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5 Camping Tips To Make Your Trip More Enjoyable

When traveling around Queensland and Australia in general or heading out to one of the mining camps, having your own mobile accommodation is a real bonus. Whether you use a tent, camping trailer or caravan, camping cab be fun for the whole family, but it pays to have the right gear.

These five camping tips will help to make your trip more enjoyable:

Pre-Packed Camping Gear

It really makes sense for regular campers to keep your camping gear in allocated containers that stack well into your vehicle. These containers should be well organised and have a list of contents on the top. Full them with essential items that you take on every camping trip.

Examples of camping container are

For you kitchen

Cooking utensils, saucepans, fry pans, salad bowls, plates, cutlery, mugs, tea towels

Non Perishables

Coffee, tea, sugar sea salt pepper, mixed spices, vinegar, tinned goods, rice, oats and other package products you use

Drinks

Your porta bar, soft drinks and refreshments for the kids

First Aid

Ensure this is kept well stocked and all items are within their use by date

Wet Weather Gear

Having a raincoat and rubber boots is great when wet and muddy

Tool Box

There is nothing worse than being on the road and having a breakdown and not having a few essential tools

Make a Check List

Even if you’re a seasoned camper it pays to have a list of all the things you need and the things you need to do before you leave on your trip. Tick them off as they are completed and you won’t have that feeling you missed something

Pack Smart

Consider each item you pack and be sure you really need it, space is at a premium and you don’t need to drag around stuff you’ll never use

Plan You Route

Sometimes it’s great to just wander around, which is fine if you have all the time in the world, but if like most of use you want to pack as much as possible into your camping trip it pays to plan your route and know where you’re going so you don’t miss a great spot traveling to Mining Camps

Plan you arrival times

It can make a real difference if you know the approximate travel time between points of interest so you arrive at places at the most opportune time. In holiday season there are a lot of others traveling around and headed to the same camping ground as you so try to get there early to pick a prime site.

Arriving at dusk or after dark makes setting camp more difficult

Try not to arrive anywhere at meal time, people tend to be more irritable when hungry and it’s often difficult to start cooking until camps set up

Have good healthy snacks available while traveling so no one feels too hungry on long stretches of the trip

Going camping can be great fun whether you just on the way to work at a mining camp or heading off with your mobile accommodation for some fun it pays to be well equipped and know your route and travel times. Planning ensures you get the best value from your trip.

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Important things which are required during mining camp accommodation

Most mine sites in Australia, especially in Queensland and Western Australia are located in remote areas where there isn’t any accommodation for mine workers. It’s usually not practical because of the distances involved for most workers to commute from their homes to the mine sites, so mining camp accommodation is provided as part of the workers contract with the mining companies. This allows the minors to enjoy safe, clean, quality accommodation close to the places they are working, while they are working at the mine site.

In 1994 the Mines Safety and Inspection ACT was introduced to look after the wellbeing of all the employees living in the mining camps.

How does this Act apply to workers?

Employers who provide accommodation for their workers are required to maintain the premises or mining camps in such a way that none of the occupants are exposed any hazards if:

The mining camp is controlled or owned by the associated mine owners

It’s situated a gazette town site or metropolitan area

And workers are required to live there because there’s no other, reasonable alternative accommodation, in the area

Just as the employers have an obligation to provide quality accommodation; workers have “a duty of care” to look after the property they use and bring any matters of health or safety to the attention of the employer or camp manager.

Emergency Planning

In most exploration camps, mining camp and construction camps they are isolated and in remote areas where they could be at the mercy of extreme weather conditions such as cyclones and flooding or bush fires.

Because of this, it’s necessary for all mining camps have an adequate emergency response plan that provides for general as well as medical evacuations and includes an emergency response plan, including plans for medical and general evacuations.

They are expected to also take into account the needs of any other employees and members of the local community around them.

Some Public Health Factors that need to be considered

The Quality of the air around mining camp accommodation in regards to

Overall air quality, noise and light pollution (smoke, dust, ask smells etc.)

