This book describes mine safety legislation in the "mining states" and analyses its strengths and weaknesses. It also examines the broader policy questions of how best to design, implement and enforce mine safety regulation. It argues that substantial reform will be necessary not only in setting standards, but also in their implementation, if further OHS improvements are to be achieved. This implies substantial changes in the way the mine safety inspectorates go about their tasks: in how they administer and enforce the law; and in the circumstances in which they choose to prosecute. It also requires the nurturing of a degree of trust between employers and workers (individually and collectively) and between both these parties and the mines inspectorates, that has been substantially lacking in recent years.

Content includes: Introduction: OHS, Regulation and the Mining Industry - Part One - The Legal Framework Safety, Regulation and the Mining Industry - Part Two - Towards Reform Towards Reform Designing Standards: towards Best Practice Inspection: underlying issues Inspection and enforcement strategies Inspection and enforcement tools Prosecution for OHS offences Principles for a more rational and effective prosecution policy - Part Three - Regulation in Many Rooms Industry Associations, Trade Unions and Worker Participation Building Trust