Mine Ventilation Management SWMS
Underground mine ventilation — surveys, auxiliary fan operation, ventilation circuit changes, gas monitoring (CO/NOx/CH4/O2), appointment of Ventilation Officer. Aligned to NSW Ventilation Control Plan, QLD CMSHR 2017, and WA Underground Ventilation (Metalliferous Mines) Guideline.
SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS covers underground mine ventilation work across metalliferous and coal operations — primary and auxiliary fan installation and relocation, ventilation circuit changes and door/regulator adjustments, ventilation survey and pressure-quantity measurement, gas monitoring equipment installation and calibration, vent bag and ducting installation, refuge chamber commissioning, diesel particulate matter (DPM) controls, and heat-stress management in deep or hot operations. It is written for appointed Ventilation Officers, ventilation engineers, auxiliary fan installers, underground electrical and mechanical crews, and the contractor workforce engaged on ventilation infrastructure changes under the site's Principal Hazard Management Plan. Every control in this document has been authored against the WA Underground Ventilation (Metalliferous Mines) Guideline (April 2026 update), the NSW Ventilation Control Plan Technical Reference Guide, and the QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 statutory framework.
Mine ventilation is not a Schedule 1 High-Risk Construction Work category under the WHS Regulation — it is regulated as a principal mining hazard under the NSW WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022, the QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017, and the WA Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022. Ventilation is an explicitly nominated principal hazard requiring a dedicated Principal Hazard Management Plan and, in NSW, a site-specific Ventilation Control Plan. QLD coal operations must appoint a statutory Ventilation Officer under CMSHR 2017 Chapter 4 Part 9 Division 2. This SWMS does not replace the PHMP or Ventilation Control Plan — it sits underneath them and operationalises the day-to-day ventilation tasks at worker level, giving supervisors a defensible, auditable document for daily pre-start briefings, circuit-change permits, and regulator inspections. The controls reflect the lessons of the 2020 Grosvenor coal mine methane ignition inquiry and the September 2024 Austar Coal Mine fatality report.
Hazards identified
12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Loss of consciousness, asphyxiation, and fatal collapse in unventilated development ends, after ventilation failure, or behind failed stoppings.
Fatal methane ignition and explosion; the mechanism behind Pike River (NZ 2010), Moura No.2 (QLD 1994), and the Grosvenor 2020 ignition event.
Chronic lung disease, diesel-induced occupational asthma, and Group 1 carcinogen exposure (IARC 2012); exposure standard 0.1 mg/m³ submicron elemental carbon.
Progressive fouling of working-face atmosphere with diesel, dust, and gases; masks true exposure from single-pass sampling and undermines the entire ventilation design.
Fatal CO poisoning; action threshold 30 ppm, evacuation trigger typically 50 ppm, and immediate danger to life and health at 1200 ppm.
Acute pulmonary oedema and chemical pneumonitis; NO2 exposure standard 2 ppm TWA and the ANFO post-blast re-entry hazard par excellence.
Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and fatigue-driven accidents; wet-bulb globe temperature above 28 degC triggers work-rest cycles, 32 degC generally unacceptable.
Chronic silicosis and accelerated silicosis; RCS exposure standard 0.05 mg/m³ 8-hr TWA, declining under the WES-to-WEL transition from 1 December 2026.
Crush injury, amputation, and fatal impact from unguarded impellers or inadequate isolation during primary or auxiliary fan maintenance.
Arc flash and electrocution during fan starter or VSD work; compounded by the critical-production role of primary fans.
Long-term lung cancer risk from radon decay product inhalation; ARPANSA-regulated in Australia with exposure limits measured in working level months.
Rapid spread of fire and toxic products of combustion through the mine, compromising escape routes and refuge chamber isolation; the precipitating mechanism of multiple Australian mine disasters.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Operate strictly within the site Ventilation Control Plan (NSW) or ventilation management scheme under the PHMP (WA, QLD metalliferous) or the Ventilation Officer's scheme of ventilation (QLD coal). All circuit changes require permit-to-work authorised by the VO or nominated competent person before implementation.
- 2Appoint a statutory Ventilation Officer per QLD CMSHR 2017 Chapter 4 Part 9 Division 2 for all QLD coal operations, or a competent ventilation engineer for metalliferous and NSW operations. The VO has statutory responsibility for ventilation adequacy, gas monitoring, and circuit management.
- 3Conduct quarterly ventilation surveys measuring pressure, quantity, and velocity at every major split, return, and working face. Survey results reconciled against the ventilation model and used to recalibrate fan duties, regulator settings, and the ventilation management scheme.
- 4Real-time gas monitoring network covering CH4, CO, CO2, O2, NO2, and DPM with alarms and trip interlocks wired to the surface control room. CO alarm set at 30 ppm action threshold; CH4 alarm set at 1.25 percent general body (power off at 1.25%, withdrawal at 2.0% per QLD CMSHR); O2 alarm set at 19.5 percent minimum.
