The Impact of the Five Point Safety System on the Underground Sections of the Zinc Corporation, Limited and New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited

Since the introduction of the Neil George Five Point Safety System, to the underground sections of The Zinc Corporation, Limited and New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited mines in March, 1969, the Disabling Injury Frequency Rate has been halved and shows signs of contin- uing to fall. The total accident frequency rate has also fallen, although the decrease has not been as significant. Before the introduction of the Neil George Safety System, analyses of the direct causes of accidents showed that approx- imately 25 per cent were caused by "unsafe conditions", while 75 per cent were attribu- table to "unsafe acts". Within twelve months of introducing the system, these percentages had significantly changed to 7 per cent unsafe conditions and 93 per cent unsafe acts. Today, the figures are 3 per cent and 97 per cent respectively, and these figures clearly show that the main emphasis in the current programme must be directed towards making the operating men safety conscious. The effort must be focused on changing the minds of men.