BHP says safety record is 'improving'

BHP Billiton head of iron ore Ian Ashby has told delegates at the 2009 Diggers and Dealers conference that the company’s safety record is generally showing improving trends''.

Since the WA government slammed BHP Billiton for the deaths in April 2009, Ashby says the group has implemented strategies attempting to improve mining safety.

Ashby says that the miner is looking for systems to eliminate these tragic events, but there hasn't been any epiphany, the group is just increasing safety intentionality and focus.

Risks that required more attention included traffic management and fatigue management to prevent excess working hours.

But the executive says the root of the problem was a poor attitude towards safety in the Pilbara region.