Lennon Training

The continuing story of safety winners

Published 04 May 2011

In November 2010 delegates of the Shaanxi high level coal mine official from Provincial Government, the Safety Bureaus and the big coal groups to visit Australia and study our coal mining safety systems. The visit was made possible by support from AusAID funding by the Federal Government

Where a lot of ‘similar’ visits are forgotten a day after departing Australia, this visit has a continuing story.

One of the delegates, Mr Yang Wenqing from the Nanliang Coal Company, has commenced implementing a Safety Management System adapted to suit the China situation. A preliminary safety audit of their underground mine (picture above in the background) showed that they were implementing safety initiatives even at this early stage of introducing the Australian safety system.

Another delegate from the Australian visit, Mr Wang Shuili from the Huisen coal company, has already commenced implementing basic risk assessment to the mine workforce. While it is at a preliminary stage, there has been a major attitude shift at the mine. They have already produced a modified version of the common risk assessment book everyone here uses underground.

It is extremely pleasing to see their willingness to adopt Australian systems that will reduce deaths and injury in the Chinese coal industry. The benefits to the communities are huge. The improved production resulting from safer mines will soon be realised by the companies.