Mine operators workshop chalks up 1000th participant

The Mine Operators workshop conducted by the Department of Primary Industries in Lightning Ridge and Whitecliffs Opal Fields has reached a milestone with the attendance of the 1000th person in just over 18 months.

Trevor Smeaton has become the 1000th person to attend the Mine Operator's Workshop in Lightning Ridge.

He had previously completed the Opal Miners Safety Course at Lightning Ridge in October 2002. This course evolved from a series of workshops held in 1993 to address the poor safety record on the opal fields.

Mr Smeaton has never done any mining, but is thinking of doing so in the future.

He arrived here from Melbourne recently, although this is his second visit to the Ridge, he has lived here on a previous occasion for 18 months.

Mr Smeaton says the Workshop 'changed his thinking' and found plenty of information to be useful'.

Mr Smeaton was presented with his course certificate with the words 1000th Course Attendee.

According to the Deputy Director General of the Department of Primary Industries – Minerals, Alan Coutts these workshops began in response to the changing requirements of legislation.

“The Mine Health and Safety Act 2004 requires all opal mines to have a mine operator who has a Mine Safety Management plan which includes an established Emergency Procedure,” he said.

The workshops show miners how to fulfil requirements of the legislation and have been running since October 2003.

“It includes presentations on the legislation itself, the content of a Mine Safety Management plan, health and safety policy, and how to develop an emergency procedure plan”, said Mr Coutts.

The Emergency Procedure Form must be clearly displayed at the mine site. It describes what communication system to use and what information must be relayed to the Emergency Services.

A separate form called the Site Safety Rules spells out the safety regulations such as wearing hard hats, safety boots etc. These have to be reviewed regularly.
“The workshops attract not only full time miners but also the hobby miner and those who have never mined before. People come from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and ACT,” said Mr Coutts.

The workshop takes about six hours and participants are given a certificate of attendance. Each person is then qualified to be nominated as the mine operator of up to four opal mining claims.

Once new Mine Health and Safety regulations are introduced anyone who wants to register an opal mining title will have to nominate a mine operator who holds a certificate from the Mine Operators Workshop.

Between 1978 and 1997, there were 23 fatalities on the Lightning Ridge region opal fields, however, none have occurred since April 1997.

A lot of emphasis is now placed on the correct use of underground mechanical diggers which are involved in 23% of accidents reported by the local hospitals.

Much of the credit for the improved performance has been attributed to the Opal Miners Safety Awareness Courses. Initially attendance was voluntary but was made compulsory for all new claim holders in 1995.