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Legislation, standards and guidelines
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As a mining or quarry operator in Queensland, you must comply with mine safety and health legislation, including:
- Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 and the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017
- Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017.
Other laws may impact on safety and health for specific activities, including the Explosives Act 1999 and the Radiation Safety Act 1999.
This guide provides an overview of the legislation, standards and guidelines that relate to health and safety requirements for mining and quarrying operations in Queensland. It also provides an overview of bodies and individuals, such as the Mines Inspectorate, Board of Examiners and Commissioner for Mine Resources Safety and Health, that are also part of the mining safety and health framework.
Recognised standards, guidelines and guidance notes
The following recognised standards, guidelines and guidance notes relate to mining and quarrying activities in Queensland.
Recognised standards (coal mines)
Section 72(1) of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 specifies that the Minister may make recognised standards. Standards state ways of achieving an acceptable level of risk for people working in coal mines. Operators can manage the risk in a different way but must be able to show that the method used is at least equivalent to the method in the recognised standard.
- RS1: Underground electrical equipment and electrical installations (PDF, 193KB)
- RS2: Control of risk management practices (PDF, 500KB)
- RS3: Explosion protected diesel engines (PDF, 146KB)
- RS4: Underground non-explosion protected vehicles (PDF, 364KB)
- RS5: Quality of incombustible dust, sampling and analysis of roadway dust in underground coal mines (PDF, 531KB)
- RS6: Inspections for underground coal mines (PDF, 513KB)
- RS7: Criteria for the assessment of drugs in coal mines (PDF, 519KB)
- RS8: Conduct of mine emergency exercises (PDF, 644KB)
- RS9: Monitoring of sealed areas (PDF, 503KB)
- RS10: Mine surveying and drafting (PDF, 596KB)
- RS11: Training in coal mines (PDF, 603KB)
- RS12: Place change mining operations in underground coal mines (PDF, 748KB)
- RS13: Tyre, wheel and rim management (PDF, 1.7MB)
- RS14: Monitoring respirable dust in coal mines (PDF, 717KB)
- RS15: Underground respirable dust control (PDF, 2.3MB)
- RS16: Use and control of polymeric chemicals at underground coal mines (PDF, 1.1MB)
- RS17: Hazardous chemicals (PDF, 2.7MB)
- RS18: Management of heat in underground coal mines (PDF, 581KB)
- RS19: Design and construction of mine roads (PDF, 926KB)
- RS20: Dust control in surface mines (PDF, 2.3MB)
- RS21: Underground Explosion Barriers (PDF, 707KB)
- RS22: Management structure for the development and implementation of the Safety and Health Management System (PDF, 641KB)
- RS23: Fluid power safety in coal mines (PDF, 834KB)
The Minister can approve recognised standards to be reviewed or developed by a Recognised Standard Tripartite Working Group (RSTWG).
Find recognised standards currently being reviewed or developed.
Guidelines (mineral mines and quarries)
Section 63(1) of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 specifies that the Minister may make guidelines. Guidelines provide ways of achieving an acceptable standard of risk for people working in mineral mines and quarries. Operators can manage the risk in a different way but must be able to show that the method used is at least equivalent to the method in the guideline.
Naturally occurring radioactive material in metalliferous mines
Respirable dust in mineral mines and quarries
Supporting documents for QGL02
Sampling data submissions template and guides:
- Mineral mines and quarries (MMQ) occupational hygiene data template (XLSX, 451KB) Version 1 September 2023 (Chief Inspector's approved form)
- MMQ how to guide for reporting occupational hygiene data (PDF, 691KB)
- MMQ reporting classes (PDF, 366KB)
Search the register of occupational hygiene consultancies for available consultancies suitable for QGL02 Management of respirable dust in Queensland mineral mines and quarries.
Guideline for hazardous chemical
Respiratory health surveillance
Supporting documents for QGL04
Health surveillance forms:
- Respiratory health surveillance medical examination form (DOCX, 202KB) for mineral mine and quarry workers. This is the recommended template to be used to record the clinical findings from the respiratory health surveillance examinations and associated medical records.
- Health surveillance report (DOCX, 916KB) for respiratory health surveillance of mineral mine and quarry workers. This is the recommended template to be used by the appropriate doctor to record information about any effects on a worker's health related to exposure to a respiratory hazard at a mine or quarry and the need, if any, for remedial action.
