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
2014
Conference Publication
Comparative analysis of coal fatalities in Australia, South Africa, India, China and USA, 2006-2010
Harris, Jill, Kirsch, Philipp, Shi, Meng, Li, Jirui, Gagrani, Ankita, Krishna ES, Anand, Tabish, Ahmad, Arora, Deepanshu, Kothandaraman, Kishore and Cliff, David (2014). Comparative analysis of coal fatalities in Australia, South Africa, India, China and USA, 2006-2010. Coal 2014: Australian Coal Operators' Conference 2014, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 12-14 February, 2014. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: University of Woollongong.
2013
Conference Publication
Industry scale knowledge management-introducing the RISKGATE Strata Underground and Explosions Body of Knowledge
Kirsch, P. A., Harris, J., Cliff, D., Hebblewhite, B., Sprott, D., Shi, M., Ranjan, A., Sharma, Sugandha, Biswas, T. and Sharma, S. (2013). Industry scale knowledge management-introducing the RISKGATE Strata Underground and Explosions Body of Knowledge. 23rd World Mining Congress, Montreal, Canada, 11-15 August 2013. Montreal, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
2013
Conference Publication
Ensuring the survival of critical information sources after an underground incident: can it be achieved?
Brady, Darren, Cliff, David, Nugent, Geoffrey, Devlin, Seamus, Tonegato, Steve and Mason, Peter (2013). Ensuring the survival of critical information sources after an underground incident: can it be achieved?. 13th Australian Coal Operators' Conference (COAL2013), Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 14-15 February 2013. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy & Mine Managers Association of Australia.
2013
Journal Article
The role of human factors and ergonomics in mining emergency management: three case studies
Horberry, Tim, Xiao, Tania, Fuller, Ruth and Cliff, David (2013). The role of human factors and ergonomics in mining emergency management: three case studies. International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2 (2/3), 116-130. doi: 10.1504/IJHFE.2013.057610
2013
Conference Publication
Industry scale knowledge management: RISKGATE and Australian coal operations
Kirsch, P. A., Harris, J., Sprott, D. and Cliff, D. (2013). Industry scale knowledge management: RISKGATE and Australian coal operations. 23rd World Mining Congress, Montreal, Canada, 11-15 August 2013. Montreal, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
2013
Conference Publication
Pike River Coal mine disaster: what actually happened?
Cliff, D. (2013). Pike River Coal mine disaster: what actually happened?. ICSMRI 2013: 35th International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes, London, UK, 15-17 October, 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
Early fire detection in underground coalmines
Mendham, Frank, Cliff, David, Horberry, Tim and De Kock, Andre (2013). Early fire detection in underground coalmines. 2013 Coal Operators Conference, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 14-15 February, 2013. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: The University of Wollongong.
2013
Book
Improving self-escape from underground coal mines
Marras, William S., Beerbower, David, Beilock, Sian L., Cliff, David, Dean, James, DeJoy, David M., Holland, Albert W., O'Dell, Dennis B. and Wegman, David H. (2013). Improving self-escape from underground coal mines. Washington, DC, United States: The National Academies Press.
2012
Conference Publication
A new approach to assessing explosibility during mines rescue operations
Brady, D., Nugent, G. and Cliff, D. (2012). A new approach to assessing explosibility during mines rescue operations. 2012 SME Annual Meeting & Exhibit 2012 (SME 2012), Seattle, United States, 19-22 February 2012. Colorado, United States: Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
2012
Conference Publication
Explosibility limits - Establishing criteria for mine re-entry
Cliff, David (2012). Explosibility limits - Establishing criteria for mine re-entry. Australian Mine Ventilation Conference 2011, Sydney, Australia, 5-6 September 2011. Sydney, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2012
Conference Publication
Optimising the use of an incident management system in coal mining emergencies
Fuller, Ruth, Cliff, David and Horberry, Tim (2012). Optimising the use of an incident management system in coal mining emergencies. Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference, Brisbane, Qld., Australia, 16 – 18 April 2012. Nerang, Qld., Australia: AST Management.
2012
Book Chapter
Occupational health and safety
Cliff, D., Ham, B. and Ross, J. (2012). Occupational health and safety. Mine manager's handbook. (pp. 49-84) Carlton, VIC., Australia: AusIMM.
2012
Conference Publication
Opportunity for re-entry into a coal mine immediately following an explosion
Brady, Darren and Cliff, David (2012). Opportunity for re-entry into a coal mine immediately following an explosion. 2012 Coal Operators' Conference, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 16-17 February 2012. Wollongong, Australia: The University of Wollongong Printery.
2012
Conference Publication
Control Room operations during underground coal mine emergencies: the challenges are organizational not just technical
Xiao, Tania and Cliff, David (2012). Control Room operations during underground coal mine emergencies: the challenges are organizational not just technical. 10th International Symposium of the Australian Avaition Psychology Association, Sydney, Australia, 19-22 November 2012. Canberra, Australia: Australian Avaition Psychology Association.
2012
Conference Publication
A new approach to decision making for mines rescue deployment
Brady, D., Nugent, G., Cliff, D., Devlin, S. and Grieves, J. (2012). A new approach to decision making for mines rescue deployment. 2012 SME Annual Meeting & Exhibit (SME 2012), Seattle, United States, 19-22 February 2012. Colorado, United States: Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
2012
Conference Publication
RISKGATE - a case study in application to fires on mobile plant
Harris, J., Sprott, D., Spinks, M., Cliff, D., Goater, S. and Kirsch, P. (2012). RISKGATE - a case study in application to fires on mobile plant. Eighth AusIMM Open Pit Operators' Conference 2012, Perth, Australia, 18-19 September 2012. Carlton, VIC, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2012
Book Chapter
Overview of mine management
Williams, S., Cliff, D., Jones, H., Dunlop, J., Hal,l A. and Lehany, T. (2012). Overview of mine management. Mine managers' handbook. (pp. 1-48) Carlton, VIC., Australia: AusIMM.
2012
Conference Publication
Health, safety and sustainability
Cliff, D. and Bailey, K. (2012). Health, safety and sustainability. International Mine Management 2012 Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 20-21 November 2012. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2012
Conference Publication
Mine environment monitoring - So what's changed since Moura no. 2?
Cliff, David (2012). Mine environment monitoring - So what's changed since Moura no. 2?. Australian Mine Ventilation Conference 2011, Sydney, Australia, 5-6 September 2011. Carlton, Vic., Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2012
Conference Publication
Pike River mine re-entry and emergency mine re-entry guideline application and learnings
Nugent, Geoffrey, Brady, Darren, Cliff, David and Devlin, Seamus (2012). Pike River mine re-entry and emergency mine re-entry guideline application and learnings. 2012 Coal Operators' Conference, Wollongong, Australia, 16-17 Feb 2012. Wollongong, Australia: The University of Wollongong Printery.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor David Cliff is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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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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2024
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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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
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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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