NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) conducting safety reporting survey

The NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) is conducting a safety reporting survey, commissioning the NSW Resources Regulator to gather feedback on how safety concerns get reported across the State's coal mining industry on its behalf.

In short: MSAC wants to understand current reporting practices at coal mines so gaps in safety management systems can be identified and addressed before serious injuries or illnesses occur.

The survey follows recommendations from the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry into a serious incident at the Grosvenor coal mine in May 2020. That inquiry highlighted weaknesses in how safety concerns move through management systems, prompting regulators across jurisdictions to review their own reporting frameworks.

Why the MSAC Safety Reporting Survey Matters

"We've created a quick 6-minute anonymous online MSAC safety reporting survey where your responses will provide crucial feedback in relation to the reporting of safety concerns in NSW coal mine sites," NSW Resources Regulator said.

For coal mining industry workers, effective reporting notification processes form the backbone of any credible safety management system. When workers hesitate to report hazards, control measures often fail before they're even tested, leaving gaps that safety management can't close in time.

The survey targets several areas relevant to health and safety management across NSW coal sites, including:

• Barriers workers face when raising safety concerns through existing management systems
• Confidence levels in current reporting channels used by mine site management
• Awareness of statutory obligations tied to notification of hazards
• Perceptions of how management responds to reported concerns

Coal Mining Industry Context

Coal mine work carries risks that demand robust safety management systems capable of catching issues early. The Grosvenor incident demonstrated how quickly control failures can escalate when reporting pathways aren't trusted or well understood by industry workers.

MSAC will monitor detailed analysis of survey responses to inform future guidance on safety management practices across NSW mining operations. This work builds on prior findings covered in our reports on the NSW Mine Safety Report and the NSW yearly mine safety performance report.

Findings from similar surveys have previously shaped updates reflected in the NSW Annual Mine Safety Performance Report, giving industry stakeholders a clear view of trends across health and safety management systems over time.

How Coal Mines Can Strengthen Reporting Systems

Strong safety management doesn't happen by accident. Mine operators looking to improve their internal systems might consider:

• Reviewing existing safety software to ensure reporting channels are accessible and trusted by workers
• Auditing current reporting policies against statutory requirements for notification of hazards
• Benchmarking internal survey tools, such as a discomfort survey, against sector best practice
• Ensuring supporting documents, including an electrical safety policy, align with broader management systems

Coal mining companies seeking assistance updating their safety management systems can reach out through our support page for guidance on compliant documentation.

Access the Survey

Coal mine workers and industry professionals across NSW are encouraged to participate. Responses remain anonymous, and the short time commitment makes participation straightforward for busy work schedules.

To access the survey, click here.