Product Overview

Summary: This Mine Site Rehabilitation Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, defensible process for safely closing, stabilising and rehabilitating mine sites in line with Australian WHS and environmental obligations. It guides your team through planning, earthworks, revegetation and monitoring so you can manage residual hazards, protect workers and the community, and demonstrate compliance to regulators and stakeholders.

Mine site rehabilitation is one of the most scrutinised stages of the mining lifecycle, carrying significant safety, environmental and reputational risk if it is not executed in a controlled and systematic way. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured framework for planning and implementing rehabilitation works, from hazard identification and design sign‑off through to construction, revegetation, demobilisation and long‑term monitoring. It focuses on controlling safety risks associated with unstable ground, legacy infrastructure, hazardous materials, heavy plant operation and changing site access conditions as the mine transitions from operational to closed.

The SOP is tailored to the Australian mining context, aligning with WHS legislation, state-based mining and rehabilitation requirements, and industry expectations around progressive closure. It helps organisations translate high‑level closure plans and approvals into practical, on‑the‑ground instructions that supervisors and contractors can follow. By standardising how rehabilitation works are scoped, risk‑assessed, communicated and verified, this document reduces ambiguity, supports contractor management, and provides clear evidence that due diligence has been applied to protect workers, neighbouring land users and the environment during and after rehabilitation activities.

Key Benefits

• Ensure rehabilitation activities are carried out in accordance with Australian WHS laws, mining approvals and rehabilitation commitments.
• Reduce the risk of worker injury from unstable ground, legacy structures, hazardous materials and heavy machinery during rehabilitation works.
• Standardise planning, risk assessment and supervision of rehabilitation projects across multiple sites and contractors.
• Demonstrate a transparent, auditable process to regulators, landholders and community stakeholders for how mine closure risks are managed.
• Support smoother transition from operations to closure by clearly defining responsibilities, controls and verification requirements at each stage.

Who is this for?

• Mine Managers
• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Environmental Managers
• Rehabilitation Project Managers
• Mining Engineers
• Geotechnical Engineers
• Contractor Supervisors
• Closure and Decommissioning Specialists
• Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Advisors

Hazards Addressed

• Unstable ground, voids and subsidence in backfilled pits, waste dumps and tailings facilities
• Slope instability and embankment failure during reshaping and earthworks
• Residual hazardous substances, contaminated soils and process chemicals
• Interaction between heavy mobile plant, light vehicles and ground personnel
• Working near water bodies, tailings storage facilities and constructed wetlands
• Exposure to dust, noise and vibration during dozing, grading and haulage
• Collapse or failure of abandoned underground openings and shafts
• Structural failure or uncontrolled demolition of redundant infrastructure (buildings, conveyors, pipelines)
• Heat stress, UV exposure and remote area work during extended outdoor rehabilitation tasks
• Working near high‑risk flora and fauna habitats (snakes, insects, thick vegetation) during revegetation and weed control
• Fatigue and isolation risks associated with reduced staffing levels during closure phases
• Changes to traffic routes, signage and access controls as areas are progressively closed or handed back

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Authorities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Approvals
• 5.0 Planning and Design Interface for Rehabilitation Works
• 6.0 Pre‑Start Requirements and Site Readiness Checks
• 7.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Measures
• 8.0 Access, Traffic Management and Exclusion Zones During Rehabilitation
• 9.0 Safe Operation of Plant and Equipment for Earthworks and Reshaping
• 10.0 Management of Legacy Infrastructure and Services (Isolation, Demolition and Removal)
• 11.0 Handling and Management of Contaminated Materials and Hazardous Substances
• 12.0 Revegetation, Topsoil Handling and Erosion Control Procedures
• 13.0 Working Near Tailings Facilities, Water Bodies and Steep Slopes
• 14.0 Environmental Protection Measures (Dust, Noise, Runoff and Waste)
• 15.0 Communication, Induction and Contractor Management Requirements
• 16.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response During Rehabilitation Activities
• 17.0 Monitoring, Inspections and Verification of Rehabilitation Works
• 18.0 Handover, Sign‑off and Documentation for Closed Areas
• 19.0 Training, Competency and Consultation
• 20.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Rehabilitation SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts and Regulations
• Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 (Qld) and equivalent state-based mining safety regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 Environmental management systems
• ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams and Closure (as applicable)
• State-based mine rehabilitation and closure guidelines (e.g. WA Mine Closure Plan Guidelines, NSW Rehabilitation Reform requirements)