THE FORMER Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Aluminium Oscar Groeneveld told a mining health and safety conference Blackberry devices and mobile phones can be detrimental to well being.
According to Groeneveld, it was important to turn off the devices and have time out. It can also enable workers to use their own authority and judgement, as opposed to contacting the boss.
At the eve of his retirement, the former Chief Executive also said there should be a consistent safety culture from the boardroom downwards to the training room, and managers should lead by example.
He acknowledged the difficulty of balancing commercial success and success in health and safety, saying the margin is “paper thin”.
The conference, in its 20th year, was hosted by the Queensland Resources Council, the Department of Mines and Energy and mining unions.

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