Overview
Background
David Cliff was Professor of Occupational Health and Safety in Mining and Director of MISHC from 2011 to 2016. In January 2017 he was appointed Professor of Risk and Knowledge Transfer, reverting to Professor of Occupational Health and Safety in Mining in 2018. His primary role is providing education, applied research and consulting in health and safety in the mining and minerals processing industry. He has been at MISHC over fifteen years.
Previously David was the Safety and Health Adviser to the Queensland Mining Council, and prior to that Manager of Mining Research at the Safety In Mines Testing and Research Station. In these capacities he has provided expert assistance in the areas of health and safety to the mining industry for over twenty three years. He has particular expertise in emergency preparedness, gas analysis, spontaneous combustion, fires and explosions, including providing expert testimony to the Moura No.2 Warden’s inquiry, the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry and the Pike River Royal Commission. In recent times he has also devoted a lot of energy to fitness for duty issues particularly fatigue management. He has been a member of the organising committee for the level one emergency exercises in Queensland underground coal mines since their inception in 1998. He has also attended or provided assistance in over 30 incidents at mines. He has developed expertise in the development of Trigger Action Response Plans.
David has also extensive experience in providing training and education in OHS in mining to in many countries.
He has published widely in the area of occupational health and safety in mining including not just the physical hazards but also on the processes for the effective management of these issues. Examples of this include reviews of the annual safety performance report for the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines and assistance to the Mine Safety Advisory Council of NSW in developing Health Management Plans (HMP) and key performance indicators for HMP.
In recent years he has collaborated closely with Nikky LaBranche researching respirable dust particularly coal dust and silica.
Availability
- Professor David Cliff is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Occupational Health and Safety in Mining
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Principal Hazard Management in Mining
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Gas Analysis and interpretation in mining
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Artisanal Mining OHS
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Emergency Management
Research impacts
David has been active in providing education, training and advice on OHS issues to many countries including: India, Mongolia, Peru, Chile, Colombia, South Africa, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, China, the United States of America and Indonesia. In many of these countries he has provided support to government agencies as they struggle to cope with the demands of rapidly expanding minerals extraction industries. A key area of focus has been on the small scale and artisanal mining sector in these countries. He has established relationships with universities and government agencies in many of these countries.
Works
Search Professor David Cliff’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Fatigue management in mining: current practices and future directions
Horberry, Tim, Harris, Jill, Cliff, David, Dodshon, Philippa, Lee, Joanna, Lim, Nigel and Way, Kïrsten (2024). Fatigue management in mining: current practices and future directions. Journal of Work Health and Safety Regulation 23-004. doi: 10.57523/jaohlev.oa.23-004
2023
Journal Article
Method for the analysis of respirable airborne particulates on filter using the mineral liberation analyser
LaBranche, Nikky, Wightman, Elaine, Teale, Kellie, Johnstone, Kelly and Cliff, David (2023). Method for the analysis of respirable airborne particulates on filter using the mineral liberation analyser. Minerals, 13 (12) 1526. doi: 10.3390/min13121526
2023
Other Outputs
Fatigue management in the Queensland mining industry and its relationship with mental health: final report to Office of the Commissioner Resources Safety and Health
Horberry, T. , Harris, J. , Way, K. , Hill, A. , Lim, N. , Dodshon, P. , Lee, J. and Cliff, D. (2023). Fatigue management in the Queensland mining industry and its relationship with mental health: final report to Office of the Commissioner Resources Safety and Health. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland Government.
2022
Journal Article
Characterization analysis of airborne particulates from Australian underground coal mines using the mineral liberation analyser
LaBranche, Nikky, Teale, Kellie, Wightman, Elaine, Johnstone, Kelly and Cliff, David (2022). Characterization analysis of airborne particulates from Australian underground coal mines using the mineral liberation analyser. Minerals, 12 (7) 796, 796. doi: 10.3390/min12070796
2022
Journal Article
Impact of reactive iron in coal mine dust on oxidant generation and epithelial lung cell viability
Sun, Yingying, Kinsela, Andrew S., Cen, Xiaotong, Sun, Siqi, Collins, Richard N., Cliff, David I., Wu, Yuxuan and Waite, T. David (2022). Impact of reactive iron in coal mine dust on oxidant generation and epithelial lung cell viability. Science of the Total Environment, 810 152277, 152277. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152277
2021
Journal Article
Characterization of particulates from Australian underground coal mines
LaBranche, Nikky, Keles, Cigdem, Sarver, Emily, Johnstone, Kelly and Cliff, David (2021). Characterization of particulates from Australian underground coal mines. Minerals, 11 (5) 447, 1-10. doi: 10.3390/min11050447
2021
Conference Publication
Respirable coal dust and silica exposure standards in coal mining: science or black magic?
