NSW Mining Industry Health Working Party
The Health Working Party (HWP) was established by the Minister to address Recommendations 6 to 8 of the Wran Review into Mine Safety on the coordination of health issues for the NSW mining industry. The HWP consists of nominated representatives from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Coal Services, WorkCover NSW, employee and employer representatives and an independent health expert. The HWP reports to the NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC).
The HWP has recently agreed on contemporary priority health issues and endorsed the development of a Health Management Plan that will assist mine sites in managing the health risks posed by identified priority health issues.
Health Management Plan
Priority health issues
The HWP considered workers compensation claims data in addition to commissioning a literature review of health issues related to mining, which recommended a list of contemporary priority health issues. The top 9 health risks that are high priority exposures and related disorders are:
- Noise causing noise-induced hearing loss
- Vibration causing musculoskeletal disorders
- Diesel exhaust fumes leading to respiratory disease
- Hazardous substance exposure causing dermatitis
- Ergonomic stressors causing musculoskeletal conditions
- Ergonomic stressors causing back disorders
- Ergonomic stressors causing fatigue and related disorders
- Psychosocial hazards causing mental disorders
- Ultraviolet radiation and skin disease.
The MSAC has agreed to these priority health issues.
| Download files | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Executive summary and summary of priority health issues |  |
52kb |
| Summary literature review of health issues related to NSW mining - full report |
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165kb |
Wran Review recommendations being addressed
The Wran Mine Safety Review recommends that:
- The responsibility for the regulation of mine health and safety issues be brought together under the NSW Department of Primary Industries, rather than by separate agencies as at present.
- The NSW Department of Primary Industries will be responsible for identifying potential mine-related health hazards and for monitoring and reporting on such hazards to MSAC and other relevant agencies.
- The NSW Department of Primary Industries, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, including Coal Services Pty Ltd, develop a database on mine-related health indices as a matter of priority.
- The MSAC progress, as a priority, improved mine-related health regulation and monitoring.
NSW Mining Industry Health Working Party Terms of Reference
The HWP will research the feasibility of implementing recommendations 6, 7, and 8 of the Wran Mine Safety Review, reported by Neville Wran QC and Jan McClelland in February 2005, related to the regulation and monitoring of health issues in the NSW mining industry. The HWP will consult with the mining industry stakeholders to:
- Identify suitable opportunities to coordinate responsibilities for the regulation of mine health and safety issues through the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
- Identify potential mine-related health hazards.
- Examine and report on data and information management needs on mine-related health indices.
- Examine and report on arrangements in other Australian jurisdictions.
- Recommend suitable collaborative strategies for consideration by the MSAC in its progression, as a priority, improved mine-related health regulation and monitoring.
