An extra layer of law for one of the highest-hazard industries
Mining and quarrying carry their own dedicated regulations on top of the HSWA: the Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016. Operators must appoint a site senior executive, everyone in a safety-critical role must hold a current certificate of competence, and operations must identify and control their principal hazards — ground instability, vehicles, explosives, dust and emergencies. WorkSafe's specialist extractives team oversees the industry.
Because of the severity of what can go wrong, the extractives industry has its own regulations — the Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016 — layered on top of the HSWA and the general workplace regulations. WorkSafe's specialist High Hazards Unit extractives team regulates the sector.
The operator must appoint a site senior executive (SSE) with overall responsibility for the health and safety of mine or quarry workers and others at the operation. The appointment must be notified to WorkSafe in writing, and WorkSafe can deem an appointment unsuitable within 30 days. The SSE role anchors how the operation is run safely day to day.
Everyone in a safety-critical role must hold a current certificate of competence (CoC). Roles include the SSE, mine and quarry managers (graded by type and scale), tunnel managers, coal mine deputies and underviewers, electrical and mechanical superintendents, mine surveyors, ventilation officers and winding engine drivers. Certificates are administered by the New Zealand Mining Board of Examiners, with requirements set in a safe work instrument and ongoing professional development required.
Higher-risk operations must assess and control their principal hazards through documented management plans. These typically include ground or strata instability, roads and vehicle operating areas (mobile plant), explosives, health hazards (primarily dust, including respirable crystalline silica), gas, fire and explosion (especially in coal), and emergency management. Quarries and alluvial mines have proportionate, graduated requirements based on their risk. See silica & engineered stone and plant & machinery safety.
Alongside the principal hazards, operations manage ventilation, dust, noise and vibration, mobile plant and traffic, working at height and near edges, confined spaces, and emergency response and escape. Worker participation has specific provisions in the mining sector under the HSWA.
Keep your hazard plans and competency records current in one place. Book a demo and we'll show you how it works — free 30-day trial included.
Yes. The Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016 apply on top of the HSWA and general workplace regulations, and WorkSafe's extractives team regulates the sector.
The person an operator must appoint with overall responsibility for the health and safety of workers and others at a mining or quarrying operation. The appointment must be notified to WorkSafe.
Everyone in a safety-critical role, including the site senior executive, mine and quarry managers, tunnel managers, superintendents, surveyors and ventilation officers. Certificates are administered by the NZ Mining Board of Examiners.
The major hazards an operation must specifically manage, such as ground instability, vehicles and mobile plant, explosives, dust and other health hazards, gas and fire, and emergency management.
Requirements are graduated by risk. Higher-risk quarries and alluvial mines follow a similar principal-hazard process to mines, while lower-risk operations have proportionate requirements.
