Hundreds of sites in the firing line of Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) regulates more than 400 sites in the southern region, many of which will be in the firing line this week.

RSHQ’s Chief Inspector of Mineral Mines and Quarries Hermann Fasching said sites need to manage the risks of misfires, flying hazards and lightning strikes when Cyclone Alfred hits.

“As Queenslanders, we’re no strangers to cyclones and neither are our mines and quarries,” said Mr Fasching.

“Sites need to make sure there are no structures that can become mid-air weapons during cyclonic winds.

“They also need to pay careful attention to explosives because there’s an increased tendency for fume events and potential misfires in wet weather.

“Finally, have a rescue-system ready. An adequate emergency response and rescue system must be in place in case a severe weather event causes injury, entrapment or damage to buildings or infrastructure.

“You’d prepare your home for a cyclone, so make sure you prepare your site too.”

Each site's safety system should have:

• a process for identifying and warning anyone who could be affected by severe weather events
• a system for moving people to a place of safety including considerations for evacuation of people off site
• timely actions to bring risk into acceptable limits.

For more information on site safety during a cyclone or storm, check out RSHQ’s Safety Alert.

ENDS

Media contact

Amy McCann

0457 094 250

media@rshq.qld.gov.au