Moura No 2 Findings Preamble.
Comments Frank Windridge Mining Moura No 2 Findings
The previous three Inquiries into major explosions in Queensland coal mines have consistently made recommendations aimed at addressing perceived deficiencies in the coal industry’s arrangements for training, or the state of knowledge of industry personnel. There has also consistently been the conduct of seminars and symposia as a response to those disasters, accompanied by the production of publications about the hazards of underground coal mining revisited in the course of those Inquiries. These measures have, however, clearly not been effective in the longer term with the industry displaying, as it does, a capacity to lose sight of the lessons of the past and to not maintain an adequate knowledge base among key personnel.
In response to the Moura No 2 incident, the subject of this Inquiry, there will no doubt be an early spate of training, the conduct of seminars and symposia and, probably, the production of more publications. The immediate past track record is that these measures will be effective for somewhere around a decade with fundamental problems beginning to re-emerge somewhat earlier.
There seems a clear need to put measures in place to ensure that vital lessons are effectively revisited and that the past is not repeated. To not do so is to invite further disasters.
It is with this grave concern that the following recommendations have been drafted – a concern that there must be fundamental and permanent change in the current approaches and attitudes in the coal industry.
The recommendation relating to statutory qualifications is intended to ensure that those holding such qualifications revisit the lessons and update their knowledge. Similarly, the recommendation for spontaneous combustion management plans is intended to ensure that spontaneous combustion never again becomes the subject of assumption as a means of management, and that capable, reliable and durable arrangements are put in place to effectively manage that hazard. There must surely be a sense of deja vu with the recommendation relating to industry training as it applies to spontaneous combustion – how many times does it have to be said?
Within a number of recommendations and comments which follow, there are lists of matters that might be considered. Where these lists appear they are in no way to be considered exhaustive but rather indicative of the types of matters that should be taken on board. Deliberation should not be limited to the actual content of any of the lists.
Many of the recommendations and comments contain a suggestion that industry working parties be convened by the Chief Inspector of Coal Mines for certain purposes. This approach has been taken because, although the Inquiry considers itself to be in an excellent position to identify issues which should be addressed, it recognises that it may well not be in the best possible position to work through those issues to an optimal conclusion.
It is the express intent of the Inquiry that where such groups are convened that all reasonable steps are taken on the part of Government to ensure that they are adequately resourced and supported for the tasks with which they are charged. It is also expected that employers and unions provide adequate support for these processes. The work of the groups cannot be considered complete until the results of their work are in place, and effectively operating, in the coal industry.
In framing its recommendations the Inquiry took careful note of and received encouragement from various reported undertakings of the Minister for Minerals and Energy to fully implement, as soon as practicable, the recommendations of the Inquiry.
The recommendations which follow are in no express or implied order of importance or urgency of implementation, they being considered equally important. Where a recommendation was not considered warranted by the Inquiry but it still wished to direct attention to a matter then a comment has been made to that effect. These comments follow the recommendations.
