Introducing risk categories

There are 3 risk categories, as follows:

Category A: Safety critical
A coal mine worker or prospective coal mine worker whose immediate action or inaction from an unavoidable and/or sudden medical incapacity may lead directly to a serious incident affecting others in the workplace.

Category B: Safety sensitive
A coal mine worker or prospective coal mine worker whose immediate action or inaction from an unavoidable and/or sudden medical incapacity may lead directly to a serious incident affecting themselves and is not likely to affect others in the workplace.

Category C: Non-safety sensitive
A coal mine worker or prospective coal mine worker whose immediate action or inaction from an unavoidable and/or sudden medical incapacity will not lead to a serious incident affecting others in the workplace and their work environment will not contribute adversely to the outcome.

Risk categories were introduced to assist approved medical practitioners in selecting the most appropriate medical investigations when assessing a coal mine worker’s fitness for work, particularly when a medical condition has been identified.

This approach helps reduce unnecessary follow-ups and testing, while supporting health assessments in line with relevant NSW Coal Industry Health Standards.

Employers are responsible for assessing coal mine worker positions and determining their corresponding risk category.

This assessment is based on the nature of the tasks performed and the potential consequences to themselves and others if the coal mine worker has an unavoidable and/or sudden medical incapacity.

As part of this process, employers may also consult with coal mine workers to help further support and inform the risk assessment.

NSW coal industry contractors should work closely with host site employers to ensure their risk categorisation aligns with the site requirements.

The introduction of the risk categories is aligned with the proposed replacement for the Coal Services Health Monitoring Requirements for Coal Mine Workers – Order No. 43. The replacement Order is expected to become operational in 2026 and will be assigned a new Order number. Once the replacement Order is operational, it will be a requirement for employers to nominate risk categories for their coal mine workers.

Until the replacement Order comes into effect, employers are not expected to nominate risk categories. Until then:

• it is optional for employers to designate a risk category for coal mine workers
• if no risk category is designated, the default will be ​Category A – safety critical unless the coal mine worker is clearly office-based.​

Coal Services has developed a Risk Category Guideline, outlining clear steps for employers when assigning risk categories to coal mine workers.

These guidelines, along with other information on risk categories, are available on the Coal Services website.

No. These templates are provided as an example; however, employers may choose to use them for that purpose.

Employers, whether they are contractors or mining operators, are responsible for assessing the risk category of coal mine worker positions.

However, contractors should also work closely with host site employers to ensure their risk categorisation aligns with the site requirements.

Risk categories and similar exposure groups (SEGs) serve different purposes in protecting the health and safety of coal mine workers.

Risk categories are used to determine the level of risk of a coal mine worker, considering the tasks performed by the coal mine worker and the associated risk to themselves and/or others in the event of an unavoidable and/or sudden medical incapacity.

SEGs are used to identify a group of coal mine workers who have the same general exposure to hazards. This can include: ​

• similarity and frequency of the tasks performed​
• the types of materials and processes used to complete tasks​
• similarity of the way tasks are performed​
• the types of exposures to hazardous chemicals, airborne contaminants, and noise and vibration.

The replacement Order has transitional arrangements in place to cover instances where an Order 43 periodic health assessment would be considered compliant. In this instance it will not be a requirement for every coal mine worker to undertake a new health assessment when the Order is gazetted.

Employers who engage an induction company are responsible for instructing their supplier on their business rules.

No. Any employee who does not meet the definition of a coal mine worker does not require a health assessment and therefore does not require a risk category for their position.

If the coal mine worker is changing positions within the same risk category or to a lower risk category, they do not require a new health assessment. However, a coal mine worker will require a new health assessment whenever the risk category is higher than previously assessed.

For example:

• If a coal mine worker has previously had a Category A: Safety critical health assessment and changes employment to another employer (same position and risk category), they can use the same health assessment.
• If a coal mine worker has previously had a Category B: Safety sensitive health assessment and changes employment to another employer but the position is Category A: safety critical, then they will require a new health assessment.

No. The risk categories must be determined by the employer.

A serious incident is an incident resulting in the death and/or permanently incapacitating illness and/or injury of a person.

A coal mine worker means a person who carries out work at a coal mine or a coal handling preparation plant for a person conducting a business or undertaking. It does not include a person who works in an environment in which they are not exposed to airborne contaminant, hazardous chemicals, and/or occupational noise unless the person has previously worked in an area of a coal mine or coal handling preparation plant in which they were exposed to airborne contaminant, hazardous chemicals, and/or occupational noise.

A prospective coal mine worker is a person who is seeking to commence work for the first time at a New South Wales coal mine or coal handling preparation plant for a person conducting a business or undertaking. It does not include a person who will work in an environment in which they are not exposed to airborne contaminant, hazardous chemicals, and/or occupational noise.

This will not be a requirement until the replacement Order is gazetted, which is expected in 2026.

The employer will be required to provide a risk category at the time of booking a health assessment or health assessment review appointment once the replacement Order is operational. The health assessment will not be able to proceed if this information is not provided.