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
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.
2011
Journal Article
The future of risk management
Cliff, D. (2011). The future of risk management. AusIMM Bulletin (6), 39-40.
2011
Conference Publication
Managing health and safety or just complying
Cliff, D (2011). Managing health and safety or just complying. 1st International Symposium on Behaviour based safety and Safety Management, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 23-26 September 2011. Beijing China: China University of Mining and Technology Press.
2011
Other Outputs
Pike River Coal Mine explosion: investigation for nature and cause
Cliff, David, Bell, David, Harvey, Tim, Reczek, Anthony and Reece, David (2011). Pike River Coal Mine explosion: investigation for nature and cause. Auckland, NZ: Department of Labour, New Zealand.
2010
Conference Publication
Improving emergency management in underground coal mines
Cliff, David and Grieves, John (2010). Improving emergency management in underground coal mines. 10th Underground Coal Operators’ Conference, Wollongong, N.S.W., Australia, 11-12 February 2010. Wollongong, N. S. W., Australia: University of Wollongong and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2010
Book
Final report on the provision of evaluation and research services on the effectiveness of compliance action in improving mine safety
Cliff, David and Johnston, Richard (2010). Final report on the provision of evaluation and research services on the effectiveness of compliance action in improving mine safety. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Government.
2010
Conference Publication
Mines rescue guidelines: The next generation
Nugent, Geoff, Devlin, Seamus, Grieves, John, Cliff, David and Brady, Darren (2010). Mines rescue guidelines: The next generation. Coal 2010: 10th Underground Coal Operators' Conference, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 11-12 February 2010. Sydney, N.S.W., Australia: The AusIMM Illawarra Branch.
2009
Book
Airbourne contaminants, noise and vibration
Cliff, David (2009). Airbourne contaminants, noise and vibration. Leading Practice in Sustainable Development Handbook Series Canberra, ACT Australia: Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
2009
Book
Optimising the Collection of Information for Effective Use in the Event of an Emergency at an Underground Coal Mine
Cliff, David (2009). Optimising the Collection of Information for Effective Use in the Event of an Emergency at an Underground Coal Mine. Brisbane, Qld: Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP).
2009
Book Chapter
Explosion, Fires and Spontaneous Combustion
Cliff, David I., Beamish, Bevan B., Cuddihy, P. and Rowlands, D. (2009). Explosion, Fires and Spontaneous Combustion. Australasian Coal Mining Practice. (pp. 800-814) edited by R. J. Kininmonth and E. Y. Baafi. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).
2009
Conference Publication
Spontaneous Combustion Management - Linking Experiment with Reality
Cliff, David (2009). Spontaneous Combustion Management - Linking Experiment with Reality. Coal 2009 9th Underground Coal Operators' Conference, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 12-13 February 2009. Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia: Illawarra Branch, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2009
Book
Mining and extractives industry health indices
Cliff, David (2009). Mining and extractives industry health indices. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
2009
Book
Airborne Contaminants, Noise and Vibration
Laurence, David, Cliff, David, Butler, Ellen, Schofield, Shelby, Ormerod, Robin, Visser, John, Ham, Bruce, Gross, Neil, Collins, Greg, Charlton, Emma, Mandl, Alex and Noyce, Kurtis (2009). Airborne Contaminants, Noise and Vibration. Canberra ACT: Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
2008
Book
Review of Health monitoring and surveillance requirements and practice in Australian mining OHS Jurisdictions and a description of best practice
Cliff, David and Farrelly, Kristy (2008). Review of Health monitoring and surveillance requirements and practice in Australian mining OHS Jurisdictions and a description of best practice. Not available:
2008
Conference Publication
A study of the gases produced by the oxidation of bulk coal under laboratory conditions
Hitchcock, W., Cliff, D.I. and Beamish, B.B. (2008). A study of the gases produced by the oxidation of bulk coal under laboratory conditions. 12th U.S./North American Mine Ventilation Symposium 2008, Reno, Nevada, USA, 9-11 June 2008. Nevada, USA: The University of Nevada, Reno.
2008
Journal Article
Hours of work risk factors for coal mining.
Cliff, David I. and Horberry, Tim (2008). Hours of work risk factors for coal mining.. International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 1 (1), 77-94. doi: 10.1504/IJMME.2008.020472
2008
Conference Publication
A study of the formation of hydrogen produced during the oxidation of bulk coal under laboratory conditions
Hitchcock, W., Beamish, B.B. and Cliff, D.I. (2008). A study of the formation of hydrogen produced during the oxidation of bulk coal under laboratory conditions. 2008 Coal Operators' Conference, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, 14-15 February 2008. Wollongong: The University of Wollongong Printery.
2007
Conference Publication
The Management of A Spontaneous Combustion Incident in a sealed area of a longwall mine
Cliff, D. and Bergin, P. (2007). The Management of A Spontaneous Combustion Incident in a sealed area of a longwall mine. 32nd International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes, Beijiing, China, 28 - 29 Sep 2007.
2007
Journal Article
Geotechnical assessment of potential underground mining impacts for a proposed urban development project in Cessnock, NSW
Black, M., Kingsland, R. and Cliff, David I. (2007). Geotechnical assessment of potential underground mining impacts for a proposed urban development project in Cessnock, NSW. Australian Journal of Civil Engineering, 3 (1), 51-64.
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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