What is the Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC)?

On 31 March 2022, the Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws replaced the health and safety elements of the Mines Safety and Inspection laws. For information visit www.demirs.wa.gov.au/whs

All health and safety notifications, forms and guidance for mining and petroleum has moved to the WorkSafe website

Establishment

MIAC was established in April 2005 under section 14A of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 which has now been repealed. This committee is to be replaced by the Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee (MAPAC) which is established under the Work Health and Safety Act 2022 (Schedule 1, Division 4, clause 23). The final meeting of the Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) took place on 17 August 2022.

Key objectives

The key objectives of MIAC are to:

  • advise and make recommendations to the Ministers responsible for occupational safety and health in Western Australia and the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health (the Commission) on occupational safety and health matters concerning the mining industry
  • liaise with the Commission to coordinate activities on related functions and maintain parallel standards
  • inquire into and report to the Ministers regarding any matter referred to it by the Ministers relating to occupational safety and health in the mining industry
  • make recommendations to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding the formulation, amendment or repeal of laws relating to occupational safety and health for which that Minister is responsible
  • prepare or recommend the adoption of codes of practice, guidelines, standards and specifications or other forms of guidance for the purpose of assisting employers, self-employed persons, employees, manufacturers or other persons to maintain appropriate occupational safety and health standards in the mining industry
  • provide advice on education, publications, training and training courses with respect to occupational safety and health in the mining industry.

Current membership

The tripartite membership of MIAC is determined jointly by the Ministers responsible for the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.

  • Mr Andrew Chaplyn (Chair) – Government member
  • Ms Helen Anderson – Expert member
  • Dr Gary Bryant – Expert member
  • Mr Gregory Busson – Union member
  • Vanessa Colmer – Industry member
  • Ms Christina Folley – Government member
  • Mr Glenn McLaren – Union member
  • Laila Nowell – Industry member (temporary)
  • Samantha Panickar – Industry member
  • Ms Meagan Smart – Expert member
  • Mr Gregory Stagbouer – Expert member

Meeting dates

Schedule of MIAC meetings for 2020:

  • Wednesday 12 February 2020
  • Wednesday 8 April 2020
  • Wednesday 10 June 2020
  • Wednesday 12 August 2020
  • Wednesday 14 October 2020
  • Wednesday 9 December 2020

Meeting communiques

A summary of the topics discussed at the most recent MIAC meeting is available below.

17 August 2022 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 278 Kb

17 August 2022 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique

15 June 2022 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 203 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 15 June 2022

13 April 2022 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 172 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 13 April 2022

9 February 2022 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 316 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 9 February 2022

13 October 2021 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 413 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 13 October 2021

8 December 2021 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 383 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 8 December 2021

11 August 2021 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 205 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 11 August 2021

9 June 2021 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 176 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 9 June 2021

10 February 2021 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 402 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 10 February 2021

12 August 2020 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 397 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 12 August 2020

10 June 2020 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 135 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 10 June 2020

8 April 2020 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 144 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 8 April 2020

12 February 2020 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 122 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 12 February 2020

9 October 2019 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 309 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 9 October 2019

14 August 2019 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 289 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 14 August 2019

12 June 2019 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 222 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 12 June 2019

11 December 2019 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 221 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 11 December 2019

10 April 2019 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 224 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 10 April 2019

6 December 2018 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 277 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 6 December 2018

13 February 2019 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 290 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 13 February 2019

11 October 2018 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 208 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 11 October 2018

7 December 2017 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 272 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 7 December 2017

19 October 2017 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 270 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 19 October 2017

17 August 2017 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 267 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 17 August 2017

15 February 2018 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 97 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 15 February 2018

15 June 2017 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 188 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 15 June 2017

20 April 2017 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 233 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 20 April 2017

16 February 2017 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 145 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 16 February 2017

8 December 2016 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 106 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 8 December 2016

13 October 2016 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique - 199 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 13 October 2016

Meeting minutes

The confirmed minutes for MIAC meetings for 2016 and 2015 are provided below.

