Safety workshops for White Cliffs miners

Today marks the first ever comprehensive mine operators workshop for opal miners at White Cliffs, according to the Director-General of the NSW Department of Mineral Resources Alan Coutts.

The Mine Operators Workshop, which emphasises the personal occupational health and safety of the operator, has been styled on one used by the Department in Lightning Ridge where it has been running successfully for a number of years.

"Completion of this workshop is one of the requirements for having and working a mineral claim in the opal fields," said Mr Coutts.

"The workshop content revolves around the Mine Safety Management Plan," he added.

"This first operators workshop is attracting a lot of interest within the White Cliffs mining community with additional workshops planned to ensure everyone is given an opportunity to attend.

"Depending on the demand these workshops may be held in Broken Hill and Buronga as well," he said.

The workshop runs over two days and is aimed at people who are both experienced and inexperienced in mining but want to increase their knowledge of safe mining practices.

The workshop has been designed specifically for opal miners and tailored to the needs of those working at White Cliffs.

"The ground at White Cliffs differs from other opal fields and therefore requires different mining and support methods," he added.

"While White Cliffs is the longest running opal field in Australia, situated 1100 kms west of Sydney, it is now small compared with Lightning Ridge", said Mr Coutts.

A second mine safety course, based on one run by the Department of Mineral Resources in Lightning Ridge, will also take place at White Cliffs this week.

Last year the first ever Safety Awareness Course was held in White Cliffs attracting 140 miners. This course is being held again this week on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The White Cliffs Miners' Association and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources have worked together to ensure these courses provide relevant safety information to all claim holders and operators," he said.

"The course is styled on the very successful Miners Safety Awareness Course at Lightning Ridge run by the NSW Department of Mineral Resources since 1993," said Mr Coutts.

Topics covered in the course include mine ventilation, mine surveying and other mining related topics.

Close to 4000 people have undertaken the Safety Awareness Courses in Lightning Ridge.

"In fact attendance at the course in Lightning Ridge is now a condition of the annual re-registration of claims.