Report – Coal – Explosion suppression – July 2025 to June 2026
This report provides the findings of an assessment program at underground coal mines focussing on explosion suppression
| Sector | Coal – underground |
|---|---|
| Principal hazard plan | Fire or explosion |
| Material unwanted event | Uncontrolled gas or dust explosion |
| Topic | Explosion suppression 2025–2026 |
Operation type assessed
| Operation type | Number of mines assessed |
|---|---|
| Underground | 22 |
| Total | 22 |
Criteria assessed
| Critical control | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Explosion barrier | Confirm explosion barriers are installed at locations documented in the mine safety management system. |
| Verify that explosion barriers are inspected to confirm they comply with the standard outlined by the installation instructions. | |
| Confirm explosion barriers comply with the standard outlined in the installation instructions. | |
| Hazardous area management (including elimination of ignition sources) | Confirm that stone dust is applied at the rates and in the methods specified in the mines procedures. |
| Confirm that roadway dust samples are taken from the areas specified and analysed at the specified frequencies. | |
| Float dust is managed with in the mine. | |
| Confirm that identified substandard incombustible content levels are rectified within the specified timeframes. |
Findings with issues identified
| Critical control | Criteria | Findings of concern | Findings of contravention | Total findings with issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explosion barrier | Confirm explosion barriers are installed at locations documented in the mine safety management system. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Verify that explosion barriers are inspected to confirm they comply with the standard outlined by the installation instructions. | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Confirm explosion barriers comply with the standard outlined in the installation instructions. | 6 | 4 | 10 | |
| Hazardous area management (including elimination of ignition sources) | Confirm that stone dust is applied at the rates and in the methods specified in the mines procedures. | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| Confirm that roadway dust samples are taken from the areas specified and analysed at the specified frequencies. | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Float dust is managed with in the mine. | 5 | 1 | 6 | |
| Confirm that identified substandard incombustible content levels are rectified within the specified timeframes. | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 20 | 15 | 35 |
Compliance notice type issued during the program
| Notice type | Notices |
Percentage of notices issued |
|---|---|---|
| WHS(MPS)A s23 notice of concerns | 30 |
58% |
| WHSA s191 improvement notice | 22 |
42% |
| Total | 52 |
100% |
A total of 52 compliance notices were issued to 16 UG coal mines.
Note: This data represents all notices issued during the program and may include notices other than explosion suppression topics.
Recommendations
Operators of underground coal mines should review their site principal hazard fire or explosion management plan and the critical control criteria assessed for the topic of uncontrolled gas or dust explosion.
The two critical controls assessed in the program with the majority of non-compliance findings resulting in issuing of a non-compliance notice to the mine were for the criteria topics:
- Explosion barriers
- Confirm explosion barriers comply with the standard outlined in the installation instructions
- Hazardous area management
- Confirm that stone dust is applied at the rates and in the methods specified in the mines procedures.
References
Program Fact Sheet
Principal hazard – fire and explosion – gas or dust explosion (PDF, 93.5 KB)
Safety Alerts
Fire occurs on longwall face in underground coal mine (PDF, 548.91 KB)
Safety Bulletins
Methane gas incidents occurred in NSW coal mines (PDF, 185.08 KB)
Codes of practice for WHS (Mines) legislation
Roadway dust analysis in underground coal mines – April 2026 (PDF, 315.38 KB)
Regulator web site information