The New South Wales Resources Regulator has released its findings from targeted assessments on psychosocial hazard awareness in small mines during the first six months of 2024.
The Regulator assessed 85 mines from January to the end of June. Across those mines, a total 63 compliance notices were issued.
Of those notices, 53 were recommendations for improvement on existing practices in place to combat psychosocial hazards.
“The Regulator is taking steps to address psychosocial hazards and sexual harassment within the NSW mining industry,” the NSW Regulator said.
“This initiative is part of the ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all workers in the sector.”
Under work health and safety legislation, any incident resulting in a notifiable injury or illness, including those stemming from psychosocial or physical harm, must be reported to the Regulator.
Overall, the Regulator found strong compliance across the sector, with scores reflecting the majority of small mines are aware of the legislation in place around psychosocial hazards and are taking steps to minimise the impact of those hazards on workers.
The Regulator said small mine operators must ensure psychosocial risks on site are adequately assessed and documented management systems are in place for:
- training workers and supervisors with psychosocial awareness topics
- confidential reporting processes for workers and contractors at site
- confidential investigation processes including use of external investigation services
- confidential reporting processes for psychosocial complaints
- timely reporting of psychosocial complaints to the Regulator
- provision of employee assistance programs.
Safe Work Australia has a broader definition of psychosocial hazards, defining a it as anything that could cause psychological harm, such as low job control, lack of role clarity, isolated work, traumatic events or material, and so on.
“Psychosocial hazards can create stress,” Safe Work said. “This can cause psychological or physical harm.
“Stress itself is not an injury. But if workers are stressed often, over a long time, or the level of stress is high, it can cause harm.
“Psychological harm may include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders,
“Physical harm may include musculoskeletal injuries, chronic disease or fatigue related injuries.”
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