07:20 am, Monday 29 September, 2008

Source: ABC News

The Australian Workers Union (AWU) says an accident at the Ballarat gold mine on Wednesday is proof the industry needs tougher regulations.

Four workers inside the mine, in central Victoria, were injured on Wednesday evening when a winch cable attached to platform holding materials snapped.

The men were take to the Ballarat hospital, one with a cracked rib, another with an ankle injury.

The state secretary of the Australian Workers Union, Cesar Melhem, says it has been trying to gain access to the mine for 18 months.

“We need to move to tougher regulations and make sure that this sort of incident is being avoided in the future,” he said.

WorkSafe Victoria has issued the mine an improvement notice, which it has one week to comply with.

It says investigators will return to the site today.

OHS News Tip: Mining Industry Safe Work Method Statements

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