May 15, 2025
The MEU is working to lift safety standards for our members and all mineworkers in Tasmania by strengthening mine safety laws.
General Vice President Steve Smyth has been appointed to a steering committee tasked with reviewing and updating the mine safety regulations that support Tasmania’s Mines Work Health and Safety Act.
Steve said that Tasmania has a diverse mining industry with a long history and a skilled, experienced workforce – but the state’s distance from the mainland makes some bosses think they can get away with cutting corners.
“Just because Tassie has a smaller industry, doesn’t mean their mines and quarries should have lower safety standards.
“We will certainly be pushing for standards and accountability to be raised because a miner’s life and health in Tassie is just as valuable as anywhere else.”
The steering committee has recommended a series of regulatory improvements from risk assessment and management, to training, ventilation and hazard management plans.
Steve said the proposed improvements would move Tasmanian mine safety in the right direction and highlighted two critical areas from the MEU’s perspective.
The first is to establish a statutory tripartite mine safety committee as present in NSW through the Mine Safety Advisory Committee (MSAC) and Queensland through the Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee. This ensures on-going engagement and scrutiny by unions, government and industry to continually improve safety standards.
The second is to develop a more comprehensive list of reportable high potential incidents to encourage a positive reporting culture in Tasmanian mines and quarries.
“In Tasmania, the employers want to limit the safety incidents they have to report on. But we should expand the list of proscribed events that mine and quarry operators have to report on to the regulator. This varies between sectors but can include events like high gas readings, strata failure, injuries or vehicle collisions.
“Events like these can be a symptom that safety systems have weaknesses, but if they are not reported these systemic issues can’t be identified. We need to encourage employers to take pride in being transparent about safety.”
Steve, as a former underground coal miner and ISHR, has also been asked by WorkSafe Tasmania to participate in safety inspections at Cornwall underground coal mine.
He said the Cornwall workforce is extremely experienced and knowledgeable about the local conditions, which are difficult compared to many larger mines on the mainland.
“It was very interesting to see the mine and the place change method they use. Our members at Cornwall are highly skilled and very resourceful in operating in the difficult conditions underground.
“There are some improvements that can be made in areas like ventilation and dust control, and I’ll keep working with our members and the regulator to make sure the mine operates as safely as possible.”
