibition notices was around 19% (86 of 462 total).



opal sectorIn 2017-18, there were 3,478 open opal mines, 98% of which (3,416) were underground operations.

Fatal injuries, serious injuries and notified incidentsIn 2017-18 there were no fatal injuries, two serious injuries and three notified incidents.

In the ten years since 2008-09 there has been one fatal injury, six serious injuries and 18 notified incidents reported in the opal sector.

Note, the opal mining sector is not required to submit quarterly reports detailing hours worked or lost time injuries and therefore frequency rates for these measures have not been calculated.

tablE 2. OPAL FATAL INJURIES, SERIOUS INJURIES AND NOTIFIED INCIDENTS 2008-09 TO 2017-18

MEASURE OPERATION TYPE 20082009

20092010

20102011

20112012

20122013

20132014

20142015

20152016

20162017

20172018 TOTAL

Fatal

injuries

Surface 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Underground 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Serious

injuries

Surface 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Underground 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 5

Notified

incidents

Surface 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 7

Underground 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 2 1 3 11

Complaints and safety notices Complaints are received from mine workers, members of the public, trade union representatives or are submitted anonymously. In ten years reporting period, there were nine complaints made to the Regulator about safety in the opal sector, five of those received in 2017-18.

In 2017-18, the Regulator issued 64 safety notices in the opal sector.

tablE 3. OPAL COMPLAINTS AND SAFETY NOTICES 2008-09 TO 2017-18

ACTIVITY 20082009

20092010

20102011

20112012

20122013

20132014

20142015

20152016

20162017

20172018 TOTAL

Complaints received 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 5 9

Safety notices 1 2 6 0 1 3 16 1 159 64 253



Petroleum sectorIn the 2017-18, there were 403 active petroleum mines. All of which were surface operations.

Fatal injuries, serious injuries and notified incidentsIn 2017-18 there were no fatal injuries, serious injuries or notified incidents in the petroleum sector. In the ten years since 2008-09, there has been one fatal injury, six serious injuries and 40 notified incidents.

Note, the petroleum mining sector is not required to submit quarterly reports detailing hours worked or lost time injuries and therefore frequency rates for these measures have not been calculated.

tablE 4. PETROLEUM FATAL INJURIES, SERIOUS INJURIES AND NOTIFIED INCIDENTS 2008-09 TO 2017-18

MEASURE 2008 2009

2009 2010

2010 2011

2011 2012

2012 2013

2013 2014

2014 2015

2015 2016

2016 2017

2017 2018 TOTAL

Fatal injuries 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Serious injuries 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6

Notified incidents 5 14 8 2 1 3 4 3 0 0 40

Complaints and safety noticesComplaints are received from mine workers, members of the public, trade union representatives or are submitted anonymously. In 2017-18 there were no complaints made to the Regulator about safety in the opal sector.

In 2017-18, the Regulator issued nine safety notices in the petroleum sector.

tablE 5. PETROLEUM COMPLAINTS AND SAFETY NOTICES 2008-09 TO 2017-18

ACTIVITY 2008 2009

2009 2010

2010 2011

2011 2012

2012 2013

2013 2014

2014 2015

2015 2016

2016 2017

2017 2018 TOTAL

Complaints received 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2

Safety notices 0 9 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 21



National targets 2012 – 2022

Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022 was launched by Safe Work Australia in October 2012. It is underpinned by two key principles:

• All workers regardless of their occupation or how they are engaged have the right to a healthy and safe working environment.

• Well-designed healthy and safe work will allow workers in Australia to have more productive working lives.

Three national targets

The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 sets three national targets to be achieved by 2022:

• A reduction in the number of worker fatalities due to injury of at least 20%.

• A reduction in the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work of at least 30%.

• A reduction in the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders resulting in one or more weeks off work of at least 30%.

