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Occupational safety and health experts are in Kalgoorlie today to engage with more than 50 industry members on mines safety concerns surrounding radiation, importance of sleep, hazardous manual tasks, and access to vehicles and mobile equipment.

These topics will be up for discussion at the fifth Mines Safety Roadshow, presented by the Department of Mines and Petroleum’s Resources Safety Division.

The roadshow will have information sessions on how to follow occupational safety and health processes, as well as provide an opportunity to consult with others in the minerals sector such as senior mines inspectors and other Resources Safety staff.

Where possible, presentations will also reference statistics and incidents relating to industry’s safety performance.

Executive Director of Resources Safety, Malcolm Russell, said the annual roadshows were a valuable tool in keeping regional areas throughout Western Australia up-to-date and informed on key safety and health issues of concern to the mines inspectorate.

“Through these roadshows we can ensure that industry has access to highly qualified staff and the latest information,” he said.

 “The State Government is committed to ensuring Western Australia’s mining industry operates under the best safety framework possible, and implementing initiatives such as the Mines Safety Roadshow are valuable tools in helping to adopt a risk management approach to occupational safety and health.”

Following today’s roadshow in Kalgoorlie, the event will travel to Tom Price and Bunbury, before concluding in Perth.

Simultaneous webcasting has also been arranged for the Perth event, allowing anyone to view the proceedings online.

Resources Safety’s Director of Mines Safety and newly appointed State Mining Engineer, Simon Ridge, said the event was one of the initiatives implemented by Resources Safety to support the development of resilient safety cultures in mining workplaces.

“Safety should not be a priority but a core value, that is, Safety with a capital “S”. This is where we must aspire to be, working within a culture that has safety grafted into its very being. Safety must become non-negotiable, automatic and inseparable from everything that we do.

“These roadshows provide a valuable opportunity for people in the Goldfields, South West, Pilbara and Perth to ensure they are across key mines safety issues and meet our staff .”

Speakers include inspectors of mines, the director of health management, senior scientific officers, and the Division’s education and training officer.

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