Underground Mining Operations and Ventilation SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers underground mining operations and ventilation activities, including entry, inspections, equipment operation, maintenance, abnormal conditions and sign-off. It supports planning for ventilation, ground conditions, water, plant movement, electrical energy, dust and emergency risks.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan pre-shift work, entry and communications
• Inspect ventilation systems and underground accessways
• Maintain ventilation, pumps and electrical plant
• Manage water ingress and wet working conditions
• Assess seismicity, strata and ground movement
• Operate the continuous miner
• Install roof and rock bolts
• Operate load haul dump machines and underground locomotives
• Carry out shaft sinking and servicing activities
• Respond to abnormal conditions, clean up and sign off

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out underground mining operations and ventilation activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WA), rr 648, 652-654 and 656-656A: underground air quality, ventilation, monitoring, plans and diesel units.
• Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WA), Schedule 19: principal mining hazard controls for strata instability, inundation/inrush and shafts/winding.
• Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WA), Schedule 26: statutory underground supervisors, ventilation officers and winding engine drivers.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012, Schedule 19: matters for ground/strata instability, inundation/inrush and shafts/winding management plans.
• Excavation Work Code of Practice: underground excavation hazards, ground support, mechanical ventilation, dewatering, mobile plant and shaft controls.
• Applicable state or territory WHS Act and WHS Regulations, including duties to manage risks, consult workers, provide safe plant, training, supervision and emergency arrangements.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections