"Mines blocked health warnings to workers with toxic blood lead levels", 5 October 2025

Mining companies advised NSW health authorities against contacting workers with blood lead levels up to 16 times the threshold for medical intervention, according to documents that raise accusations the mining watchdog failed to protect the community.

A tranche of documents released to NSW parliament last month shows the prevalence of high blood lead levels in the state’s Far West, particularly in workers exposed to lead dust in the region’s gold, silver and zinc mines. [...]

Manuka Resources director Dennis Karp said both the company’s mines in the Cobar region ceased production in December 2023, but had a lead management plan and full records of notifications to the regulator while the mines were operating.

“We have in the past had members of staff with elevated levels who had to leave site until their levels subsided,” Karp said. “These were reported in accordance with RR [resources regulator] policy.” [...]