Find out more about respiratory health surveillance for mineral mine and quarry workers including finding medical providers.
Guidance notes
Guidance notes are issued to help operators meet their safety and health obligations.
Mineral mines and quarries
- QGN: Mineral exploration safety guidance note (PDF, 1.5MB)
- QGN02: Isolation of plant (PDF, 808KB)
- QGN05: Mine record (PDF, 449KB)
- QGN08: Safety at tourist mines (PDF, 578KB)
- QGN09: Reviewing the effectiveness of safety and health management systems (PDF, 609KB)
- QGN10: Handling explosives (surface and quarry) (PDF, 1.2MB)
- QGN11: Handling explosives (underground) (PDF, 788KB)
- QGN13: Safe work near drawpoints in underground metalliferous mines (PDF, 527KB)
- QGN14: Effective safety and health supervision (PDF, 1MB)
- QGN15: Emergency preparedness for small mines and quarries (PDF, 723KB)
- QGN16: Fatigue risk management (PDF, 2.1MB)
- QGN17: Development of effective job safety analysis (PDF, 1.8MB)
- QGN18: Tipping near or over vertical edges in underground mining operations (PDF, 650KB)
- QGN19: Mine surveying and drafting (PDF, 630KB)
- QGN20: Management of oxides of nitrogen in open cut blasting (PDF, 2.5MB)
- QGN21: Management of diesel engine exhaust in metalliferous mines (PDF, 607KB)
- QGN22: Management of noise in mines (PDF, 1.5MB)
- QGN23: Facility descriptions for metalliferous mines and quarries (PDF, 593KB)
- QGN25: Site Safety and Health Representatives and Site Safety and Health Committees (PDF, 191KB)
- QGN26: Electric propulsion systems used in self-powered earth moving machinery (PDF, 266KB)
- QGN27: Collision prevention (PDF, 1MB)
- QGN28: Fall prevention (PDF, 618KB)
- QGN29: Surface tailing storage facility management (PDF, 703KB)
- QGN30: Shaft construction metalliferous mines
- QGN31: Tyre, wheel & rim management (PDF, 629KB)
Coal mines
- QGN05: Mine record (PDF, 449KB)
- QGN07: Reporting serious accidents and high potential incidents to an Inspector of Mines or an Industry Safety and Health Representative (PDF, 643KB)
- QGN09: Reviewing the effectiveness of safety and health management systems (PDF, 609KB)
- QGN10: Handling explosives (surface and quarry) (PDF, 1.2MB)
- QGN11: Handling explosives (underground) (PDF, 788KB)
- QGN15: Emergency preparedness for small mines and quarries (PDF, 723KB)
- QGN16: Fatigue risk management (PDF, 2.1MB)
- QGN20: Management of oxides of nitrogen in open cut blasting (PDF, 2.5MB)
- QGN22: Management of noise in mines (PDF, 1.5MB)
- QGN26: Electric propulsion systems used in self-powered earth moving machinery (PDF, 266KB)
- QGN32: Managing exposure to heat in surface coal mines and surface areas of underground coal mines (PDF, 4MB)
- QGN33: Autonomous mobile machinery and vehicle introduction and their use in coal mining (PDF, 496KB)
- QGN34: Managing dust ingress into electrical enclosures and equipment (PDF, 4.8MB)
Guidelines (coal mines)
Guidelines are published by the Coal Mines Inspectorate to provide operators with ways of achieving an acceptable standard of risk for people working in coal mines.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland performance accountability
The framework sets out 5 model practices that cover:
- Ensuring regulatory activity is proportionate to risk and minimises unnecessary burden
- Consulting and engaging meaningfully with stakeholders
- Providing appropriate information and support to assist compliance
- Committing to continuous improvement
- Being transparent and accountable in actions.
Read the following regulatory performance reports:
- RSHQ Regulator Performance report 2022–2023 (PDF, 262KB)
- RSHQ Regulator Performance report 2021–2022 (PDF, 559KB)
- RSHQ Regulator Performance report 2020–2021 (PDF, 502KB)
- RSHQ Self-assessment report (Summary) 2019–2020
- RSHQ Self-assessment report 2019-2020 (PDF, 5MB)
- Resources Safety and Health self-assessment report 2018–2019 (PDF, 281KB)
- Resources Safety and Health self-assessment report 2017–2018 (PDF, 556KB)
- Mines Inspectorate self-assessment supplementary report 2017–2018 (PDF, 1.1MB)
- Explosives Inspectorate self-assessment supplementary report 2017–2018 (PDF, 1.1MB)
- Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate supplementary report 2017–2018 (PDF, 1.1MB).
