Concerns raised in 2007 regarding the accuracy of mine safety reports prompted a review of how the statistics are collected. Two health and safety experts analysed the annual safety statistics for the mining industry and produced a report with 36 recommendations.
These recommendations include a range of issues such as case studies, mine audits, the definition and reporting of injuries and high potential incidents, data analysis and the level of awareness of health and safety risks.
The report found the reporting of lost time injuries was incomplete, because the statistics only reported on certain injuries that prevented a return to work, while disabling injuries such as bad backs were not included.
The government is hopeful the changes to the reporting process will allow access to a more complete picture of safety in the mining industry. This could make mining safer for workers.