NSW Mining industry contributions to national targets

Fatal injuries

In the Industry Overview – Fatal Injuries section of this report, it was reported that in 2017-18, there were zero mining fatalities recorded in NSW. The very small numbers of fatalities recorded in recent years can cause fluctuating frequency rates, but overall there has been a long term decrease in NSW mining fatal injuries. The NSW mining industry is on track to contribute to national target 1.


In the Industry Overview – Injury outcomes of seven days or more section of this report, it was reported that in 2017-18, there were 226 injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7days). Whilst this number has shown a small increase since the previous year (from 197 to 226, or an increase of around 15%), the overall trend in absolute numbers is downward.

The rolling five year average injury outcomes (lost time or restricted duty injuries) of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7days) frequency rate in 2017-18 was 4.005, down roughly 8% compared to the previous year.

Since 2012-13, an overall steady downward trend for rolling five year average LTI/RDI ≥ 7days was observed across each of the sectors. In 2017-18, the rate was around 40% less than the rate in 2012-13.

Whilst this report does not further separate out these injuries by type, it is clear that the lost time or restricted duty injuries of seven days or more (LTI/RDI ≥ 7days) measure is showing a favourable downward trend and the NSW mining industry is on track to contribute to achievement of national target 2 (and by implication target 3).


https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/australian-work-health-and-safety-strategy-2012-2022


appendices

Appendix 1. Definitions

Injury classification

TERM DEFINITION

Fatal injury (FI) An injury that results in death.

Lost time injury (LTI) An injury that results in a minimum of one full shift’s absence (AS1885.1 – 1990).

Restricted duty injury (RDI) An injury resulting in the injured person returning to alternative or restricted duties.

Medical treatment injury (MTI) An injury requiring medical treatment.

Total recordable injuries (TRI) The total number of fatal injuries, lost time injuries, restricted duty injuries and medical treatment injuries.

Serious injury (SI) An injury where the nature of injury is defined by the relevant legislation

Note, with the commencement of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 on 1 February 2015, the definition of a serious injury was expanded to now also include additional injury types, as well as any injury irrespective of its nature that results in immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital.

Note:

1. Under the Petroleum (Onshore) Schedule 1992, 301(1), a serious injury in the Petroleum sector was defined as the need for immediate attention by a medical practitioner. This is a lower threshold than for the mining industry.

2. In general, a serious injury under this definition is not directly comparable to definitions in other mining jurisdictions or SafeWork Australia.

Serious injury by outcome (LTI/RDI ≥ 7 days)

A lost time injury resulting in an absence of seven days or more, and / or a restricted duty injury resulting in alternative or restricted duties of seven days or more.



Frequency rates

TERM DEFINITION

Fatal injury frequency rate (FIFR) The number of fatal injuries per million hours worked.

Lost time injury frequency rate (LITFR) The number of lost time injuries per million hours worked.

Serious injury frequency rate (SIFR) The number of serious injuries per million hours worked.

Total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR)

The total number of fatal, lost time, medical treatment and restricted duties injuries per million hours worked.

Injury outcome 7 days or more

(LTI/RDI ≥ 7daysFR)

The number of injuries (lost time and restricted duties) with an outcome of seven days or more per million hours worked.

Terminology

TERM DEFINITION

Complaints The Regulator records all mine work health and safety complaints or requests for service it receives. Complaints may be received from mine workers, members of the public, trade union representatives. Complaints may be submitted anonymously.

Notifiable safety incident An incident where the cause of the incident, nature of the injury and/or injury outcome requires notification to the Regulator according to the relevant legislation.

Note that any multiple gas trips that were reported to the Regulator in a single incident notification have been included as individual incident notifications in this report.

Quarterly workplace health and safety report

Quarterly workplace health and safety reports are required to be submitted by the mine operator to the Regulator, according to the relevant legislation, and contain information on injuries and illness occurring in the quarter, as well as other information such as the total number of hours worked at the mine. This information is used for preparing key statistical data for mining sectors including frequency rates.

