Two thousand people have now attended the Mine Operators Workshop in Lightning Ridge, run by the NSW Department of Primary Industries

Milton Watts from Quakers Hill in Sydney has become the 2000th person to attend the course in Lightning Ridge.

Mr Watts says his recently deceased father had a claim at Lightning Ridge for many years and he and his brother Michael had completed the course so they could retain the claim for future family descendants. 

"I’ve been involved in tin mining at Emerald in Queensland - I think mining is in the family’s blood" said Mr Watts.

"My father had been able to supply some of us with beautiful opal over the years and the family very much wants to retain their connections with opal mining." 

The Department has been conducting these workshops for all mine operators in Lightning Ridge and surrounding areas since October 2003 to ensure all miners are qualified under mining and occupational health and safety legislation.

According to DPI’s Director Mine Safety Operations Rob Regan the many courses run by DPI are widely credited with the dramatic improvement in safety on the opal fields.

"The NSW opal mining industry has now marked over a decade without a fatality" said Mr Regan.

"The Opal Miners Operators Workshop is an outstanding example of Government and industry working together to improve mine safety."

"The safety performance of the opal mining industry prior to this course was unacceptable," Mr Regan said.

"However, more than 12 years without a fatality and a significant reduction in serious injuries are great results and a real tribute not only to the course but to the presenters, the Department and the opal mining industry.

The workshops, which are run at least twice a month, include a Mine Safety Management Plan, especially developed for opal mining. 

The Plan is explained in full, and miners are also told about the legislation, its requirements, hazard management and job safety analysis.

Miners also receive a log book, which they are expected to keep up to date, and all the necessary documentation needed to comply with the legislation. 

The Mine Safety Management Plan has been made as simple as possible so it can be easily adopted by the miners around the area and understood by persons from all walks of life.

Media contact: JENNY WARD (02) 8289 3925 or 0429 305 950