The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries will hold the seminars at Wollongong, Lithgow and Singleton on the implementation of the new safety legislation for the NSW coal mining industry.

The seminars will address the new regulatory arrangements following the commencement of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act 2002, the Coal Mine Health and Safety Regulation 2006 and the extension of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 to coal workplaces.

The three-hour seminars will cover transitional arrangements, including what is required from the commencement date and which requirements are delayed. It will also examine notable differences in the legislation; high-risk activities; notifiable incidents and quarterly reporting; and registration of plant and licensing.

Morning and afternoon sessions will be held at each venue to enable companies to spread their workforce attendance and minimise the impact on operations. The NSW DPI said there would be an opportunity for questions during the seminars and there was no charge for attendance.

“Mine management are strongly encouraged to allow check inspectors and other appropriate OHS employee representatives to attend,” the department said.

The seminars will be held at Wollongong on Tuesday December 12; Lithgow on Wednesday December 13; and Singleton on Friday December 15.

For further information about the seminars contact Blythe Hamilton at NSW DPI Mine Safety on 02 4931 6416 or email minesafety@dpi.nsw.gov.au