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In a clean sweep, BMA’s Saraji mine won the people’s choice award for its feeder blockage removal device. The device enables blockages under coal stockpile feeders to be cleared remotely, taking workers out of harm’s way.

A highly commended award went to Anglo Coal Australia’s Dawson mine for a work platform that provides better access to the CAT 797 haul truck to enable maintenance to be carried out more safely.

Scientist and science broadcaster Dr Karl Kruszelnicki chaired the judging session where 10 finalists presented their innovations to a panel of judges, and an audience of mine workers voted for the people’s choice award.

There were 44 entries in this year’s awards.

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson presented the awards at the Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference, which has been in session since Sunday and will wind up today.

Other finalists included New Hope Coal Australia’s West Moreton project with its remote emergency shutdown of hydraulic excavator and water reserve in water truck/fire fighting appliance; BMA’s Goonyella Riverside mine with its dipper trip system improvement project; Rio Tinto Alcan’s apron feeder locking tool; MMG Century mine’s joystick test module; Xstrata Copper’s Mount Isa Mines with its hydraulic semi-automatic chain control system; and Sam Lichos with his analyse and evaluate brake faults on wheeled mobile plant.

Last night's awards capped off a busy day at the conference, which tackled some topical safety issues facing the industry.

The case for proximity detection technologies on mine vehicles to prevent accidents was highlighted.

Queensland Mines and Energy senior inspector of mines Tilman Rasche said vehicle collision avoidance and proximity detection systems were an important element in reducing the number of incidents relating to vehicles and mobile machinery in confined spaces.

“Unfortunately, many systems operating on sites are human dependent, but it is one of the least effective controls to prevent collisions,” he said.

“Proximity detection is not the complete answer, but it is an essential part of the solution.”

Last financial year, three out of the four fatalities in the mining industry were related to vehicle collisions.

Queensland Mines and Energy is running seminars in August and September to inform the industry about proximity detection technology.

Also presenting yesterday was John Sleigh, inspector of mines, Mackay, and Thiess Australian Mining general manager Michael Rosengren, explaining some lessons learned from the incident at a mine project near Clermont in central Queensland when a freak storm picked up a crib hut and threw it several metres, landing on its side and injuring people inside.

Sleigh said a number of practical lessons had been learned from the incident, including the need to remove bars from crib hut windows, which can impede rescue.

Rosengren said one of the challenges to come from the incident was how to test the effectiveness of safety messages.

“People talk the talk, but how effective are we in getting the message through to our front line?” he asked.

88���ֳ� 600 people have converged on Townsville for the event.

The conference is hosted jointly by the Queensland government, the Queensland Resources Council and mining unions the CFMEU and AWU.