Few changes have been made to the underground mining industry since two deaths in 2006 despite a review two years ago outlining ways to improve health and safety management systems.Two coal miners were killed on the West Coast in 2006 -- one drowned and t
Few changes have been made to the underground mining industry since two deaths in 2006 despite a review two years ago outlining ways to improve health and safety management systems.
Two coal miners were killed on the West Coast in 2006 -- one drowned and the other was killed by a rockfall. As a result the Department of Labour launched a review of the legislative and regulatory framework for underground mines.
Its report, released in 2008, raised a number of areas for possible increased regulation, including check inspectors who would be elected by unions to check on the safety of a mines where workers raised concern.
Workers and union submissions said check inspectors would be the "single most effective solution for improving health and safety in underground mines".
That idea was opposed by mining companies who said it would create a confrontational management style.
Other issues raised in the report were the need for safety regimes to be signed off by the Department of Labour and for areas of increased regulation around health and safety in the industry.
The main change decided was to increase the level of qualifications required by managers in small mines. That is expected to be in place by the new year.
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson said that change applied to small mines, so while the Pike River event was a tragedy there was not much relevance.
The idea of having check inspectors had been discounted based on Department of Labour and international advice, she said.
Check inspectors operate in at least one Australian state.
Ms Wilkinson said the focus was currently on the men underground and a review would be conducted later to find out what happened and why.
"I'm going to look at everything because what's happening is a tragedy and we have to look at something because we don't know what happened.
"I'm sure there'll be questions raised, there'll be an inquiry, an investigation, let's just wait and see."
Ms Wilkinson said there was no reason to believe New Zealand mines were any less safe than Australian ones.
"My advice is they're generally of a similar nature but there's a long way to go yet. We'll just have to look at everything as it unfolds.
Prime Minister John Key said he had not seen the 2008 report.
"Obviously in due course we will be able to reflect on what's taken place at Pike River and I think make an assessment of the issues that are raised there."
Yesterday he signalled a Commission of Inquiry into events at Pike River was likely.
