Inspectors sharing safety knowledge

Mines Inspectors Forum brings together safety inspectorate.
Date: Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Mine Inspectors from Karratha, Collie and Kalgoorlie joined their colleagues in Perth for the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Mines Inspectors Forum last week.

Director Mines Safety and State Mining Engineer Andrew Chaplyn said the biennial forum was an opportunity for mine inspectors to share experiences, knowledge and ideas.

Mines inspectors from the 2018 forum.
Mine inspectors from across the State gathered for the department's 2018 Mines Inspectors Forum.

“The Inspectors Forum enables us to come together as an inspectorate and make use of the most important resource we have – our people,” Mr Chaplyn said.

“Our people are the backbone of what we do.”

Mr Chaplyn said the forum was opened by Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston and included presentations, guest speakers, updates by executive staff and workshops.

“It was particularly pleasing to have Minister Johnston open the forum and is indicative of the Minister’s and the Government’s commitment to worker safety,” Mr Chaplyn said.

In opening the forum, Minister Johnston said there was nothing more important to the Government than occupational health and safety.

“The Government sees your work (in mines safety) as critical,” Mr Johnston said.

As well as giving an update on the progress of legislative changes impacting on safety, the Minister also spoke about the draft code of practice for mentally healthy workplaces for FIFO workers in the resources and construction sectors.

“It’s very important to me personally that we deliver on that code of practice and I do believe it will be a significant step forward for the many people involved in fly-in, fly-out work in our industry,” Mr Johnston said.

The draft code of practice is available for public comment until this Thursday (19 April).