Compliance data

Inspections and audits are fundamental to our compliance program and help drive the Queensland resources sector towards the vision of Zero Serious Harm. During inspections and audits, we provide safety advice to sites, and if risk is not being effectively managed, issue notices and directives requiring sites to improve or stop work until it can be done safely. The program provides important security, safety and health information which we share with industry stakeholders and use to continuously improve our regulatory work.

FY2024: Full year planned activities (July 2023 to June 2024)

Inspectorate	Inspection (plan)	Audit (plan)
Explosives	350	20
Coal Mines	400	120
Mineral Mines & Quarries	970	7
Petroleum & Gas	1250	70

FY 2024 compliance activity—Quarterly planned vs actual activities
(July 2023 to Mar 2024)

Inspectorate	Inspection (plan)	Inspection (actual)	Unannounced Inspections (%)
Explosives	263	276A	31%
Coal Mines	300	350	17%
Mineral Mines & Quarries	728	740C	23%
Petroleum & Gas	938	1185	18%

Audit

Inspectorate	Audit (plan)	Audit (actual)	Complaints investigated
Explosives	15	13B	232
Coal Mines	90	93	44
Mineral Mines & Quarries	5	7	26
Petroleum & Gas	53	39D	143

Notes

A: Inspections Explosives – the number of inspections are ahead of schedule as a result of an increased focus on inspections for the quarter.

B: Audits Explosives – Audits are lower than anticipated as a result of operational adjustments.

C: Inspections MMQ – Inspections to date are ahead of schedule as a result of a focus on compliance programs of work.

D: Audits Petroleum & Gas – Audits were lower than plan due to additional risk-based inspections from data sourced from reactive work.

Previous data

Background to inspections, audits and complaint investigations

Inspections are typically undertaken by a single inspector and are focused on a particular hazard, activity, topic or work area. An inspection is usually completed in a single day but requires planning and follow-up action.

All inspections are planned but may be either announced or unannounced, depending on the inspection’s focus. We aim for 10-20% of inspections to be unannounced, based on sound regulatory practice. The actual number of unannounced inspections is driven by assessing current activities and risks in the resources sector.

Unannounced inspections are valuable for performing spot-checks on operating practices in response to a worker complaint and for verifying critical risk controls (such as equipment guarding) are applied.

Unannounced inspections show industry there is a reasonable chance an inspector will show up without warning – but whether an inspection is announced or unannounced, inspectors are not restricted in what they look at and who they speak with.

Audits are in-depth reviews of safety and health management systems, risk management plans and procedures, and implementation. They can involve reviewing large volumes of information and discussions with site personnel.

The proportion of planned inspections and audits varies from sector to sector. For example, in the mineral mines and quarries sector, where we regulate thousands of smaller operations like quarries and small-scale mines, inspections take up a more significant part of our compliance program. However, for more extensive coal mining operations involving complex safety systems, a greater emphasis on audit is appropriate.

Complaint investigations are undertaken when we receive information about an alleged breach of the law or potential danger to workers. Complaints should generally be raised first at the site with supervisors or site safety and health representatives. If not addressed adequately in the workplace, an inspector will log the complaint and conduct an investigation, which could involve a site inspection. The complaint process is confidential, and the results are provided to the complainant once completed.