Quarterly regulatory activities data
As part of our compliance program, we publish quarterly figures on the number of audits, inspections and complaint investigations we have conducted.
Memorandum of understanding
Resources Safety and Health Queensland has a memorandum of understanding with the Office of Industrial Relations (PDF, 4MB) that clarifies the jurisdictions of the agencies and explains how they cooperate.
General directives and letters
Directives
These directives, issued by the Mines Inspectorate under either the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 (PDF, 993KB) or the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 (PDF, 864KB), usually apply to a group of mines (e.g. underground coal mines). Copies of relevant sections of these directives are included here for information to industry in general:
- Contractor management, Queensland coal mines (PDF, 41KB)
- Use of polyurethane foam to flat-proof tyres used in underground coal mines (PDF, 105KB)
- Requirements pertaining to the use of ATF Series 251 headlights in Queensland underground coal mines (PDF, 110KB)
- Flameproof diesel vehicles electrical circuits (PDF, 133KB)
- Possible risk associated with running explosion protected compression ignition engines in ERZ1 areas of an underground coal mine (PDF, 139KB)
- Review of drug and alcohol policy at Queensland coal mines, including exploration sites (PDF, 44KB)
- Electric shocks from Joy 10SC32-56BC shuttle cars, Queensland underground coal mines (PDF, 46KB)
- Electric shocks from Joy 10SC32-56BC shuttle cars, checks and reviews, Queensland underground coal mines (PDF, 46KB)
- Use and suitability of on-highway heavy vehicles underground, Queensland underground metalliferous mines (PDF, 47KB)
- Stored energy device, Queensland coal mines (PDF, 42KB)
- Light vehicles fit for purpose, Queensland coal mines (PDF, 42KB)
- Quick hitch man basket controls, Queensland surface coal mines (PDF, 42KB)
- Response and treatment of suspected fluid injection, Queensland coal mines (PDF, 42KB)
- Review of safety and health management system, Queensland surface coal mines (PDF, 41KB)
- Audit of change management at all Queensland coal mines, including exploration sites (PDF, 41KB)
- Review of safety and health management system with regard to severe weather events, Queensland coal mines (PDF, 41KB).
Letters
These letters, issued by the Mines Inspectorate under either the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 (PDF, 993KB) or the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 (PDF, 864KB), usually apply to all mines or a group of mines (e.g. underground coal mines). Copies of relevant sections of these letters are included here for information to industry in general:
- Letter from Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health on consultation regulatory impact statement (RIS) (PDF, 68KB)
- Chief Inspector of Coal Mines' letter accompanying industry notifications 'Open letter to all coal mine workers - notification of next of kin' and ' Deputy failed to comply with legislation' (PDF, 1.2MB)
- Inspector of Coal Mines letter to surface coal mine site senior executives on light vehicle safety (PDF, 107KB).
Mining publications and videos
Queensland Mines Inspectorate (QMI) updates
The QMI regularly publishes updates about developments affecting the industry in Queensland.
To subscribe and receive updates, click on the link below.
Safety tools and guides
The Opal and gem miner's handbook (PDF, 7.5MB) provides advice to help opal and gem miners lower the risk of injuries.
SafeGuard is a safety and health management system and audit tool for the Queensland mining and quarrying industries. SafeGuard will help assess your operation's safety and health management system, measure its performance and ensure continuous improvement.
For more information read:
This tool is designed to help you assess how well your operation is protected from lightning-related hazards.
For more information read:
This document provides information on models to adjust exposure standards for non-standard working hours.
Education seminars and audit reports
The Queensland Mines Inspectorate (QMI) periodically conduct training seminars and proactive inspections and audits to identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to industry to implement. These presentations and reports are provided below.
RSHQ commissioned an expert review from the University of Queensland to consider the hazards that can arise when conducting operations during lightning activity and their relative risk to the safety of resources workers.
A summary of this report has been outlined in the Coal Inspectorate Bulletin No 205.
Each year one Queensland underground coal mine runs a level 1 emergency exercise to test their readiness for emergencies and the learnings help the industry boost their preparedness to respond to major emergencies.
