Choking on welding fumes: Queensland mines grapple with alarming safety breaches
Jamie Wade
Helping people win contracts in the resources, construction, infrastructure, energy and utilities and drilling sectors.
Queensland’s mining and quarrying industry is facing a serious occupational health crisis, with alarming levels of welding fume exposure reported among workers.
According to the Mineral Mines and Quarries Inspectorate Quarterly Report for January 2025, 70 percent of monitored workers exceeded the recommended exposure limits, with 45 percent facing levels more than double the legal threshold. Furthermore, 14 percent of cases lacked any respiratory protection, raising significant concerns about safety compliance and regulatory oversight.
The report indicates that inhalation of toxic metal fumes, including manganese, chromium, and nickel, poses long-term health hazards such as lung disease, neurological disorders, and even cancer. The industry’s failure to implement adequate ventilation and respiratory protection has led to excessive exposure rates, putting workers at significant risk.
Alarmingly, site monitoring data shows that nearly half of workers exposed to welding fumes are inhaling concentrations more than twice the legal limit. Additionally, 14 percent of those monitored lacked any form of respiratory protection, highlighting a serious lapse in safety protocols. The findings suggest that inadequate risk assessments, poor fume extraction systems, and a lack of proper training contribute to these hazardous conditions.
The report urges mine operators to enforce stricter welding fume management measures, including:
Failure to address these risks could lead to long-term occupational illnesses and increased regulatory scrutiny. The inspectorate is expected to increase compliance checks to ensure that Queensland mines adhere to national workplace health and safety regulations.
Regulator Strengthens Compliance Measures
In other matters raised in the report, Chief Inspector Hermann Fasching emphasised the importance of compliance with the new OneRSHQ Platform, an online incident reporting system rolled out throughout 2024. More than 70 mines and quarries have registered so far, with further sites expected to follow.
Deputy Chief Inspector Trevor Brown stated that all mine operators must now submit their incident reports through the digital portal. The inspectorate has also increased site inspections to ensure compliance, with non-registered sites flagged for follow-up action.
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Top Safety Hazards and Incidents
The most prevalent hazards reported for the quarter included fire (65 incidents), vehicle collisions (57), and falling equipment or materials (42). Other key risks included electrical shock, rollovers, and misfires.
Several high-profile incidents were outlined in the report:
Silica and Dust Exceedance Rates Remain High
Respirable dust and crystalline silica exposure in quarry sites continued to exceed safety thresholds, with maintenance and crushing activities identified as the highest-risk tasks. Despite regulatory measures, exceedance rates remained largely unchanged, prompting renewed calls for stricter controls.
Global and Domestic Mining Safety Issues
The report also provided insights into major mining safety incidents worldwide, including the deaths of 11 coal miners in Pakistan following a methane explosion and 78 fatalities in a South African gold mine due to illegal mining operations.
Industry Urged to Improve Risk Management
The inspectorate stressed the need for stronger risk assessment protocols, improved equipment maintenance, and increased worker training to mitigate risks.
“With the implementation of OneRSHQ, we are working towards a more transparent and responsive safety culture. However, mines must take proactive steps to manage hazards and ensure worker safety,” said Fasching.
The full report is available on the RSHQ website.