“Mining Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation in Australia is generally viewed as being the most progressive in the world. The legislation is based upon duty of care, risk management principles and workforce representation, with the primary responsibility for the provision of a safe work place residing with the operator of the mine site. Government inspectors act as both enforcers of regulations and mentors who encourage good health and safety performance. Enforcement protocols are generally risk-based, with action being defined by both the level and immediacy of the risk. This paper provides an overview of
the evolution of OHS theory and
practice, and describes how these
have been applied in the context of
the Australian minerals industry.”