- 5Primary and auxiliary fan redundancy with automatic changeover on failure. Primary fan availability target 99 percent with twin-fan installation for critical production circuits; auxiliary fans selected as forcing or exhausting per development end risk assessment.
- 6Lock-out/tag-out on all fan isolation per AS/NZS 4836 before any fan maintenance, impeller inspection, or VSD work. Two-person rule for electrical isolation; verify dead at the starter terminals using a calibrated voltage tester before touching any internal components.
- 7Ducting integrity inspected every shift on active ends and daily on established auxiliary circuits. Leakage target less than 10 percent per 100 metres of duct run. Torn duct replaced before next deposition; brattice stoppings pressure-tested at commissioning.
- 8Diesel particulate matter controls: Tier 4 Final engines on new fleet purchases, diesel particulate filters (DPF) with differential pressure monitoring, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NOx, ventilation-on-demand systems where available, and personal DPM monitoring at least annually per worker on the critical roster.
- 9Refuge chamber coverage per WA and NSW guidelines — typically one chamber per 750 metres of travel from any working place — with independent compressed air supply, food, water, CO2 scrubbing, and direct communications to surface. Chambers inspected weekly and commissioning-tested annually.
- 10Self-rescuer device (W65 or equivalent) personally issued to every underground worker. Training in deployment conducted at induction and refreshed annually; chemical oxygen or compressed oxygen devices rated minimum 30 minutes.
- 11Ventilation circuit change management procedure: permit-to-work authorised by VO, pre-change risk assessment, gas monitoring before and after change, and sign-off against the ventilation model. Changes without permit are a statutory offence in QLD coal under CMSHR 2017.
- 12Post-blast re-entry timing dictated by gas monitoring, not clock. Minimum 30-minute purge for typical development blasts; re-entry only after CO below 30 ppm and NO2 below 2 ppm measured at the face by a competent person with calibrated portable monitor.
- 13Heat-stress management: work-rest cycles triggered at WBGT 28 degC, full stand-down at 32 degC, and mandatory hydration, acclimatisation, and heat-stress awareness training for all workers entering deep or thermally-loaded zones. Refrigeration cooling plants where primary ventilation alone cannot maintain temperature below threshold.
- 14All ventilation crew hold current underground competencies (RII30620 metalliferous or coal equivalent), confined space entry, fall-arrest training per AS/NZS 1891.1, and gas-monitor calibration and use training. Ventilation Officers hold the statutory QLD CMSHR certificate of competency or state metalliferous equivalent.
- 15Psychosocial controls per WHS Regulation 2025 r55A-55D: 12-hour shift maximum for underground roles, fatigue management plan integrated with the site FMP, and mandatory handover briefings with VO or ventilation engineer at shift change covering gas trends, circuit state, and active permits.
- 16PPE baseline: hard hat with cap lamp, self-rescuer, hi-vis long-sleeve shirt and trouser, steel-cap boots, hearing protection near primary fans (AS/NZS 1270), P2 or P3 respirator for dust and DPM zones, personal gas monitor (four-gas minimum: O2, CO, CH4, H2S), and chemical-resistant gloves for fan maintenance.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Binding NSW guidance establishing the structure, content, and review of the statutory Ventilation Control Plan required under the WHS(MPS)R 2022.
WA regulator guideline establishing ventilation system design, monitoring, gas limits, and auxiliary fan management for metalliferous underground operations.
Statutory appointment and duties of the Ventilation Officer; methane, CO, and O2 limits; ventilation scheme requirements for all QLD coal mines.
Binding guidance for fan starter, VSD, and electrical isolation work; arc flash and live work requirements apply directly to ventilation electrical tasks.
Applies to fan chamber entry, ducting internal inspection, and certain refuge chamber commissioning activities.
Hearing protection selection for workers exposed to primary fan noise levels typically 95-105 dB(A).
NSW mines department guideline establishing ventilation engineering practice for underground coal operations.
Who this is for
- →Statutory Ventilation Officers appointed under QLD CMSHR 2017 and competent ventilation engineers appointed under WA and NSW mining regulations.
- →Underground electrical and mechanical crews engaged on primary and auxiliary fan installation, relocation, and maintenance.
- →Ventilation technicians conducting quarterly surveys, gas monitor installation and calibration, and ducting integrity inspections.
- →Mine managers and Statutory Site Senior Executives with regulatory accountability for ventilation as a principal hazard.
- →HSE leads and PHMP owners preparing for regulator inspection, mining inspectorate audit, or post-incident review.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word (.docx) document delivered within 24 hours of payment.
- ✓Title page with mine name, ABN, Ventilation Officer or ventilation engineer name, SSE, and revision date fields.
- ✓Signed approval block for Mine Manager, SSE, Ventilation Officer, and Underground Manager.
- ✓Hazard register with the 12 hazards above, each with consequence, inherent risk, controls, and residual risk scored on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix.
- ✓Controls section cross-referenced to WA Guideline, NSW VCP TRG, QLD CMSHR 2017, and the site PHMP and ventilation scheme.
- ✓Ventilation circuit change permit-to-work template and circuit-change risk assessment proforma.
