Permanent Personal Damage from Qld Mining

The pattern (taxonomy) of personal damage (permanent and temporary) ≥60 Days lost from Qld Mining (surface and underground), Exploration, Quarrying and Petroleum activities will be presented for the years 2009-2013. The chances of any one person experiencing this level of damage will be described and set in the context of Australian All Industry data.

When one considers that 90% of the cost of work-related personal damage is associated with permanent impairment, a corporate Health & Safety activity should hopefully align with the pattern of what is actually occurring.

It is highly desirable that Health & Safety activity be data-driven versus intuition and feeling.

The paper will suggest that the pattern of permanent impairment and ≥60 Days Lost is not altering since it was first described in the 1980s. The likelihood of this level of damage to any one person is relatively constant and highly probable.

Several reasons will be suggested as to why the industry continues to fail to learn and focus on this very significant level of personal damage i.e. non-fatal permanent impairment.

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