The State Government wants to overhaul health and safety inspection in the mining, petroleum and major hazards industries, proposing to shift responsibility to a new statutory body.
The State Government wants to overhaul health and safety inspection in the mining, petroleum and major hazards industries, proposing to shift responsibility to a new statutory body.
The changes are a direct result of the deaths last year of three BHP Billiton workers in the Pilbara and are proposed in an interim report by a mine safety investigation group.
Mine safety has been in the public spotlight again this week with a fire at the underground development of Newcrest’s giant Telfer gold mine, also in the Pilbara.
The likely move involves the relocation of the inspection functions of the Department of Industry and Resources’ Safety and Health Division.
The interim mine safety report concludes that: “the appropriate structure for regulatory body is a new statutory body, reporting to the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection minister via an advisory board”.
In a statement, State Development Minister Alan Carpenter said the revamping of safety inspection for the three industries would initially involve undertaking a three-month feasibility study for which an additional $1 million has been allocated.
“The study will look at how much that move would cost and the transitional arrangements needed to introduce a new regime,” Mr Carpenter said.
“It will examine methodologies, systems, procedures and funding as well as report arrangements for the resources safety regulator.”
While DoIR will undertake the feasibility study, Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke will be responsible for the Mine Safety Inspection and Dangerous Goods Acts.
All DoIR staff currently employed in administering these acts will be moved to Mr Kobelke’s department where they will operate as a separate stand-alone unit.
The recommendation for the study was contained in an interim report prepared by the Mine Safety Improvement Group (MSIG) that was convened in January to advise on implementing recommendations of the Ritter Inquiry.
Perth barrister Mark Ritter was commissioned last July to investigate safety systems at three sites owned and operated by BHP Billiton.
The MSIG included two representatives each from unions, the mining industry and government.
The members were:
• Department of Industry and Resources director general Dr Jim Limerick, or his nominee;
• DOCEP director general Brian Bradley, or his nominee;
• two nominees of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy – Nicole Roocke and Reg Howard-Smith; and
• two nominees of Unions WA – Gary Wood and Dave Robinson.
In addition, two health and safety experts assisted the MSIG.
They were Professor Andrew Hopkins from the Australian National University in Canberra and Peter Wilkinson, on secondment from Britain’s Health and Safety Executive to the Federal Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
The then State Development Minister, Clive Brown, said the Government’s goal was to ensure Western Australia could institute a world-class safety regime and inspectorate for its resources sector.
“The MSIG will include advising on the appropriate roles and responsibilities of the inspectorate functions of the Safety and Health Division of the Department of Industry and Resources,” Mr Brown said.
“It will also make recommendations on the skills necessary to achieve a world-class occupational safety and health regime in the resources sector and how those skills can best be acquired and retained.
“These recommendations will address mine safety, dangerous goods, major hazard facilities and onshore petroleum safety.”
The MSIG was also required to provide findings and recommendations on changes needed to further improve the Mines Safety and Inspection Act and Regulations.
