Amendments to the Queensland Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999

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Noel Arnold report on the background and details of the new amendments:

Since the Queensland Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act (MQSHA) came into effect in 2001, large mines and quarries have been required by law to develop and maintain a fully documented Safety & Health Management System (SHMS).

The 2006 – 2007 ‘Review into Fatal Accidents’, conducted by the DEEDI’s Mines Inspectorate, found a decreasing trend in the number of fatalities at large metalliferous mines and quarries in Queensland.

However, the review also found a disturbing and increasing trend in the number of fatalities at small mines and quarries. Furthermore, this trend was found to reflect national trends in fatalities, at smaller mines and quarries, across several other Australian jurisdictions.

Following an inquest into a worker’s death, at a small mine, the Queensland Coroner, Mr Scott Luxton, recommended that legislation be amended to require all mines and quarries with ten or fewer workers, to have a Safety and Health Management System (SHMS).

In New South Wales, small mines have been required to have a SHMS since 2001. This legislative requirement has led to a reduction in fatalities.

From this and other available evidence, the Queensland Government determined that regulatory intervention was needed to improve the safety and health performance of the small mining and quarrying sector.

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Tagged as: australian jurisdictions, fatal accidents, health act 1999, health management system, health performance, inquest, inspectorate, Legislation, legislative requirement, luxton, metalliferous mines, national trends, new south wales, noel arnold, quarries, queensland government, regulatory intervention, shms