WorkSafe Tasmania

WorkSafe Tasmania

Safe and well every day

Mining

This industry includes:

  • metal ore mining
  • gas extraction
  • construction material mining
  • exploration
  • quarrying
  • mineral processing

Occupations in this industry include:

  • underground machinery operators
  • shotfirers
  • associated trades like metalworkers, electricians
  • truck drivers

Common hazards and injuries

Workers in this industry are likely to be injured at work due to:

  • body stressing injuries caused by hazardous manual tasks
  • slips, trips and falls
  • being hit by moving objects
  • mental stress

Common hazards that workers in this industry are exposed to include:

  • noise
  • airborne contaminants
  • fatigue due to shift work

Appointment of mine operator and site senior officer

A mine holder must appoint a mine operator who:

  • manages or controls the mine
  • must have the capacity and resources to ensure that work at the mine can be carried out safely

A site senior officer must also be appointed before any mining operations are carried out at the mine. The site senior officer must have the appropriate background, experience and competence to carry out their functions under the Mines Work Health and Safety (Supplementary Requirements) Act, taking into account:

  • the level of risk to health and safety arising from mining operations at the mine
  • the size of the mine
  • the technical expertise available to the site senior officer at the mine

The supporting Regulations also specify formal qualifications for site senior officers at large mining sites.

See appointment forms in Resources below.

Health and safety management systems

The mine operator must develop, implement, maintain and review an overall health and safety management system for the mine that is commensurate with the nature, size and complexity of the mine and mining operations, and the associated risks.

In addition, there are hazards associated with mining operations that, although they have a low likelihood of occurrence, have the potential to cause very serious incidents. This category of hazard is known as a ‘principal mining hazard’.

The mine operator must:

  • identify the principal mining hazards associated with their mining operations
  • develop a specific management plan to address these

WorkSafe Tasmania resources

Fatigue

Fumes, vapours and dusts

Hazardous manual tasks

Industry snapshots

Mental health

Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work code of practice

Psychosocial hazards

Silica safe

Slips trips and falls

Appointment forms

Please save these forms onto your own device before completing them.

Appointment of Mine Operator (PDF, 258.9 KB)

Appointment of Site Senior Officer Small scale mine/quarry operators only (PDF, 297.8 KB)

Appointment of Site Senior Officer (PDF, 347.2 KB)

Resources for quarry operators

Quarry Inspection Template (DOCX, 339.9 KB)

Appointment of Site Senior Officer Small scale mine/quarry operators only (PDF, 297.8 KB)

Audits of the Office of the Chief Inspector of Mines

Mines reports

Other resources

Alcohol and drugs in mines: WorkSafe Victoria

Last updated: 24 August 2023
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