This video discusses the learnings from the 2019 Cook Colliery and 2020 Moranbah North level 1 exercises, as well as key learnings that have been gathered over 23 years of exercises.
2019 Cook Colliery and 2020 Moranbah North Level 1 exercises (PDF, 1.2MB)
In October 2019, a coal mine worker seriously injured their wrist and forearm following the failure of a cylinder head plate when repairing a broken track link on an excavator.
Analysis of the incident provides useful lessons about the management of equipment bought onto site and questions to ask about site suppliers' testing and maintenance programs.
Since the introduction of the Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme, there has been significant improvement in spirometry across the Queensland coal sector.
Find out how RSHQ reforms paved the way to quality spirometry and learn about future initiatives including ResHealth – an electronic system capturing health assessment data in real time.
Checking on the lung checks: better spirometry for miners (PDF, 1MB)
Improvements to respiratory health examinations for coal, mineral mine and quarry workers include higher quality chest X-ray standards, better training for health care professionals and a recognised standard for reporting results. RSHQ has a strict process in ensuring each component of the medical screening process is working effectively.
Queensland is committed to the development of renewable hydrogen production in Australia and is rapidly scaling up a hydrogen economy.
In October 2021, the RSHQ's Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate led a webinar to discuss the development of a safety code of practice for the hydrogen industry in relation to mobility.
During 2018 the Mines Inspectorate completed a series of structured inspections focusing on diesel emissions management at all 10 operational underground coal mines. Findings and opportunities for improvement are included in this document:
As Queensland underground coal mines have become deeper and longwall production rates have increased, the quantity of methane (CH4) produced by longwall operations has also increased.
The Mines Inspectorate recently completed a series of compliance audits and requested methane gas monitoring data from 8 longwall mines so that a detailed analysis could be undertaken. The audits revealed that all mines' gas monitoring systems complied with the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 but a review of gas data indicated that some mines were not reporting all incidents over 2.5% methane. Modelling of the mines' ventilation and methane emissions has shown that in some cases explosive mixtures of methane could have been present in the atmosphere flowing into the longwall tailgate.
The Mines Inspectorate expects all underground coal mines to have effective gas monitoring systems with suitably placed methane detectors to prevent explosive accumulations of methane in areas where it could be ignited. Best practices and recommendations to achieve this are outlined in the attached document for mine operations to consider.
At the time of writing this report, the Mines Inspectorate is also developing draft amendments to the regulation to prescribe minimum methane monitoring requirements, at all relevant locations in an underground coal mine.
- Open Cut Examiner Seminar 2015 (PDF, 1.4MB)
- Roles and responsibilities of an OCE (PDF, 645KB)
- Emergency management (PDF, 729KB)
- Explosives Inspectorate presentation (PDF, 2.7MB)
- Geotechnical management (PDF, 2.8MB)
- Highwall failure and misfire (PDF, 712KB)
- Major pit wall failure (PDF, 2MB)
- Maintaining frictional resistance on mine road surfaces (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Specification for design and construction of mine roads (PDF, 1.2MB)
- OCE statutory shift reports (PDF, 2.1MB)
- Accident investigation (PDF, 623KB)
- Light vehicle heavy vehicle controls (PDF, 1.3MB)
- Mines Inspectorate website (PDF, 1MB)
Trailing cable damage HPI criteria were developed to deliver consistency in reporting across all mine sites. This presentation shares information about the risks associated with trailing cables, provides examples of incidents and reviews data from past performance.
When it comes to measuring airborne exposure, one of the biggest issues facing the coal industry is chemical characterisation and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). It's important that chemicals are clearly identified so hygienists and safety professionals on mine sites are aware of what may be present and the monitoring required to measure them.
The 14 months from 15 November 2018 was one of the worst periods for fatalities in the recent history of Queensland mining. This presentation shares information about excavator access and egress systems and the hazards associated with them, focussing on findings and recommendations.
Safety videos
The following video is a simulation of a fatal accident that took place at Century Mine on 9 February 2004.
The following video should be used in conjunction with guidance note QGN17: Development of effective job safety analysis (PDF, 1.1MB).
Mines Inspectorate
The Mines Inspectorate's role is to ensure that acceptable safety and health standards are established and practised within the mining and quarrying industries.
