THE MINISTER for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson has presented awards to miners that have worked to improve safety, at the Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference.
BMA Coal’s Gregory Crinum Mine took out the 2009 Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Innovations Award for a safety guard to prevent falls onto exposed longwall miner conveyor belts.
In a clean sweep, BMA’s Saraji Mine won the people’s choice awards for its feeder blockage removal device. The device enables blockages under coal stockpile feeders to be cleared remotely, taking workers out of harm’s way.
A highly commended award went to Anglo Coal Australia’s Dawson Mine for a work platform that provides better access to the CAT 797 haul truck to enable maintenance to be carried out more safely.
Scientist and science broadcaster Dr Karl Kruszelnicki chaired the judging session where 10 finalists presented their innovations to a panel of judges, and an audience of mine workers who voted for the people’s choice award.
There were 44 entries in this year’s awards.
The conference is hosted jointly by the Queensland Government, the Queensland Resources Council and mining unions the CFMEU and AWU.
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