Dr Carmel Bofinger re-joined MISHC in January 2012 on a part-time basis. Her role involves online education, project work, and research in health and safety in the mining and minerals processing industry.
Previously, Carmel was the Group Risk Manager for Downer EDI Mining, Associate Professor at MISHC, and Manager of the Safety and Training Centre at the Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station. In these capacities, she has provided expert assistance in the areas of health and safety to the mining industry for over twenty years. Carmel has particular expertise in risk management, health and safety management systems, fitness for work, and occupational health and hygiene.
Carmel also has extensive experience in providing training and education in OHS in mining in many countries including Mongolia, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. She has presented to several international delegations from various countries including Indonesia and China.
Publications
Book
Harris, Jill, Bofinger, Carmel and Cliff, David (2016). Community Health and Safety Handbook: Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Book Chapters
Bofinger, Carmel and Cliff, David (2019). Occupational health and safety in the mining sector. Increasing occupational health and safety in workplaces: individual, work and organizational factors. (pp. 201-218) edited by Ronald J. Burke and Astrid M. Richardsen. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781788118095.00019
Logrosa, Gernelyn, Hassall, Maureen, Cliff, David and Bofinger, Carmel (2018). Is it possible to integrate health and safety risk management into mechanised gold processing? a methodology for artisanal and small-scale mining communities in the Philippines. Between the plough and the pick: Informal, artisanal and small-scale mining in the contemporary world. (pp. 193-208) edited by Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala. Acton ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/BPP.03.2018
Journal Articles
Stemn, Eric, Hassall, Maureen E. and Bofinger, Carmel (2020). Planning and implementing remedial measures from incident investigations: a study of the Ghanaian mining industry. Safety Science, 127 104735, 104735. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104735
Stemn, Eric, Hassall, Maureen E. and Bofinger, Carmel (2020). Systemic constraints to effective learning from incidents in the Ghanaian mining industry: A correspondence analysis and AcciMap approach. Safety Science, 123 104565, 104565. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2019.104565
Stemn, Eric, Hassall, Maureen E., Bofinger, Carmel and Cliff, David (2019). Assessing the quality of incident investigations and its effect on safety performance: a study of the Ghanaian mining industry. Mining Engineering, 71 (9), 49-50.
Stemn, Eric, Hassall, Maureen E., Bofinger, Carmel and Cliff, David (2019). Correction to: Assessing the quality of incident investigations and its effect on safety performance: a study of the Ghanaian mining industry. Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, 36 (6), 1155-1156. doi: 10.1007/s42461-019-0085-3
Stemn, Eric, Hassall, Maureen E., Bofinger, Carmel and Cliff, David (2019). Assessing the Quality of Incident Investigations and its Effect on Safety Performance: a Study of the Ghanaian Mining Industry. Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, 36 (6), 1145-1154. doi: 10.1007/s42461-019-0076-4
Stemn, Eric, Bofinger, Carmel, Cliff, David and Hassall, Maureen E. (2019). Examining the relationship between safety culture maturity and safety performance of the mining industry. Safety Science, 113, 345-355. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2018.12.008
Stemn, Eric, Hassall, Maureen E., Cliff, David and Bofinger, Carmel (2019). Incident investigators’ perspectives of incident investigations conducted in the Ghanaian mining industry. Safety Science, 112, 173-188. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2018.10.026
Stemn, Eric, Bofinger, Carmel, Cliff, David and Hassall, Maureen (2019). Investigating the maturity of incident investigations of the Ghanaian mining industry and its effect on safety performance. Safety, 5 (1) 3, 3. doi: 10.3390/safety5010003
Stemn, Eric, Bofinger, Carmel, Cliff, David and Hassall, Maureen E. (2018). Failure to learn from safety incidents: status, challenges and opportunities. Safety Science, 2018 (101), 313-325. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2017.09.018
Smith, Nicole M., Ali, Saleem, Bofinger, Carmel and Collins, Nina (2016). Human health and safety in artisanal and small-scale mining: an integrated approach to risk mitigation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 129 (129), 43-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.124
Cliff, David, Harris, Jill and Bofinger, Carmel (2016). Ensuring health and safety through the entire mining cycle: Improvements in technology and reductions in fatality rates demonstrate great progress in the minerals sector, but a continued focus on health and safety will help prevent complacency. AusIMM Bulletin (3), 68-71.
Cliff, David, Harris, Jill and Bofinger, Carmel (2016). Ensuring health and safety through the entire mining cycle. AusIMM Bulletin (4).
Poplin, Gerald S., Miller, Hugh B., Ranger-Moore, James, Bofinger, Carmel M., Kurzius-Spencer, Margaret, Harris, Robin B. and Burgess, Jefferey L. (2008). International evaluation of injury rates in coal mining: A comparison of risk and compliance-based regulatory approaches. Safety Science, 46 (8), 1196-1204. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2007.06.025
Conference Papers
LaBranche, Nikky, Cliff, David, Johnstone, Kelly and Bofinger, Carmel (2021). Respirable coal dust and silica exposure standards in coal mining: science or black magic?. 2021 Resoure Operators Conference, Wollongong, NSW Australia, 18-20 February 2021. Wollongong, NSW Australia: University of Wollongong.
Cliff, D., Bofinger, C., Lynas, D. and Harris, J. (2017). The application of risk management methods to the control of respirable dust in underground mines. Minesafe International Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 1-2 May 2017. Carlton, VIC, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Cliff, David, Harris, Jill, Bofinger, Carmel and Lynas, Danielle (2017). Managing occupational health in the mining industry. Coal Operators' Conference, Wollongong, Australia, 8 to 10 February 2017. Wollongong, Australia: Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong.
Logrosa, G., Hassall, M. E., Cliff, D. and Bofinger, C. (2016). Identifying risks that matter: a case study on introducing technology into Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM). Risk and Resilience Mining Solutions, Vancouver, Canada, 14-16 November 2016.
Bofinger, C. M. (2005). Monitoring and management of occupational illness and disease at national level in the Australian minerals industry. 31st Biennial Int'l Conf. of Safety in Mines Research Inst., Sofitel Brisbane, 2-5 October 2005. Brisbane, Queensland: Simtars - Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
Bofinger, C. M. (2005). Health Tracking Project - The Development of a National Framework for Managing Occupational Illness and Disease in the Australian Minerals Industry. Coal 2005, Brisbane, Australia, 26-28 April 2005. Carlton, Victoria: AusIMM.
Mahon, E, Bofinger, C. M., Leveritt, S.J.R. and Cliff, D. I. (2003). What works best at improving mine worker safety and why does it work. Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference 2003, Townsville, Australia, 3-6 August 2003. Australia: Queensland Mining Council.
Research Report
Bofinger, C. M., Mahon, E, Cliff, D. I. and Leveritt, S. J. R. (2002). What Works Best at Improving Mine Worker Safety and Why Does it Work. Brisbane: Australian Coal Association Research Program.