NSW Resources Regulator lists compliance priorities for first half of 2023

NSW Resources Regulator lists compliance priorities for first half of 2023, outlining its focus areas for mining sites across the state through inspections, workshops and seminars.

From January to June 2023, the regulator will concentrate on psychosocial risk within the mining sector, alongside targeted inspection programs, workshops and seminars for industry stakeholders.

Officers will also visit worksites to confirm miners are meeting obligations under the WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022, a key control measure underpinning site safety across NSW mines.

“By publishing its compliance priorities, the Regulator aims to be transparent and increase voluntary compliance and community and industry confidence in regulatory activities,” the NSW Resources Regulator said on Thursday.

Why These 2023 Priorities Matter

Publishing these priorities gives operators clear visibility into what inspectors expect between January and June 2023. Transparent reporting builds trust between regulators, workers and industry bodies.

Psychosocial hazards remain a growing concern for site leaders, since mental health risks now sit alongside physical hazard control as core safety obligations. Businesses reviewing their internal documentation may find it useful to compare these priorities against related updates, such as the NSW Resources Regulator's compliance priorities for July–December 2023, to track how expectations shift throughout the year.

Key Focus Areas for January–June 2023

• Psychosocial risk management across mining operations
• Scheduled inspection programs at active sites
• Educational workshops and seminars for industry professionals
• On-site visits confirming compliance with the WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022

Operators seeking longer-term context can also review how priorities evolved beyond 2023, including the regulator's later objectives outlined for the first half of 2025 and the updated compliance priorities for January–June 2024.

Supporting Safety Compliance On Site

Meeting these expectations requires more than awareness alone — documented policies help demonstrate genuine safety commitment. A well-maintained First Aid Policy supports incident readiness, while a robust Compliance Evaluation Policy assists site leaders in benchmarking their systems against regulatory expectations.

Read the compliance priorities report here.