It establishes safety and health legislation and standards, undertakes audits and inspections, and promotes and participates in safety and health education programs.
The Mines Inspectorate is part of Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ), the independent statutory body responsible for administering safety and health legislation in the Queensland mining, petroleum and gas, explosives and fireworks industries.
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
The Compliance and Enforcement Policy outlines the principles and practices that underpin RSHQs compliance and enforcement actions, which are a critical part of preventing serious harm to workers and the community across the Queensland resources industry.
It also provides guidance when determining a regulatory response and, when applied, will be informed by consideration of the specific circumstances of each matter.
Read the Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
Contact us
Contact a Mines Inspector directly by phone or email.
Board of Examiners
The Board of Examiners is established under Part 10 of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and Part 10 of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999.
Role and functions
The board's role is to set exams and issue certificates of competency to people who want to work in statutory positions in the metalliferous and coal mining industries in Queensland.
The Board of Examiners:
- determines the required competencies
- assesses applications
- grant certificates and Site Senior Executive (SSE) notices
- ensures the competencies required in Queensland are consistent with those in other states.
The Board of Examiners consists of a chairman who is an inspector and at least 6 other members, each with at least 10 years practical experience in the mining industry. At least 6 members must be currently engaged in the mining industry.
Practising Certificate Scheme
The Practising Certificate Scheme online portal is now accessible to all certificate of competency and notice holders.
The Practising Certificate Scheme (PDF, 389KB) has been developed by the Board of Examiners and closes out the recommendation from the 1994 Moura No.2 disaster, and subsequent inquiry report (from 3 January 1996), concerning "certificate holders maintain a sound knowledge base on, and keep abreast of, technical developments in coal mining and most particularly those relevant to coal mine safety", and the Johnstaff review of Board of Examiners (from 11 May 2020).
It further aligns with contemporary continuing professional development required of high hazard industries and professions, allowing alignment with other mining jurisdictions to enable transferability of certificates.
Once registered you can start recording your continued professional development activities. Prior to registering, ensure you read the requirements and instructions.
Learning from disasters course now available
Practising Certificate Scheme participants note: The Mandatory Board of Examiners 'Learning from disasters online course' is now available.
Approved providers are scheduling delivery of face to face workshops in early 2024.
Find more information on enrolment or RSHQ endorsed training providers.
Other courses titled 'Learning from disasters' are not accepted.
Contact us
Board of Examiners Secretary
Resources Safety and Health
GPO Box 1321
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Phone: (07) 3199 8037
Email: BOESecretary@rshq.qld.gov.au
Board Members as at 4 June 2023
Member | Appointed | Term of appointment ends |
---|---|---|
Jaques le Roux (Chair) (Chief Inspector of Coal Mines) Ex-Officio Appointment | 3 February 2023 | 1 January 2050 |
Geraldine Gillespie | 18 June 2021 | 17 June 2024 |
Adam Barton | 18 June 2021 | 17 June 2024 |
Neville Stanton | 4 June 2023 | 3 June 2026 |
Hermann Fasching (Chief Inspector of Mines and Quarries) | Ex-Officio Appointment | 1 January 2050 |
Shaun Dobson (Deputy Chief Inspector of Coal Mines) | 4 June 2023 | 3 June 2026 |
Angela Dow | 4 June 2023 | 3 June 2026 |
Stephen Watts | 4 June 2023 | 3 June 2026 |
Matthew Way | 4 June 2023 | 3 June 2026 |
Leslie Marlborough | 4 June 2023 | 3 June 2026 |
Deon Esterhuizen | 14 October 2022 | 17 June 2024 |
Also consider...
- Find out how to apply for coal mining certificates and metalliferous mining certificates required for statutory positions in mines.
- Read the annual reports of the Board of Examiners for more information on its membership and activities.
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
The Resources Safety and Health Queensland Compliance and Enforcement Policy outlines principles and practices used by our inspectors when investigating incidents that have occurred in the resources industry in Queensland.
The policy helps to protect the safety and health of resources industry workers and the Queensland community from serious harm by ensuring that:
- the risk of injury or illness resulting from regulated/authorised activities is at an acceptable level
- obligation-holders receive the support, guidance, and information necessary to discharge their safety and health obligations
- industry, workers and the community have confidence in Queensland's resources safety and health framework.
© The State of Queensland 1995–2024
- Last reviewed: 08 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 08 Sep 2021