Incidents

During 2008 the incident classification system used by Rio Tinto was revised to align with the improved risk management process. All environmental incidents are now ranked using a qualitative risk assessment matrix, based on the maximum reasonable consequence and likelihood. Incidents are now classified using this matrix and a series of consequence descriptors.

Incidents are rated using four classifications: low, moderate, high or critical. Following the adoption of the revised Rio Tinto incident classification system, the previous classification system (i.e. category I to IV) is no longer applicable. The new system applies tighter controls therefore some incidents previously classified as category II (moderate) may now be classified as high.

In 2008, our target was to achieve zero high or critical environmental incidents at both our Queensland and New South Wales sites. This target was achieved for critical environmental incidents.

This adds to the achievement that, since 2002, no critical (previously category IV) environmental incidents have occurred at any of our New South Wales operations. However, the number of high incidents increased from zero incidents in 2007 to 17 in 2008. Of these high incidents, one was recorded at Clermont Mine in Queensland, while the other 16 were recorded at at our New South Wales sites.

The significant increase in the number of high incidents during 2008 is attributed to the change in the incident classification system. Under the new ranking system, any action which exceeds a licence or consent requirement is likely to result in a ranking of high. While there were 16 high incidents recorded during 2008, none of these resulted in a fine or penalty.

In total, 10 related to minor water discharges (for example, a leaking water pipeline that did not result in environmental harm), five were related to exceeding external dust limits, set under the applicable Development Consent impact assessment criteria and one involved the unauthorised disturbance of a cultural heritage site. It is due to the revised incident classification system that these incidents are now ranked as high.

All New South Wales sites' high ranked incidents are reported in the Annual Environmental Management Report (AEMR) to government, which was presented in February 2009.

In 2008, there was a slight increase in the number of low and moderate incidents (156) reported at Rio Tinto Coal Australia Queensland sites compared with 2007 (140). This was due to increased awareness and training of the importance of reporting all spills in excess of 20 litres and the inclusion of 12 months of data from the Clermont Mine for the first time.

Read our historic graphical representation of our previous data.