DPI Update (Issue 34)

“History of Victorian Quarries” – Presentation at the CMPA Annual Dinner

Early Quarries

• Ropes over the face were used to support drillers with jack hammers
• Shot rock was transported to the crushing plant by road or rail
• Bucket elevator transporting material from the crusher to the trommel screen
• Operator would stand on the buckets and ride up to the trommel screen

1966—Extractive Industries Act 1966

• Extractive Industries Board
• Looked at resource, amenity and environment, quarry development
• Councils, Vic Roads and quarries on “reserved forest” were exempt from the Act
• Shortcomings:
  • Multiple licences and leases
  • No level playing field
  • Planning restrictions

1989—Extractive Industries Regulations 1989

• Prescriptive
• Managers duties
• Safety
• Plant, machinery, vehicles and buildings
• Explosives
• Electricity

1995—Extractive Industries Development Act 1995

• Limited Exemptions
• No OHS provisions
• Work Authority
  • Landowner’s consent
  • Planning permit
  • Approved work plan
  • Rehabilitation bond
  • Public liability
• Minister is a referral authority
• Act to be reviewed this year

2000—Managing Health & Safety for Quarries

• Proactive auditing program
• Targeted (blitz) audit program
  • Focus in high risk and poor compliance areas, not only OHS
  • Improved inspector visibility and industry awareness
  • Mobile equipment blitz
  • Guarding
  • Dust and noise
  • Tailings Storage facilities

2005—National Mine Safety Framework

• NMSF Steering Group is currently progressing three strategies
  • Legislation
  • Consultation
  • Data
• Legislation
  • Working on a set of overarching principles for legislation
• Data
  • Data working group was convened to develop a national data set
• Consultation
  • Paper on consultation is currently under review by working group

2007—NMSF Public Consultation

• Launch in Melbourne

• NMSF Steering Group will review comments
• MCMPR approve strategies and implementation plan
• Implementation of strategies may involve changes to legislation

You must be logged in to post a comment Login