Safe to Work Mar - Apr 2020

Page 16

Mining equipment

Nivek’s commitment to fitter’s safety FOLLOWING AN UNFORTUNATE BOUT OF INJURIES AND FATALITIES, THE MINING INDUSTRY IS PUSHING FOR BETTER SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE, PROMPTING MANY MINES TO RETHINK EXISTING WORK PRACTICES AND FOCUS ON MAKING THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB AVAILABLE.

T

he Queensland Government recruited four additional mine inspectors during January, giving it 46 in total, to ensure the health and safety of the state’s 70,000 mining and quarrying workers. A bill to penalise industrial manslaughter to strengthen safety culture within the resources sector was also passed by the state government. Under these new laws, employers deemed responsible for causing the death of mine workers face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment or 100,000 penalty units. The state government’s moves follow eight fatalities during the past 18 months in the mining and quarrying industries in Queensland alone. As a result of these stronger laws and additional inspectors, there is a greater emphasis on providing the right tooling, safety culture and environment to help ensure every worker returns home safely after their shift. Nivek Industries is committed to improving mine safety across Australia with its specialised equipment. The company understands the importance of safety equipment all too well, after director and owner Kevin Cant was involved in a near miss incident while working as a fitter. The belly plate Cant was working on slipped and narrowly avoided crushing him, which inspired him to spend three years of research and design to create the Tracking Elevating Device, or TED,

Jess Briggs is one of many fitters that has enjoyed the safety benefits of the LA40.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 16 MAR-APR 2020


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.