Have your say about reporting safety concerns 

The NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) wants to hear from you about the reporting of safety concerns in the NSW coal mining industry.

This follows findings and recommendations from the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry into a serious accident at Queensland’s Grosvenor coal mine in 2020.

MSAC has commissioned the Regulator to undertake a survey to better understand the reporting of safety concerns and to help identify similar issues that may exist within NSW coal mines.

We’ve created a quick 6-minute anonymous survey where your responses will provide crucial feedback in relation to the reporting of safety concerns in NSW coal mine sites.

Enforceable undertakings from Winder Controls Australia Pty Ltd accepted

We have accepted an enforceable undertaking from Winder Controls Australia Pty Ltd following an investigation into an incident on 6 October 2020 at the Appin East Mine.

The incident occurred during the removal of the winder rope from the driftwinder as part of an equipment upgrade project. The head sheave pulley wheel, weighing several tonnes, dislodged from its support frame and fell approximately 13 metres to the ground below.

At the time, a contract worker was positioned on the ground level, within a taped-off, restricted access area directly below the pulley wheel. The worker had to move in order to avoid being struck by the falling object. No injuries resulted from the incident.

• Winder Controls Australia Pty Ltd Enforceable undertaking (PDF, 444.59 KB)
• Decision to accept a WHS undertaking by Winder Controls Australia Pty Ltd: Decision  (PDF, 196.92 KB) (7 February 2022)

Critical worker self-isolation exemption revised

The Minister for Health, being satisfied that it is necessary to protect the health, welfare, safety and wellbeing of members of the public, granted amendments to the exemption under clause 15 of the Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 4) 2021 (the Order).

The critical worker exemption under the Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 4) 2021 has been revised and it adds workers from the following categories.

• Persons who are employed or engaged to undertake statutory functions under Schedule 10 of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014
• A person who is employed or engaged at a major hazard facility, as defined in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, and who is necessary to ensure the critical safety of the facility

For more information, view the Critical Worker Exemption from the Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No4). Use the follwing link for the full Public Health Orders and restrictions.

Safety and Health Representatives Seminar

Our annual Safety and Health Representatives Seminar, to be held on 23 March 2022, is an important annual learning and development opportunity for coal mine safety and health representatives.

This free, one-day seminar brings together industry safety and health representatives (ISHR) and site safety heath representatives (SSHR) for a range of technical knowledge sessions and presentations by representatives from the Regulator, investigators and selected keynote speakers on relevant regulatory and technical topics. 

Invitations have been sent to nominated ISHRs and SSHRs. If you did not receive an invitation and would like to attend, please contact the engagement team on rr.workshops@planning.nsw.gov.au to request an invitation.

New Executive Director Peter Day

We are pleased to welcome Peter Day, the new Executive Director of the Resources Regulator. Peter joined the Regulator last month and has extensive experience in regulatory roles.

He joins us from the Department of Primary Industries where he has held the role of Director, Biosecurity & Food Safety Compliance and Integrity Systems since July 2019. Before that Peter was Group Director Emergency Operations, Intelligence & Programs and has also spent several years in other NSW government regulatory roles. 

2022 Small Mines Roadshow - limited tickets available

Our annual health and safety roadshow for small mines and quarries is underway and tickets are moving fast for the remaining events.

These free, full-day workshops provide valuable information and resources to the small mines' sector that will assist you to maintain safe mining practices and also provide an opportunity for face-to-face engagement with the Regulator.

Limited tickets are available at the following regional locations:

• 1 March - Orange (limited tickets available) 
• 3 March - Dubbo
• 8 March - Narooma
• 10 March - Queanbeyan
• 15 March - Wollongong (limited tickets available) 
• 15 March - Ballina SOLD OUT (join the waiting list) 
• 17 March - Liverpool (limited tickets available) 
• 17 March - Port Macquarie
• 22 March - Wagga Wagga SOLD OUT (join the waiting list) 
• 24 March - Tumut (limited tickets available) 
• 6 April - Dareton

MESS 2022 - Call for speakers

We are seeking experienced and enthusiastic presenters for the 30^th Annual Mechanical Engineering Safety Seminar to be held on 10 and 11 August 2022.

The submission deadline for presenter applications is 1 April 2022. Note: If you submitted an expression of interest for 2021, you do not need to complete an application.

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The newsletter will include updates on major projects, notification of changes to regulations or legislation, details about upcoming events, opportunities and achievements. Click here to sign up to receive Mining Memo.

In case you missed it...

The following are recent publications and updates available on our website:

• Decision to reject a WHS undertaking given by Endeavour Coal
• Report released into death of opal miner at Grawin Opal fields in October 2020
• Certificate of conformity condition on Design Registrations for Explosion Protected Diesel Engine Systems (ExDES)
• Safe Work Australia sexual harassment resources