Overall water quality, including potable, recreational water bodies, waste and recycled water

Land hazard management, including pest control, insect nuisance and disease issues

Radiation including microwave and Wi-Fi

Workforce Health including safety gear and precautions

Community health programs

Availability of safe drinking water that’s tested by The local health department

Appropriate waste water treatment systems

All supplied food must be safe and nutritious in compliance with the 2008 Food Act

There must be adequate toilet, hand washing, showering and laundry facilities available

Swimming pools must be installed and maintained in the appropriate health and safety standards of the Health, Aquatic Facilities Regulations 2007

Fitness facilities should be available to help relieve work related issues such as Fatigue, Working long hours, The effects of alcohol and drugs, Overall mental health and personal wellbeing

In general all mining camp accommodation needs to be safe and clean and provide the needs of each worker while staying in the camp. Mining camps need to supply proper nourishing and nutritious meals, adequate sleeping and relaxing facilities as well as proper sanitary personal washing, toiletry and laundry areas

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Tips to get hired in mining camps

There are lots of employment opportunities for people who wish to start working in the mining industry around Australia. Many mining camps are constantly on the lookout for skilled as well as unskilled workers. To find a suitable job there is much easier than many people think, if you are prepared to start with an entry level job.

Cleanskins an industry name for unskilled and untrained workers

There are hundreds of mine sites in every state of Australia, almost all medium to large mine sites are constantly on the lookout for unskilled workers, both men and women because of the constant demand for natural resources.

Many of these jobs may not be directly related to mining, but they allow you to start working on mine sites as cleaners, in areas of catering or transportation. Once you are on the site, the opportunities for finding other jobs within the industry are greatly enhanced

Be Prepared for a Change

Many mining camps and companies hire workers to fill the shortage of unskilled and semi-skilled labour and offer very good incentives to attract the right types of people such as high salaries, free food and accommodation packages.

This is a different lifestyle, but you can expect a salary of between $1,200 and $2,000 a week, this is an average of around $90,000 a year and all of your basic needs are taken care of.

Mining camps provide single accommodation that is equipped with shower and toilet many have a fridge and a small kitchenette, but all meals are served from the main kitchen and dining area that is open most of the time, depending on the shifts of the different workers

Travel

Depending on the remoteness of the mining camp there are various transportation options. Some provide a free bus service to and from the nearest town.

Some mining camps allow you to drive there in your own or a company vehicle. The more remote camps have an airstrip where the company flies its workers in at the start of their roster and home again at the end. Often these are for one month on and one month off, but different companies have different options

Requirements

The basic requirements are to be able to pass the basic minimum safety and medical certification and many mining camps and employers also require a police clearance.All mining camps require you to pass a drug test and there are often random drug tests at the mining camps for safety reasons.

The main requirement is for workers to be honest and commit to working long hours during their roster (usually 12 hour shifts) and forego the luxury of going home at the end of each shift

Most mining companies encourage you to seek career advancement opportunities as you gain experience, with many getting their first pay increase after 3 months.

The mining companies will give you training in safety and the operation of any equipment you will need to operate.

Mining camps hire the full range of workers from unskilled to highly qualified and trained personnel and offer very good wages and living conditions for their workers. You need to pass medical, drug and safety certificates and be prepared to accept the mining camp and company rules

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What are the precautions that should be taken while stay at Mining Camp?

When you decide to start working in the Queensland mining sector, it’s important that you’re familiar with the different types of mining camp accommodation offered at different mine sites. All accommodation must be up to the minimum standards as laid down by the relevant government regulations such as the Work and Safety Act.

Different companies and mine sites offer slightly different types of accommodation. Often this is determined by the age of the mining camp and if it’s intended to be a permanent camp or a temporary camp. Obviously, with temporary mining camps, those staying the should not expect permanent facilities such as swimming pools and other things that permanent long term camps usually provide

It’s necessary for all people staying in mining camps, that they understand that there are safety issues and rules that are enforced, such as limitations on the amount of alcohol that is permitted and that all people living in mining camps are subject to random drug and alcohol testing. Another issue is smoking bans and smoking areas.

In mining camps the regulations regarding health and safety matters have to be considered along with the different aspects and expectations regarding peoples broader lifestyle issues. There needs to be considerable thought by individuals on just what they require and will accept in the way of amenities and general standards in their accommodation and other facilities provided by the mining companies.

