Publications | Resources Safety & Health Queensland

Publications

RSHQ publishes a range of reports and papers. On this page you will find the full list of these.

Annual Reports

RSHQ publications

Health surveillance reports

Understanding the incidence and types of occupational health harms across the resources industry is important for monitoring the effectiveness of exposure controls to manage risks to workers. RSHQ’s health surveillance reports share updates and emerging trends in reported mine dust lung disease cases and psychosocial hazards. It provides greater analysis of disease cases where multiple conditions have been diagnosed, and their influence on disease distribution and trends.

Project reports

  • In 2026, RSHQ completed a regulatory campaign assessing how psychosocial hazards are being managed across Queensland’s resources industry.

    As a part of this campaign, RSHQ audited 61 coal, mineral mines, quarries and petroleum and gas operations. The results of these audits, along with reports received by RSHQ have informed the findings and recommendations in the Assessing the management of psychosocial hazards in Queensland’s resources industry report (PDF, 247KB). The report also provides information to support operators in strengthening psychosocial risk management and meeting their statutory obligation.

    Some of the key findings arising from the campaign includes:

    • Psychosocial hazard risk assessments had been completed at 51 per cent of audited operations.
    • Worker consultation during the risk assessment process was not always undertaken to identify controls or develop control measures.
    • Psychosocial risk management was not always integrated into safety and health management systems (SHMS/SMS).
    • Incident reporting systems were generally in place, however, some operations lacked anonymous reporting options or had reporting arrangements not fully integrated into their SHMS/SMS.
    • Investigation processes often did not include trauma-aware principles, define timeframes or how affected parties would be kept updated and/or how outcomes from investigations inform ongoing psychosocial risk management.
    • Training for workers and supervisors on identifying, managing and reporting psychosocial hazards was not consistently provided.

    The campaign findings were further shared through a presentation at the 2026 Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference (QMIHSC), reinforcing key areas for industry focus and improvement, and supporting RSHQ’s efforts to enhance psychosocial risk management across the resources sector.

    Recommendations arising from the report form a part of RSHQ’s regulatory priorities.

  • RSHQ evaluated mandatory respiratory health surveillance in the Queensland mining and quarrying industry using a strategic, risk‑based approach. This included targeted inspections and audits of respiratory health surveillance medical records to assess how the program is implemented in practice.

    The campaign identified opportunities to improve consistency, documentation quality, and follow‑up of abnormal findings, supporting earlier detection and better management of occupational respiratory disease. The Evaluation of mandatory respiratory health surveillance in Queensland’s mineral mining and quarrying industry report (PDF, 196KB) (PDF, 196KB) outlines the objectives, methodology, key findings, and outcomes, and makes recommendations to strengthen respiratory health surveillance and improve health outcomes for Queensland’s mineral mine and quarry workers.

  • The Fatigue in Queensland’s resources industry: Current state review (PDF, 4MB) presents the findings of RSHQ’s review of fatigue risk management across the Queensland resources industry. The review was undertaken throughout 2024-25, building on previous work that identified opportunities to strengthen RSHQ’s understanding of the effectiveness of industry controls for managing fatigue. These concerns were reinforced by recent road fatalities involving workers travelling home after consecutive shifts, highlighting the need for deeper insight into fatigue-related risks.

    The review aimed to assess how effectively fatigue risks are currently managed to inform potential changes to RSHQ’s regulatory approach or resource allocation. It examined the extent of fatigue risk across the resources industry, including its interaction with other hazards; considered regulatory approaches within Queensland and other jurisdictions; and identified benchmarks for contemporary, leading-practice fatigue risk management.

    A comprehensive methodology was applied, incorporating analysis of academic and industry literature, incident and complaint data, and regulatory frameworks, alongside stakeholder consultation through interviews and forums. The findings provide an evidence-based foundation to support improved fatigue risk management and enhance worker health and safety outcomes across the resources industry.

    Visit the fatigue page to understand more about fatigue.

  • RSHQ’s spirometry project adopted a strategic, phased method, combining targeted stakeholder engagement with risk-based audits to improve spirometry quality among approved providers under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme.

    The project further reduced quality issues in spirometry testing for Queensland’s mining workforce, supporting the early detection of occupational lung disease. The report for the Early detection of occupational lung disease through ensuring quality spirometry (PDF, 201KB) (PDF, 201KB) outlines the aims, methodology, outcomes and key findings of the project.

  • An expert team of radiologists from the United States and Australia reviewed a sample of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans of Queensland coal mine workers.

    The report for the Review of CT scan classifications performed under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme (PDF, 1MB) outlines the key findings.

  • RSHQ’s spirometry project adopted a strategic, phased method, combining targeted stakeholder engagement with risk-based audits to improve spirometry quality among approved providers under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme.

    The project further reduced quality issues in spirometry testing for Queensland’s mining workforce, supporting the early detection of occupational lung disease. The report for the Early detection of occupational lung disease through ensuring quality spirometry (PDF, 201KB) outlines the aims, methodology, outcomes and key findings of the project.

RSHQ investigation outcomes reports

Investigation outcomes reports are designed to share learnings and information to promote improvements in safety and health in the resources industry. The reports are summarised versions of the investigation reports developed by RSHQ. They are intended to provide relevant information to stakeholders in a simple and easy to understand reference document. They are intended for information and learning purposes only and do not replace the official record of the investigation produced by the relevant inspectorate or RSHQ for compliance or enforcement purposes.

Current investigation outcomes reports:

Advisory committee publications

Previous Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health publications and reporting

The role of Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health is no longer in effect, however valuable reporting, research and insights have been retained by RSHQ, including these publications:

More Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health publications are available to view on the Publications Portal.

Queensland mining industry safety reporting survey

  • In 2023, the Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health, in cooperation with the Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee and the Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee, launched the Queensland Mining Industry Safety Reporting Survey to understand the state of the safety reporting culture across the state's coal mining, mineral mining and quarrying industries.

    The survey ran from June to September 2023 and a report on the outcomes of the survey (PDF, 14 MB) was launched by the Minister for Resources and Critical Mineral in March 2024.

Last updated: 11 Aug 2026

Acknowledgement of Country

RSHQ respectfully acknowledges all Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the country on which we live and work. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and commit to ongoing reconciliation. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.