Safety in mining is influenced by a wide range of factors. However, it is clear that some hazards can be reduced or eliminated by technologies that allow the removal of people from areas where machines and materials interact. There is no doubt that safety is improving. The Australian mining industry fatality rate has been reducing for some years. Unfortunately, the downward trend is showing signs of levelling off at between 10 and 15 fatalities per year. Examination of the data supplied by the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Centre for Geomechanics and other sources identifies two categories of fatal injury that are significantly higher than all other categories: Vehicles or mobile plant' (31 percent) and 'slides, cave-ins or rock falls' (25 percent).
展开▼
