Annual NSW Check Inspectors Conference

The sixth annual Check Inspectors Conference has today been held at Penrith to discuss safety issues and legislation.

Check Inspectors play a vital role in the Government’s continuing program of safety improvement, while representing employees in the coal mining industry.

Check Inspectors work in the mines and they're the ones who are often best able to identify hazards and recommend ways these can be eliminated or controlled.

They also represent their workmates on all safety matters, from implementing legislation and regulations to communicating with the union and mine management.

Local Check Inspectors are mine employers and CFMEU members who represent their fellow mine workers on safety matters. In particular, they become involved in work site inspection in response to accidents.

Their work is co-ordinated by District Check Inspectors, who are elected full time officials of the CFMEU. They look after a group of mines, usually in a geographic district.

Today’s conference had a strong emphasis on risk management and how check inspectors can most effectively participate in and oversee the identification and control of risks at their mines.

Since 1998, the NSW Government has invested $24.7 million to improve mine safety.

One major commitment is a recently completed review of mine safety prepared by the former Premier Neville Wran.

31 recommendations came out of this review, some of which are already being implemented with the remainder currently being considered by the Government as to how they can be best addressed.

Specific training is being provided to Check Inspectors to increase their effectiveness in protecting the lives of their fellow workers.

New legislation will be introduced next year which will mean that every mine will have to develop and work to a mine health and safety management system.

This legislation will strengthen the role that check inspectors play in making sure that mines are safe.