The result?
A customised audit tool providing a clear compliance roadmap, ahead of the September 2025 deadline.
Introduction
On 1 September 2024, amendments to the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 introduced new requirements for Principal Hazard Management Plans (PHMPs) in Queensland.
These changes expanded the list of PHMPs for underground coal mines and introduced PHMP requirements for surface coal mines, with a 12-month transition period to comply.
To prepare for these changes, a Queensland underground coal mine engaged Mines Rescue Consulting to review its existing Health and Safety Management System against the updated legislation and leading practice guidance from across Australia.
Situation
The mine already had a Health and Safety Management System in place but wanted a clear understanding of any opportunities before starting site risk assessments for the new PHMPs.
They needed an independent, detailed review to benchmark against the most relevant industry guidance and ensure readiness for the September 2025 compliance deadline.
Challenge
Mines Rescue Consulting developed a customised audit tool for each of the 14 PHMPs, incorporating:
- Queensland Coal Mining SOPs, Recognised Standards, and Guidance Notes
- NSW Mining Codes of Practice, Mine Design Guidelines, and Technical Reference Guides (used as additional guidance material where applicable)
- Cross-jurisdictional best practices
This multi-source approach allowed a comprehensive assessment of the site’s Health and Safety Management System, identifying opportunities and linking each to the most relevant guidance for remediation.
The result was a tailored compliance roadmap that aligned with both legislative requirements and industry best practice.
Outcome
The bespoke audit tool enables Queensland coal mining operations to assess their Health and Safety Management Systems against respected industry guidance for both opencut and underground mines. It provides:
- A clear compliance snapshot
- Targeted recommendations
- Direct links to source documents for ease of reference
This positioned the client to meet the 2025 deadline with confidence and a structured improvement plan.
Insights
The project confirmed that Australian coal operations face an overwhelming amount of guidance material when developing PHMPs, with no single point of reference.
Our audit tool addresses this by consolidating key regulatory and guidance materials into a single, user-friendly assessment framework.
This integration not only streamlines the evaluation process but also supports consistent, high-quality PHMP development across the business.