Report - Coal - Emergency management - Emergency response - November 2023 to December 2024

The findings of an assessment program at underground coal mines focussing on emergency management and emergency response.

Sector	Coal - underground
Principal control plan	Emergency management
Topic	Emergency response

What is a mine emergency?

An emergency at a mine is due to an actual or imminent occurrence, such as fire, explosion, accident or flooding, that has resulted in the death of, or injury to, a person, or is endangering or threatening to endanger the life or physical well-being of a person at a mine.

Operation type assessed

Operation type	Number of mines assessed
Underground	16
Total	16

Criteria assessed

Criteria group	Criteria
Implementation	Response arrangements Emergency TARP testing Self-rescuers Consultation preparation Emergency plan testing
Operational controls	Equipment and PPE fit for service Self-rescuer change-over stations Emergency escape strategy Role coverage during an emergency Emergency services notification triggers On-site emergency team notification
Training and competency	6 monthly self-rescuer training compliance Training schedules for emergency crews
Review of control measures	Review after emergency response or a published incident by the Resources Regulator Lessons learned and continuous improvements

Findings with issues identified

Criteria number	Findings of concern	Findings of contravention	Multiple findings	Total findings with issues
Implementation	7	7	3	17
Operational controls	3	2	2	7
Training and competency	2	2	0	4
Review of control measures	0	1	0	1
Other issues identified	12	0	2	14
Total findings with issues	24	12	7	43

Compliance notice type issued during the program

Notice type	Notices	Percentage of all notices issued
WHS(MPS)A s23 notice of concerns	17	57%
WHSA s191 improvement notice	13	43%
WHSA s195 prohibition notice	0	0%
Total	30	100%

Note: This data represents all notices issued during the program and may include notices other than emergency management plan topics.

Recommendations

Operators of underground coal mines should review their site’s Emergency Plan, and the criteria assessed for the topic of emergency response, with specific focus on:

Ensuring that the mine has sufficient emergency response arrangements for each of the emergency scenarios identified in the Emergency Plan
Ensuring that the Emergency Service Organisation (ESO) consultation is effective, thereby supporting effective inter-operability during a major mine emergency
Ensuring that the mine’s Emergency Plan contains clearly defined triggers and processes to notify ESO at the earliest opportunity.

Note: ESO consultation under WHS (MPS) Regulation 2022 section 92(2)(b) relates to:

Sec 92 Consultation in preparation of emergency plan

(2) The mine operator must ensure the emergency plan addresses recommendations made by the emergency service organisations consulted under subsection (1) in relation to—

(b) what incidents or events at the mine should be notified to the emergency service organisations