Revision to coal exposure standard

The new respirable coal dust workplace exposure standard of 1.5mg/m³ will take effect in NSW from 1 February 2021.

Mines and petroleum sites will need to report exceedances of the new exposure standard to the NSW Resources Regulator from 1 February 2021. Supporting this change, we have developed video and poster resources as part of the Black Lung Disease campaign, which is designed to educate workers and mine operators of the risks associated with respirable coal dust.

Further reduction of the exposure standard will ensure NSW continues to have the strongest regime for protecting workers’ health and safety.

Click here for more information and resources

Survey and Drafting Directions for Mining Surveyors 2020

The Survey and Drafting Directions for Mining Surveyors 2020 have been released by the Surveyor General of NSW under Clause 4 of the Surveying and Spatial Information Regulation 2017. The directions provide guidance for the preparation, presentation and submission of Mine Survey Plans.

As part of the changes, we have implemented an online process where mine operators can use the Regulator Portal for the submission of Mine Survey Plans. This will become mandatory from 1 July 2020.

Visit our website to read our guidance material, fact sheet and links to the gazette notices for the provision of mine survey plans.

Surveying and Drafting Directions for Mining Surveyors 2020

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Sibelco's variation to WHS undertaking accepted

On 22 April Sibelco Australia Limited advised us that as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions it was unable to complete a component of the WHS undertaking in accordance with the compliance timeframes stipulated. In view of the Covid-19 restrictions, Sibelco proposed a variation to the WHS undertaking which has been accepted.

The variation of the undertaking meets the requirements of the WHS Act and the Enforceable Undertakings Guidelines.

Click here for more information

Latest compliance audit report

We routinely undertake compliance audits of mining operations and exploration activities to assess whether titleholders are meeting their compliance requirements and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Use the link below to view our most recent compliance audit report on Dendrobium Colliery.

Read the Compliance audit report: Dendrobium Colliery, Illawarra Coal Pty Ltd

Fire suppression system fails to discharge

Field testing has found that a fire suppression system has failed to discharge on demand. The malfunction of a shuttle valve in the fire suppression system has caused the loss of the fire suppression safety function. Failure to operate on demand will place vehicle operators and, in the case of underground mines, all workers at risk.

Read the full Safety Bulletin (SB20-02)

COVID-19 inspection report

We have recently published the results of our proactive inspection program which focussed on how mine operators were responding to the COVID-19 risks.

The inspection program, which has seen 178 inspections carried out across 87 different mine sites, generally found that mine operators had responded quickly and appropriately to risks posed by the virus and overall standards were high.

Read the full COVID-19 inspection report

Wambo North Underground Coal Mine causal investigation

A causal investigation will be conducted at Wambo North Underground Coal Mine following an incident on 3 May where a drilling platform and rig collapsed into a vertical shaft as it was being drilled.

Click here for more information

Enforceable undertaking accepted following Clarence Colliery incident

The operator of Clarence Colliery near Lithgow has committed to spending over $500,000 in undertakings after two workers were injured during a workplace incident.

Click here for more information

Further information:
Resources Regulator | 1300 814 609 | info@resourcesregulator.planning.nsw.gov.au

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