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stopes where diesel-powered heavy equipment is operating, In order to provide safe working conditions
and where secondary ventilation is required. Consequently, for underground miners during this pandemic,
even in the best of situations the effectiveness of secondary employers need to have in place):
ventilation is limited, which can result in the local build-up
• A well-designed COVID-19 risk assessment
of pollutants. These conditions could equally result in the
protocol, drawn up in close consultation with
build-up of virus-loading making inter-person transmission workers and/or their representatives
to nearby colleagues much more likely.
• Medical facilities with appropriate equipment for
In the open air, winds will also carry and disperse aerosols COVID-19 treatment and care, or arrangements for
and its turbulence can keep particles airborne, so that safe transfer to nearby hospitals, etc.
downwind infection could become a serious hazard. • Employers need to ensure employees, as well as
contractors etc., are well-informed and trained
Many recent studies have found strong positive correlations
to cope with the unique risks relating to varying
between atmospheric particulate levels and levels of
occupations and tasks
COVID 19 infections (Bo Chen, et al, 2021). The influence of
• A high-risk list of vulnerable workers: i.e., those
atmospheric pollutants in harbouring and transporting the
over 65 years of age and those with underlying
airborne SARS-CoV-2 is an under-investigated issue and medical conditions
needs further attention.
• Adequate hygiene and cleaning facilities and
Of all the occupations, underground hard rock mining services as well as safe accommodation,
provides one of the greatest challenges to employers in dining and leisure facilities based on safe physical
carrying out their duty of care for employees during this distancing
COVID-19 pandemic. • Provision of appropriate PPE equipment for all
employees who require their use for personal safety
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has developed
• Safe travel and transport facilities for employees
its own “COVID-19 and mining Prevention and control
to and from worksites
checklist” and there are many other very useful information
sources including the West Australian Department of
Although numerous vaccines are becoming available,
Mines and Industry Regulations and Safety’s “COVID-19
employers need to be vigilant in regards to the increasing
coronavirus information pamphlet” and “COVID Safety
number of COVID-19 variants coming on-stream, which
Plan’, and WorkSafe Tasmania’s “Mining Industry Covid
may not only increase transmission rates but also reduce
Safe Workplace Guidelines”. It is also noteworthy that there
the effectiveness of existing vaccines.
has been a requirement in place for several years that mines
in WA need to develop an infectious diseases management However, the most important message is that underground
plan. mines have great potential to become super-spreaders of
COVID-19 infection. Mining operations need to manage the
Despite the ever-changing COVID-19 scenario within
potential for infection in accordance with the many well-
Australia, its mining industry continues to operate at more-
documented risk-management and COVID 19-safe industry
or-less full capacity and is considered by governments to
guidelines produced by various government departments
be an essential service. Nevertheless, FIFO arrangements
and other agencies: however, this is an area of much
pose serious challenges in avoiding the spread of COVID-19
needed further research.
infection, where in large operations, several hundred workers
are routinely having to share cafeteria services, etc. This is an extract of a paper written by Emeritus Professor
Odwyn Jones AO and Clinical Professor Bill Musk AM. For
the entire paper, please contact Paydirt editor Dominic
Piper (dominic@paydirt.com.au)

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