NSW Resources Regulator updates key compliance priorities

The NSW Resources Regulator updates key compliance priorities for the coming six months, giving mining and quarrying operators a clear picture of where enforcement attention will land.

The regulator said publishing this document serves to increase transparency, community and industry confidence in its regulatory activities, and increase levels of voluntary compliance across the sector.

What Are the Five Compliance Priorities?

The regulator aims to complete five compliance priorities between January and June this year. Each priority targets a specific safety risk area within resources operations, from new worker onboarding through to rehabilitation reforms.

• Onboarding and training for new workers
• Ignition of methane
• Entanglement around conveyors
• Rehabilitation reforms
• A review of the quarries sector to ensure compliance with Mining Act authorisations

Why These Priorities Matter for Safety

Onboarding and training gaps remain a leading contributor to incidents among new workers, making early-stage safety education a critical control measure. Ignition of methane poses a serious emergency risk in mining environments, particularly where ventilation and monitoring controls fall short.

Entanglement around conveyors continues to demand strict control protocols, as moving machinery presents ongoing hazards for site personnel. Rehabilitation reforms address long-term site safety and environmental obligations once mining activities conclude.

The quarries sector review ensures operators maintain compliance with Mining Act authorisations, reinforcing accountability across surface operations. Together, these priorities reflect the regulator's broader safety agenda for the resources sector.

Building Robust Safety Documentation

Operators preparing for these compliance priorities should review existing safety management systems, emergency response procedures and worker induction processes. Strong documentation supports both regulatory compliance and practical safety outcomes on site.

Businesses can strengthen their onboarding processes using resources such as the Human Resources Management Plans collection, which supports structured induction and training documentation. For broader policy support, the Human Resources Policies & Procedures range offers templates aligned with workplace safety obligations.

Organisations managing multiple HR-related safety documents may also benefit from the Human Resources Package, a bundled solution covering key compliance and safety documentation needs.

Staying Informed on Regulator Updates

The NSW Resources Regulator reviews its compliance priorities every six months, so operators should monitor future announcements closely. Previous updates, including the compliance priorities for January to June 2024 and the compliance priorities for July–December 2023, offer useful context for tracking how the regulator's focus evolves over time.

Click here to view the Compliance priorities for January to June 2022.