THE CORONER who investigated death of Beaconsfield miner Larry Knight says current Tasmanian OHS legislation is in need of immediate review and reform.
Coroner Rod Chandler released his risk assessment on the incident. He says although he has not found any person, corporation or entity directly responsible for Larry Knight's death, the likelihood of his death could have been reduced had a thorough and systematic risk assessment been undertaken.
Chandler noted that in October 2005 the Beaconsfield Gold Mine (BGM) experienced seismic activity, which caused a 3.5 tonne fall of ground. He said this was a clear warning to BGM that seismicity within the mine was not being managed in a controlled manner and that there could be further seismic events in the future.
The Coroner says BGM should have preformed a systematic, comprehensive, rigorous and properly documented risk assessment process before it permitted mining to resume. He claims this did not occur.
Chandler says current legislation is incapable of providing the mining industry with a proper OH&S framework within which to operate. He says the Tasmanian mining industry needs a suitable body of regulations to address critical areas such as ventilation, risk assessment and the management of rockfalls.
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