THE WA Government has appointed Commissioner Stephen Kenner of the WA Industrial Relations Commission to review the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
According to the Government, Commissioner Kenner has experience in the Western Australian mining industry which involved extensive consideration of mining and related legislation including the Mining Act 1978, the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, the Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) Act 1994 and related regulations.
He was also chairman of the WA Coal Industry Tribunal, dealing with all industrial matters in the coal mining industry in WA.
According to the Government, Commissioner Kenner will also be looking at areas that could be improved, including alignment with the OSH Act.
The Government wants to look at what amendments to the Act would be required to introduce the concept of a ‘safety case’ regime, similar to that already in place for the oil and gas sector, where the legislation defines broad safety objectives and the operator develops the most appropriate methods of managing risk.