Australian Mines Cutting Corners in Safety Training
A new report shows some companies in the Australian mine industry are not providing comprehensive training to employees.
Australian mines may be cutting corners in their efforts to meet safety standards. A Queensland Department of Mines safety report warned that some training organizations may be rushing mine safety training to comply with pressure from mining companies to cut down on training time.
The report states that the 2011-2012 financial year has the potential of being the most dangerous 12 months on mine sites in the past decade. There were increases in injuries, in the time employees needed to recover from injuries, and in employees who needed medical attention.
According to the report, mines were hiring untrained workers and putting those workers through little to no training in mining safety. The report did point out, however, that although there was an increase in injuries, Australia still has one of the world's safest mining industries.
In an effort to improve these safety failings, complaints will be reported to the Australian Skills Quality Authority, a regulator of training programs. This agency will be taking over responsibility from the Department of Training and Employment.