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.
2020
Other Outputs
An information sharing system for vehicle interactions: ACARP C28048 report
Harris, Jill and Cliff, David (2020). An information sharing system for vehicle interactions: ACARP C28048 report. Brisbane, Australia: ACARP.
2020
Conference Publication
What don't we know about dust? A strategic assessment of gaps in the understanding and management of particulates in the resources sector
LaBranche, N. and Cliff, D. (2020). What don't we know about dust? A strategic assessment of gaps in the understanding and management of particulates in the resources sector. 2020 SME Annual Conference and Expo, Phoenix, AZ, United States, 23 - 26 February 2020. Englewood, CO, United States: Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
2019
Journal Article
Assessing the quality of incident investigations and its effect on safety performance: a study of the Ghanaian mining industry
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.
2019
Journal Article
Correction to: Assessing the quality of incident investigations and its effect on safety performance: a study of the Ghanaian mining industry
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
2019
Journal Article
Assessing the Quality of Incident Investigations and its Effect on Safety Performance: a Study of the Ghanaian Mining Industry
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
2019
Journal Article
Examining the relationship between safety culture maturity and safety performance of the mining industry
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
2019
Journal Article
Incident investigators’ perspectives of incident investigations conducted in the Ghanaian mining industry
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
2019
Journal Article
Investigating the maturity of incident investigations of the Ghanaian mining industry and its effect on safety performance
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
2019
Book Chapter
Occupational health and safety in the mining sector
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
2018
Journal Article
Focusing on coal workers' lung diseases: A comparative analysis of China, Australia, and the United States
Han, Shuai, Chen, Hong, Harvey, Maggie-Anne, Stemn, Eric and Cliff, David (2018). Focusing on coal workers' lung diseases: A comparative analysis of China, Australia, and the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15 (11) 2565, 2565. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15112565
2018
Journal Article
Focusing on the patterns and characteristics of extraordinarily severe gas explosion accidents in Chinese coal mines
Zhang, Jinjia, Cliff, David, Xu, Kaili and You, Greg (2018). Focusing on the patterns and characteristics of extraordinarily severe gas explosion accidents in Chinese coal mines. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 117, 390-398. doi: 10.1016/j.psep.2018.05.002
2018
Journal Article
Improved TARP development based upon mine specific data
Belle, B. and Cliff, D. (2018). Improved TARP development based upon mine specific data. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 28 (3), 477-481. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2018.03.002
2018
Book Chapter
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor David Cliff is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the Nature of Respirable Dust in Underground Coal Mines to Inform the Assessment and Management of Respiratory Health Risks to Coal Mine Workers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kelly Johnstone
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Doctor Philosophy
Safety leadership and its impact on serious injuries and fatalities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Danellie Lynas, Professor Maureen Hassall
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Developing risk management practices and protocols for the African Mining and Energy Infrastructure Industries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jill Harris
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Improving organisational learning from incidents through effective incident investigations: A study of the Ghanaian mining industry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maureen Hassall
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Integration of Health and Safety Risk Management into the Implementation of Gold Processing Technology in Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) Communities in the Philippines
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maureen Hassall
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
"Design and development of a methodology to monitor PM10 dust particles produced by industrial activities using UAVs"
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Erskine
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Improving fire safety and asset loss control in mining: Evaluation and development of a video based fire detection system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim Horberry
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of non-technical issues on decision-making by coal mining incident management teams
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robin Burgess-Limerick
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Establishing a safety-based risk control effectiveness score as an alternative to conventional acceptable risk analysis and evaluation methods
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Managing whole-body vibration at surface and underground coal mines
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robin Burgess-Limerick
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The relationship of gas evolution and odour to the stages of coal self-heating
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor David Cliff directly for media enquiries about:
- Coal mine fires
- Dust - mine site safety
- Emergency procedures - mining
- Explosions - mines
- Fires and mining
- Fitness for duty - minerals industry
- Gas analysis - mining
- Health and mining work
- Incident management - mining
- Mine fires
- Mine site safety
- Minerals industry safety
- Occupational Health and Safety - minerals industry
- Occupational health and safety in mining
- Occupational hygiene - mines
- Respirable dust - mine site safety
- Safety - minerals industry
- Spontaneous combustion
- Work hours - mining
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