Statewide blitz on electricity risks at large quarries

As announced this week our inspectors will start visiting several quarries throughout the state over the next couple of weeks as part of a targeted intervention program to examine how operators are managing electrical hazards. The blitz follows a recent investigation into an electric shock at a quarry that identified significant concerns regarding the testing, inspection, and maintenance of electrical equipment.

New Schedule 11 hazardous chemicals notification form

A new online notification form for Schedule 11 hazardous chemicals is now available through the Regulator Portal. This means that persons conducting a business or undertaking at a mine or petroleum site must now directly notify the Resources Regulator regarding Schedule 11 notifications, replacing the requirement to notify SafeWork NSW.

All eligible mine and petroleum sites must lodge a new Schedule 11 notification through the Regulator Portal by 1 April 2021.

Dangerous incident on the surface of underground coal mine

See our recently published investigation information release (IIR21-02) concerning a dangerous incident that occurred at Appin Colliery, Appin on 6 October 2020.

New dedicated website section for opal mining

Opal miners can now access all information relating to opal mining and prospecting from a new dedicated section on our website. This improvement aims to ensure ease of access to opal mining guidance materials and resources.

Learning from Disasters update

Our Learning from Disasters interactive timeline has recently been updated with a new case study regarding an incident that occurred at Balmain Colliery on the afternoon of 17 March 1900, which resulted in the death of five workers. The colliery was located on the edge of Iron Cove in the inner-west of Sydney in NSW.

In case you missed it...

• Fires on mobile plant quarterly report - April to June 2020
• Fact sheet: Planned Inspection Program - Ground or strata failure (Underground coal operations)
• Fact Sheet: Item and design registration of person-riding hoists for small gemstone and opal mines
• Fact sheet: Working safely in and around shafts
• Self-assessment checklist: Working safely in and around shafts
• Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) agenda March 2021

New online tool to assess psychosocial risks at work

People at Work is Australia’s only validated psychosocial risk assessment survey which provides support and practical tools to help create psychologically healthy workplaces.

People at Work have released a new online tool to identify, assess and manage psychosocial risks at work which is free and easy to use, and helps businesses to identify key psychosocial hazards in the workplace while also providing guidance on practical ways to manage them.

Improving ventilation in indoor workplaces

A new fact sheet on improving ventilation for indoor workplaces has been developed by Safe Work Australia. The fact sheet highlights three steps to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and improve ventilation in indoor settings.