The New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources objective is to use data and information to undertake a detailed analysis of incidents and accidents to identify risks so that the predictable can be foreseen and avoided._x000D_
The Department of Mineral Resources has established a computerised database called COMET (COmmon Mines EnvironmenT) to capture information on accidents incidents, inspections, audits and accreditation in improving safety and environment performance._x000D_
This data together with data from Coal Mines Insurance and WorkCover NSW is being used to provide trend and comparison information._x000D_
The NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre at the University of NSW has been engaged by the Department to collate and prepare a detailed analysis of the data._x000D_
Through this process, five areas have been identified for further research. These being: electrical energy, mechanical equipment, work environment, hours of work, and contractors involvement accident and incidents._x000D_
The paper covers: the establishment of a mix of performance measures for the industry to indicate whether the safety performance is improving; the provision of data to provide useful comparisons and benchmarks against which companies can compare performance; the development of positive performance measures; the findings and outcomes of the detailed analysis of electrical energy; shocks; the provision of information to industry; an outline how the data is being used to determine departmental; operational priorities; and future plans to undertake research into the other areas identified.