WA

Mining services company Ausdrill Limited is taking a leading role in providing training for the next generation of mining workers, through the establishment of a specialised facility near Perth with its training partner Site Group International.

At Santos GLNG, we have a team of more than 35 hydrogeologists, engineers and water experts dedicated to researching and monitoring surface and groundwater in the areas in which we operate. This month we speak to one of those hydrogeologists, Dave Gornall, to find out more about his work with our water team.

Why did you join the Project?

The role presented a massive opportunity for my own professional development and the chance to work on a once-in-a-lifetime project in the field of applied hydrogeology.

The demand for specific engineering and trade skills remains high, according to a new report from Hays.

The recruitment firm’s latest quarterly report shows miners in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, and some parts of New South Wales are now paying top dollar for Engineers, Boilermakers and Fitters.

The report, however, also cites that whilst there were shortages for some workers,  applicants still needed to fit strict selection criteria.

Macmahon took a major step closer to its new strategy to become a dedicated full service mining contractor this week when it was awarded its largest single mining contract.

The company secured a five year $1.8 billion contract to deliver open cut mining services as part of the Christmas Creek Mine expansion in the Pilbara for Fortescue.  The contract follows Macmahon’s award of preferred contractor status for Fortescue in October 2012.

Australia’s gas industry needs an image “makeover” to address its widening age gap and shortfall of skilled workers, according to new research from the International Gas Union.

Gas industry advisor, Barbara Jinks will present findings from the three-year research project, which investigated key issues affecting the attraction and retention of talent in the gas industry in 25 countries, at the Australasian Oil & Gas Conference (AOG).

Following a number of studies on the effectiveness of having candidates and employees complete a Mine Workers Health Assessment, the government this week announced that the Assessment is no longer required to be done, effective 12 January 2013.

The following provides an overview of the Assessment and what this means for employers, candidates and employees.

What is health surveillance?

Our Project has reached a major milestone with construction of our 420 kilometre underground gas transmission pipeline kicking off. The pipeline, which will connect our gas fields in the Maranoa region to our liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant on Curtis Island, is expected to be completed in less than two years.

Australian oil and gas operators may soon be benefiting from a new model of assessing the recruitment needs of individual projects, already yielding great results in America, according to Thomas Murphy from the Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research (MCOR).

A number of reports emerged this year citing the growing issue of the ever-expanding waistlines of those working across Australian resource sector site. 

According to health experts three-in-four workers in the mining industry are overweight, with Queensland mining town Mount Isa a chronic disease hotspot.

So bad is the issue in some areas, that miners at a Bowen Basin mine were stood down this year and told their weight must be under 120kg before they would be allowed to return to work.