Enforcement and advice notices

ENFORCEMENT AND ADVICE NOTICE CATEGORY

DEFINITION LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT AND ADVICE NOTICE TYPE

Advice notice or notice of concern

Notice raising concerns regarding health, safety or welfare to the attention of operators.

Coal Mine Health Safety Act 2002

s 150 Bringing of concerns regarding health, safety or welfare to the attention of operators

Mine Health Safety Act 2004

s 131 Bringing of concerns regarding health, safety or welfare to the attention of operators

Mines Inspection Act 1901

s 36B Inspector or mine safety officer to inform mine management of certain matters

Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013

s 23 Notice of concern

aPPENdiCEs



ENFORCEMENT AND ADVICE NOTICE CATEGORY

DEFINITION LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT AND ADVICE NOTICE TYPE

Improvement notice

Notice directing remedy or prevention of a contravention or potential contravention.

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000

s 91 Issue of improvement notices

Work Health and Safety Amendment Act 2011

s 191 Issue of improvement notices

Prohibition notice Notice prohibiting carrying on of an activity or carrying on of an activity in a way that involves or will involve serious risk to health and safety. In an underground mine this may require removal of workers from underground areas.

Work Health and Safety Act 2011

s 195 Power to issue prohibition notices


s 93 Issue of prohibition notices

Mines Inspection Act 1901

s 37 Notice to be given of cause of danger

s 37A Order to withdraw persons from mine

Mine Health Safety Regulation 2007

cl 158 Chief Inspector may impose prohibitions or restrictions or direct evacuation or closure of mine

Coal Mine Health Safety Regulation 2006

cl 51 Chief Inspector may impose prohibitions or restrictions or direct evacuation or closure of coal operation

Investigation notice

Notice requiring stoppage of plant, non- disturbance of premises or for an inspector obtain information/ documents/ evidence.


s 62 Power of Inspectors to obtain information, documents and evidence

s 89 Investigation notice to stop plant or prevent disturbance of premises to allow investigation

Work Health and Safety Act 2011

s 155 Powers of the Regulator to obtain information

s 171 Power to require production of documents and answers to questions

Issue of a non-disturbance notice

Explosive notice Notice regarding certain powers of inspectors in relation to explosives.

Explosives Regulations 2005

cl 99 Certain powers of inspectors and police officers

aPPENdiCEs



Appendix 2. Mine definitionsThis appendix is included to help readers understand the different types of mines and how they are classified into mining sectors. In this report

• exploration is included in surface operations.

• both surface and underground activity occurring at an underground operation is considered as underground activity.

Mine Types

MINING SECTOR MINE TYPE

Coal mines • Coal

• Declared plant - CPP

Metalliferous mines • Metals

• Mineral sands

Extractive mines • Construction materials

• Industrial minerals

Other Non-coal mines • Gemstones or precious stones (excluding Operation type of Opal Mining (All Types))

• Readymix or bitumen

• Ancillary to mining

• Waste mining

• Treatment plant

• To be determined

Petroleum and Geothermal sites • Petroleum

• Geothermal

Opal mines • Small Scale Titles

• Opal claim

• Gemstones or precious stones with Operation type of Opal Mining (All Types)

Active mines

Active mines include mines that are open, mines that operate intermittently, mines that are under care and maintenance, open tourist mines, planned mines and small-scale titles that are current or pending.

aPPENdiCEs



Mine operation types

MINING SECTOR OPERATION TYPE MINE OPERATION TYPE

Underground • Underground

Surface • Open cut

• Processing

• Borrow pit

• Dredging

• Exploration

• Exploration wells

• Opal mining (All Types)

• Production wells

• To be determined

aPPENdiCEs


Mine safety performance report, 2017-2018 · 2019-02-21 · MINE SAFET PERFORMANCE REPORT....

Documents

Transcript of Mine safety performance report, 2017-2018 · 2019-02-21 · MINE SAFET PERFORMANCE REPORT....