From the 13 October 2016, meeting minutes have been replaced by meeting communiques. Copies of these are available above.

2016

11 August 2016 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 276 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 11 August 2016

16 June 2016 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 370 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 16 June 2016

14 April 2016 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 278 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 14 April 2016

18 February 2016 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 254 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 18 February 2016

2015

26 November 2015 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 130 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 26 November 2015

13 August 2015 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 387 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 13 August 2015

18 June 2015 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 271 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 18 June 2015

16 April 2015 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 124 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 16 April 2015

19 February 2015 - Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes - 131 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) meeting minutes: 19 February 2015

Working Groups

Mental Health Strategies Working Group

On 18 June 2015, the Legislative Assembly Education and Health Standing Committee tabled its final report The impact of FIFO work practices on mental health. The Standing Committee made a number of findings and recommendations in its report relating to the Mental Health and Mines and Petroleum portfolios.

The Government provided its response to the Standing Committee’s recommendations in October 2015, which included MIAC progressing those relevant recommendations.

To assist in identifying a framework to support good practice for positive mental health wellbeing in the resources sector workplace, it was agreed at MIAC’s 14 April 2016 meeting to establish a Mental Health Strategies Working Group (MHSWG).

A MIAC approved close out report concluding the actions of MHSWG has been released. The report outlines the MHSWG’s achievements in identifying and progressing projects that support good practice for positive mental health and wellbeing in the resources sector workplace.

Mental Health Strategies Working Group Close Out Report

Mental Health Strategies Working Group Close Out Report - 432 Kb

Mental Health Strategies Working Group close out report: 14 September 2020

Mental Health Strategies Working Group Terms of Reference and membership

Mental Health Strategies Working Group - Terms of Reference - 165 Kb

Terms of reference for the MIAC Mental Health Strategies Working Group

Mental Health Strategies Working Group communiques

12 October 2017 - Mental Health Strategies Working Group - communique - 229 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 12 October 2017

27 July 2017 - Mental Health Strategies Working Group - communique - 360 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committe (MIAC) communique: 27 July 2017

23 May 2017 - Mental Health Strategies Working Group - communique - 197 Kb

Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) communique: 23 May 2017

31 January 2017 - Mental Health Strategies Working Group - communique - 204 Kb

Mental Health Strategies Working Group communique: 31 January 2017

22 November 2016 - Mental Health Strategies Working Group - communique - 102 Kb

Mental Health Strategies Working Group communique: 22 November 2016

4 October 2016 - Mental Health Strategies Working Group - communique - 262 Kb

Mental Health Strategies Working Group communique: 4 October 2016

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group

Diesel particulates matter (DPM) is a known hazard for mining operations, especially in underground mines where there is widespread use of diesel vehicles and equipment.

Research around the world suggests nano diesel particulate matter (nDPM) is a harmful carcinogenic component of exhaust emissions that can be absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream. An evaluation of nDPM would assist the development of control measures to protect workers in underground mines and other environments where nDPM is generated.

To gain a better understanding of the exposure effects of nDPM on workers, it was agreed by MIAC to establish the Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group (nDPMWG). Between 2016 and 2020 the nDPMWG met on 11 separate occasions.

As a result of the recommendations from the nDPMWG, following extensive research and industry consultation, a workplace exposure standard for DPM was implemented across all Western Australian mining operations in December 2020.

A report is available on the research undertaken regarding nDPM behaviour and characteristics in underground mining in WA

A close out report concluding actions of nDPMWG has been released.

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group Close Out Report

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group Close Out Report - 238 Kb

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group close out report: 2 November 2020

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group Terms of Reference and membership

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group - Terms of Reference - 162 Kb

Terms of reference for the MIAC Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group communiques

29 June 2017 - Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group - communique - 26 Kb

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group communique: 29 June 2017

23 March 2017 - Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group - communique - 29 Kb

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group communique: 23 March 2017

12 December 2016 - Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group - communique - 106 Kb

Nano Diesel Particulate Matter Working Group communique: 12 December 2016