Mine safety experts from across Queensland’s coal industry will gather in Rockhampton today for the 2026 Site Safety and Health Representative Conference.
The week-long conference brings together worker representatives, industry inspectors and safety professionals to develop skills and collaborate on stronger safety standards across Queensland’s mining industry.
Hosted by the Mining and Energy Union Queensland District, the conference will provide training and discussions on key safety issues including mine inspections, serious incident investigations, fatigue management, and worker health monitoring.
President Mitch Hughes says the union is empowering workers to stand up and speak out onsite by bringing people together.
“Queensland miners are increasingly concerned about the future independence of mine safety oversight under the Crisafulli Government,” Hughes says.
“This conference has to be a reminder that mine safety cannot be taken for granted. Every protection, every safety law has been a lesson inked in blood, through injuries and the loss of life across our industry.”
As previously reported, mining is one of the world’s most hazardous occupations due to workers facing chronic health risks combined with acute physical dangers.
Workplace-related deaths exceed the average annual deaths from road accidents (999,000), war (502,000), violence (563,000), and HIV/AIDS (312,000), according to the United Nations Global Compact.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
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