Summary
The Act requires certain incidents to be reported to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) immediately. Supervisors must know which incidents are notifiable and what the reporting obligations are.
What This Means on Shift
If a notifiable incident occurs on your shift, you must secure the scene, ensure injured persons receive treatment, and notify your manager immediately. The mine manager has an obligation to notify DMIRS. Do not disturb the scene of a serious incident without authorisation.
- Secure the scene immediately after a serious incident
- Ensure injured persons receive first aid and medical treatment
- Notify your supervisor or mine manager without delay
- Do not disturb the scene — evidence must be preserved
- DMIRS must be notified for all notifiable incidents
Where to Find It
Incident reporting obligations are set out in sections 30 to 32 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. Section 30 covers notification of accidents. Section 31 covers preservation of the scene. Section 32 covers investigations.
- Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 – s.30 (notification of accidents)
- Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 – s.31 (preservation of scene)
- Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 – s.32 (investigations)
Key Points
Notifiable incidents include fatalities, serious bodily injuries, dangerous occurrences, and certain near misses. The mine manager must notify DMIRS immediately by phone, followed by a written report within 24 hours.
- Fatalities must be reported to DMIRS immediately
- Serious injuries must be reported as soon as practicable
- Dangerous occurrences (near misses with serious potential) must be reported
- The scene must not be disturbed without DMIRS authorisation
- Internal incident reports must also be completed per site procedures