Report - High visibility campaign 2026 (METEX sector)

Compliance findings for all sectors

During a two-week inspection campaign in July 2026, Resources Regulator inspectors attended 123 mines sites across three mining sectors at coal, metalliferous, extractives and small mines.

A total of 321 compliance notices were issued at 85 mine sites (across all three sectors).

Note: not all mines were issued a compliance notice and some mines were issued multiple compliance notices.

The top three principal hazard or control plan topics and material unwanted events (MUE) that were the subject of compliance notices across all three sectors were:

• Mechanical engineering control plan - unintended interaction with rotating or moving equipment (34 out of 85 MECP topic compliance notices)
• Air quality or dust or other airborne contaminants – exposure to dust and airborne contaminants (including diesel particulates) in excess of exposure standards (subject of 25 compliance notices)
• Roads or other vehicle operating areas (ROVOA) – collision of vehicle or mobile plant (subject of 20 compliance notices)

Assessment program at METEX mines

Operation type assessed

Criteria assessed

Campaign scope: Incident re-occurrence prevention review

• Review of the previous 12 months incidents reported to the Regulator by the mine.
• Review of implementation by the mine in response to compliance notice directions issued in relation to a prior incident at the coal site.
• Verification of compliance discussion with site supervisors and workers at the site.

Compliance notice type issued to METEX mines during the program

A total of 192 compliance notices were issued to 44 METEX mine sites.

2026 Campaign compliance notices topics issued at METEX mines

The top three improvement compliance notice (WHSA s191) and prohibition compliance notice (WHSA s195) topics by principal hazard or control plan and material unwanted event (MUE) issued at surface and underground METEX sites were:

• Mechanical engineering control plan (MECP) – unintended interaction with rotating or moving equipment (20 out of 53 MECP topic compliance notices issued)
• Roads or other vehicle operating areas (ROVOA) – collision of vehicles (15 compliance notices issued)
• Air quality or dust or other airborne contaminants (12 compliance notices issued)

Recommendations

Operators of METEX sites should review the following topics identified in compliance notices issued during the Regulators campaign.

• Review implementation of risk controls relating to the site MECP: 
  • unintended interaction with rotating or moving equipment
  • persons falling
  • falling objects
  • person in workbox or MEWP
  • structural collapse
  • uncontrolled release of energy including spring energy
• Refer to the NSW Code of Practice: Mechanical engineering control plan (May 2025).
• Review inspection programs by supervisors and verification process for effective critical controls in the MECP. In particular:
  • Guards not reinstalled correctly after planned maintenance tasks
  • Guards that do not prevent access to rotating equipment
  • Guards that need to be removed regularly for routine tasks like greasing
  • Emergency stops that are obstructed and are not clearly and durably marked
• Review the application of controls for dust suppression. There were many instances found during the high visibility campaign where there was significant dust in work areas because dust suppression had not been applied. The decision for the application of dust suppression by workers may not always provide adequate dust suppression outcomes.
• Underground mine operators should review their ventilation control plan and ensure there are clear specifications for air volumes required for the diluting of containments like diesel particulate matter (DPM), dust and heat when loading haul trucks with loaders. Several prohibition notices were issued due to inadequate air volumes to dilute (DPM) in some cases in non-compliance with the site ventilation control plan.
• Review the training provided to supervisors to take ventilation measurements to confirm air flow volumes when truck loading activities are to be undertaken. The frequency and timing of measurements should be considered to ensure that volumes are adequate and in line with the site ventilation control plan before tasks commence to ensure workers are not exposed to a hazard.
• Mine operators should review the segregation of light vehicles and pedestrians from heavy vehicles operating areas. Even if not all legacy areas can be segregated, every area that can be segregated puts in place an engineering level control for light vehicles and pedestrians from heavy vehicles. All new road designs should prioritise segregation controls such as dedicated light vehicle roads and protected pedestrian walkways.