All persons living in mining camps need to take reasonable precautions to safeguard their personal belongs and any equipment or gear given or loaned to them by the company for use either while working their shift or during their down time.

Some consideration needs to be given also to issues that are boarder line between work activities and private activities and the rules that must be accepted as part of the conditions of living in the mining camp. It’s also important to consider the ways that the 2011 Work, Health and Safety Act allows for monitoring and enforcing their provisions.

It should be noted that there can be a potential for persons living in the mining camps to experience significant impacts on the emotional and mental well being.

A survey done in 2013 noted that

63% of respondents rated their accommodation as good to very good

23% suggested that they felt no need for anything to change

30% wanted better facilities and services

25% wanted to have a room upgrade

7% would prefer to move to town

75% of those questioned said they felt they had a good level of mental health

20% experienced sleep difficulties

60% felt the demands of this type of living interfered with their family life

Mine camps have now become an ingrained part of life in much of the Queensland resources industry. There’s quite a range of issues that each individual needs to consider when agreeing to take advantage of mining camp accommodation. Mining camp administrators are charged with ensuring WHS compliance at all times. While there will always be some challenges, most of these can be met using sensible systems put in place to manage the variable WHS responsibilities and to help in avoiding potential situations while providing a proper framework for meeting all legal obligations.

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Things You Should Know About Mining Camp Accommodation

When you work on a mine site in Australia because they are almost always in an isolated area the company provides a mining camp for all their workers. Most people work shifts each day for a set time for example, ten days on then four days off or seven days on and seven days off. The times can vary for different mine sites and different contracts and different days on and off. Mining camp accommodation standards are quite high as the workers have to be away from home and family for long periods and often work long shifts. At the end of your work period workers are either bused or flown to their home towns or cities or to the nearest main center.

Mining camps in very isolated areas can have their own landing strips and private planes.

All camps vary, but have similar facilities. This is what you can expect to find in a typical mining camp:

Mine Accommodation

The majority of camps use Donga’s or portable accommodation units, these usually contain a single bed a cupboard, TV with DVD air conditioner, a fridge, coffee tea facility and a bathroom. Sometimes the bathroom is shared with one other person.

At some mines, they have permanent single rooms. This becomes your room while you are on the mine site, during your time off, which is usually an arrangement such as a week on week off or two weeks on two weeks off etcetera another worker uses that room. There are two lockable cupboards so you can leave your work clothes and gear while on your time off.

When you leave, cleaners, clean the room so it’s ready for the next worker.

Camp Eating Facilities

There is a large modern kitchen and attached communal dining room.

The kitchen offers a wide variety of good wholesome food designed to cater for all needs.

Usually the kitchen is open and serving food from 4am until at least 09pm depending on the time workers start and finish their shifts

Typical types of food offered

Fruit, Muffins, Slices, Yoghurts, Desserts

Cereals, Bacon & Eggs, Toast

Salads, Cold Meats, Wraps

Steak, Roast Meats, Chicken, Sausages, Rice, Vegetables

Casseroles, Curries, Pasta, Stir Fries, Stews

Themed meals are offered some days such as seafoods and BBQ’s

All workers pack their own lunch from the food provided

Laundry

A free laundry with washers and dryers is provided

Fitness

Most camps have a free gym and some have swimming pools

Bar

Most camps have a bar, but drinking in moderation is expected as everyone is subject to a breathalyzer as well as drug tests and if you don’t pass you will not be allowed to work.

Smoking

All mines now have designated smoking areas and these are strictly enforced

Pets

No types of animals or pets are allowed, although there is often a variety of native wild animals around some of which can be quite friendly

The mining camp accommodation provided is always of a high standard to cover the needs of the workers. Meals are equal or better than you would expect in a high class hotel or restaurant as workers are expected to work long hours.  Gym and bar are provided for relaxation while off duty.

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Over 35 years experience in the design and manufacture of Industrial Caravans and Special Purpose units.

We design and manufacture Industrial Caravans, providing solutions for all of your needs in providing mobile facilities for your projects. We design and manufacture purpose built mobile units for all requirements.  https://www.traymark.com.au