Hunter Valley coal miners will today warn Rio Tinto about safety concerns at coalmines in NSW.

A significant number of accidents and incidents don’t appear in Rio’s 2010 Annual report, warns Robin Williams, CFMEU Mining and Energy Northern District Vice President, in a meeting with shareholders at today’s AGM in Perth.

Shareholders should use the opportunity of the AGM to debate mine safety, which puts at risk the lives of hundreds of coal miners. The Miners Union will today put questions to the board at the AGM in Perth.

“Rio is telling shareholders one thing and coalminers another. In their annual report they are telling shareholders they want to achieve a goal of zero harm, yet what we see at mine sites is starkly different,” said Mr Williams.

“A culture of fear is permeating through Rio Tinto mines, which puts at risk the safety of mine workers.

“An adversarial approach to mine safety, where bosses threaten workers with disciplinary action is outdated and should have no place in modern Australian mining.

“If Rio Tinto is genuinely interested in mine safety, they should listen to the workers and have a culture of open reporting. We do not want a situation where workers are uneasy about speaking out in case they face disciplinary procedures.

“If there is an accident or incident at a mine site, we want a proper investigation to make sure that it doesn’t happen again, not a scapegoat who is disciplined for their actions.

Mining is a tough industry, and we all work together to make it safe,” said Mr Williams.

Miner workers from three mines owned by Rio Tinto, Mount Thorley/Warkworth, Hunter Valley Operations and Bengalla will be attending the AGM in Perth.