- ✓Gas monitoring alarm and trip threshold schedule covering CH4, CO, NO2, O2, CO2, and DPM with statutory limits cited.
- ✓Consultation record for HSR sign-off and worker input per Section 47 of the WHS Act.
- ✓Daily pre-start sign-on register with ventilation state field and VO correspondence log.
- ✓Legislation schedule pre-populated with state-by-state variance table (NSW, QLD, WA, SA, VIC, NT, TAS).
Worked example
A WA Goldfields nickel mine is relocating a 55 kW auxiliary fan from the original heading on Level 13 into a new cross-cut to support a development advance to a fresh orebody. The ventilation engineer completes this SWMS before mobilising the underground electrical crew: the scope triggers ventilation circuit change management under the site PHMP, requires permit-to-work authorised by the competent person, and must operate within the WA Underground Ventilation Guideline (April 2026 update) limits. Pre-change gas monitoring confirms CO below 30 ppm, CH4 at background, and O2 at 20.8 percent at the new fan position; the fan is electrically isolated at the starter, lock-out/tag-out applied per AS/NZS 4836, and the existing duct run broken at the junction. The new 800 mm rigid duct is installed in 3-metre sections with steel banding, the fan is re-energised on a verify-dead-prove-live-prove-dead sequence, and post-change pressure-quantity survey confirms 22 m³/s at the new heading against the 18 m³/s design target. The SWMS is signed by the Mine Manager, SSE, ventilation engineer, and underground electrical supervisor; the daily pre-start briefing on day 2 records post-change gas readings and no recirculation detected at the survey crosscut. Reference: the QLD Coal Mines Board of Inquiry into the 6 May 2020 Grosvenor methane ignition (5 workers seriously burned) identified ventilation adequacy and gas-drainage integration failures as root causes — the findings drove updates to QLD CMSHR ventilation provisions and informed the controls in this SWMS; the Austar Coal Mine fatality of September 2024 reinforced the ongoing criticality of the VO role.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — Section 19 primary duty of care; Section 27 officer due diligence; Section 47 worker consultation.
- WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) — r55A-55D psychosocial hazards; r49-54 general risk management framework.
- WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 (NSW) — r26-33 principal hazard management plans; ventilation is a nominated principal hazard requiring dedicated Ventilation Control Plan.
- QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 — Chapter 4 Part 9 Division 2 Ventilation Officer duties and statutory gas limits.
- QLD Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 — ventilation management for metalliferous and quarry operations.
- WA Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 — underground ventilation, gas management, and refuge chamber requirements.
- Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 (QLD) and Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 2002 (NSW) — parent legislation governing coal industry safety.
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (Cth) — radon and radiation exposure in uranium and some metalliferous operations.
Frequently asked questions
Does this SWMS replace the site Ventilation Control Plan or PHMP?
No. The NSW Ventilation Control Plan is a statutory document required under WHS(MPS)R 2022 and authored by the competent ventilation engineer. The WA and QLD equivalents sit under the PHMP. This SWMS operationalises the day-to-day ventilation tasks beneath the VCP and PHMP; you must have both in place before using this document.
Does this SWMS cover both metalliferous and coal underground operations?
Yes, with a caveat. The base document addresses both but coal-specific gas thresholds (methane 1.25 percent power-off, 2.0 percent withdrawal) and the statutory Ventilation Officer appointment under QLD CMSHR 2017 apply only to coal. The Word template includes separate sections for coal-specific controls that you enable or disable depending on commodity.
Is the statutory Ventilation Officer role required in every Australian jurisdiction?
No. The formal VO appointment is a QLD CMSHR 2017 requirement for coal. NSW requires a competent person under the WHS(MPS)R 2022 with responsibilities for the Ventilation Control Plan; WA requires a competent ventilation engineer under the WA WHS(Mines)R 2022 without the specific VO title. All three roles attract equivalent professional accountability.
How does the 1 December 2026 WES-to-WEL transition affect this SWMS?
The transition from Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) to Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) is primarily a regulatory rebrand. Current values for respirable crystalline silica (0.05 mg/m³), DPM (0.1 mg/m³ submicron EC), CO, NO2, and other mining-relevant substances are unchanged at the transition point. Future WEL reviews may reduce limits; review this SWMS annually or when Safe Work Australia issues a revised WEL.
Can this SWMS be used during a ventilation emergency or abnormal event?
No. Ventilation emergencies are managed under the site Emergency Response Plan and Evacuation Procedures, not this SWMS. If gas monitoring detects a trigger exceedance, or if a primary fan trips without changeover, the response is governed by the ERP and the statutory duty to withdraw workers — this SWMS covers planned ventilation work only.
Is this SWMS compliant with the 1 July 2026 Section 26A changes?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, 34 approved Codes of Practice become legally binding under Section 26A of the amended WHS Act. This SWMS cites the Codes that will become binding — Managing Electrical Risks, Confined Spaces, Managing the Risk of Falls — in addition to the state mining regulations and guidelines that already apply to ventilation. No amendment is required for the Section 26A transition.
Document details
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