Workplace health and safety regulations in Australia are evolving and 2025 has brought significant updates that directly affect mining operations. From the new NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 to enhanced requirements for risk management and training, these changes demand attention from anyone responsible for safety compliance on mine sites.
If your operation spans multiple states or you’re navigating the complexities of national harmonisation, understanding these regulatory shifts isn’t optional it’s critical to keeping your workforce safe and your operation compliant.
What Changed in 2025 ?
NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025
On 1 October 2025, the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 commenced in New South Wales, replacing the previous 2017 regulation. Whilst many provisions remain consistent with the previous framework, there are important updates that affect mining operations:
Enhanced risk-based approach: The updated regulation emphasises proactive risk management. Operations must conduct exhaustive hazard identification and implement robust control measures, moving beyond reactive safety protocols.
Systematic risk assessments: Mining operations are now required to demonstrate comprehensive, ongoing risk assessment processes. Ad-hoc or infrequent reviews are no longer sufficient.
Mandatory control measures: The regulation mandates specific controls for identified hazards, with a stronger focus on the hierarchy of controls elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE as a last resort. For NSW-based mining operations, compliance with the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013 and the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 remains mandatory. These mine-specific laws align with general WHS legislation whilst addressing the unique hazards of mining environments.
For NSW-based mining operations, compliance with the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013 and the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 remains mandatory. These mine-specific laws align with general WHS legislation whilst addressing the unique hazards of mining environments.
National Trends: Increased Training Requirements
Across Australia, mining safety regulations have introduced a 30% increase in worker safety training hours. This isn’t a cosmetic change it reflects a genuine shift towards ensuring every worker on site understands the specific hazards they face and how to mitigate them.
This increase applies to:
- Induction training for new employees
- Refresher training for existing workers
- Specialist training for high-risk activities (including OTR tyre fitting)
For operations managing OTR tyres, this is particularly relevant. Tyre-related incidents remain one of the major safety hazards in mining, and proper training on tyre handling, pressure monitoring, and fitment procedures can prevent catastrophic failures.
The Challenge: Jurisdictional Inconsistencies
Despite efforts towards national harmonisation through the Model Work Health and Safety laws, significant inconsistencies persist across Australian states and territories. If your organisation operates across multiple jurisdictions, you’re navigating a fragmented regulatory landscape.
Key Variations Across States
| Jurisdiction | Notable Differences |
| Queensland | Notable divergence from Model WHS Law. Different approach to serious offences, industrial manslaughter provisions, and imputed conduct rules. |
| Victoria | Has not adopted Model WHS Law. Operates under Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. Significant structural differences in obligations and compliance. |
| WA, SA, Tas, NT | Adopted Model WHS Law with minor variations. Generally aligned but with state-specific amendments to risk management principles and specific obligations. |
What this means in practice: If you operate mines in both Queensland and New South Wales, you need distinct compliance frameworks for each state. The same applies if you have operations in Victoria versus Western Australia. Assuming one set of procedures works everywhere is a compliance risk
New Focus Areas: Technology and Wellbeing
AI, IoT, and Automation
As mining operations integrate more automated machinery, remote operation systems, and sensor-based technologies, 2025 regula
tions now emphasise the safe integration and management of these technologies.
Key requirements include:
Dual-layered safety systems: Automated systems must have both physical redundancies and secure digital controls to prevent unauthorised access and system failures.
Cybersecurity protocols: Operations using automated equipment must implement cybersecurity measures to protect safety-critical systems from potential breaches.
Real-time monitoring: Constant network surveillance to detect and address potential breaches that could endanger operational safety.
For OTR tyre management, this is directly relevant. Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and IoT sensors are increasingly common on mine sites. Regulations now require that these systems are secure, reliable, and integrated into broader site safety protocols.
Worker Mental Health and Wellbeing
2025 regulations explicitly mandate corporate responsibility for the psychological health and wellbeing of employees. This isn’t a peripheral concern it’s a core safety obligation.
Mining operations must now provide:
- Regular mental health check-ins and confidential support hotlines
- Integrated mental health training in safety inductions
Roster designs that minimise fatigue and maximise access to psychosocial support networks For remote mine sites with FIFO workers, this is particularly important. Long shifts, isolation, and the physical demands of mining work create unique mental health risks. Ignoring these risks isn’t just ethically questionable it’s now a regulatory breach.
Practical Steps for Compliance
If you’re responsible for WHS compliance at a mining operation, here’s what you need to do:
1. Review and Update Your WHS Management System
Ensure your management system reflects the 2025 regulatory changes. This includes updated risk assessment procedures, enhanced training protocols, and documented control measures. If you’re operating in NSW, confirm alignment with the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025.
2. Audit Your Training Programs
With the 30% increase in training requirements, now is the time to assess whether your current programs are adequate. For OTR tyre operations, this means ensuring all tyre fitters and technicians have up-to-date Cert II qualifications and competency-based training that covers:
- Safe tyre handling and fitment procedures
- Pressure monitoring and tyre inspection protocols
- Emergency response for tyre-related incidents
At TRG, our Training Division provides industry-recognised OTR tyre training that meets current regulatory standards and prepares workers for the specific hazards they’ll encounter on mine sites.
3. Assess Technology Integration and Cybersecurity
If your operation uses automated equipment or sensor-based monitoring (like TPMS for tyres), conduct a cybersecurity and safety systems audit. Ensure that:
Systems have physical and digital redundancies
Access controls prevent unauthorised system changes
Real-time monitoring detects anomalies or breaches
4. Implement Mental Health and Wellbeing Programs
Review your current mental health support systems. Are workers aware of confidential support services? Do your inductions include mental health training? Are rosters designed to minimise fatigue? If not, these are now compliance gaps that need addressing.
5. Understand Your State-Specific Obligation’s
If you operate across multiple jurisdictions, develop state-specific compliance documentation. Don’t assume a one-size-fits-all approach will work especially for operations in Queensland or Victoria, where regulations differ significantly from the Model WHS framework.
Why OTR Tyre Management is Safety-Critical
OTR tyres are one of the most significant safety hazards on mine sites. A tyre failure on a haul truck can result in catastrophic incidents, including vehicle rollovers, fires, and serious injuries. That’s why proper tyre management isn’t just about cost efficiency it’s a safety imperative.
The 2025 regulatory changes reinforce this. Enhanced training requirements, proactive risk management, and systematic hazard identification all apply directly to OTR tyre operations. If your workers aren’t adequately trained, if your tyres aren’t regularly inspected, or if your pressure monitoring systems aren’t properly integrated, you’re not just risking equipment damage you’re risking lives.
At TRG, we specialise in delivering tyre management services that align with current WHS regulations. From on-site tyre maintenance and TPMS integration to comprehensive training programs, we help mining operations meet their safety obligations whilst reducing costs and maximising equipment uptime.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 WHS regulatory changes aren’t superficial tweaks they represent a fundamental shift towards proactive, comprehensive safety management. For mining operations, compliance requires more than ticking boxes. It demands genuine commitment to risk identification, worker training, technology integration, and mental health support.
If you’re unsure whether your operation meets the new standards particularly for OTR tyre management now is the time to act. Waiting until an audit or incident reveals gaps is too late.
TRG can help you navigate these regulatory changes, from training your workforce to implementing best-practice tyre management systems that meet current safety requirements. Get in touch to discuss how we can support your compliance and safety goals.
