Mobile plant carries the highest exposure on most mine sites: high mass, high energy, long duty cycles and constant interaction with people. An independent inspection establishes the actual condition of the machine — not the service history, not the OEM interval — and gives the person in control of the plant a documented basis for keeping it in service.
We inspect earthmoving and mining plant across Australia on a per-machine, fleet or introduction-to-site basis. Scopes are built around the machine type, its hours and the operating environment, and are reported against the applicable Australian Standards, OEM requirements and state mining regulations.
Equipment we inspect
Inspection scope
- Structural
- Main frame, boom, stick, blade, body, articulation and ROPS/FOPS structures, including visual and NDT examination of high-stress welds and pin bores.
- Hydraulic and fluid power
- Cylinders, hoses, fittings, accumulators and hydraulic safety devices, with reference to NSW MDG 41 and AS 2671 practice for fluid power systems.
- Braking, steering and driveline
- Service, secondary and park brake performance, steering integrity, final drives, axles and wheel ends.
- Operator protection
- ROPS/FOPS plate and structure condition, seat and restraint, access and egress, guarding, emergency stops and isolation points.
- Fire and electrical
- Fire suppression condition, battery isolation, wiring exposure, lighting and machine safety interlocks.
- Tyres, rims and undercarriage
- Rim and wheel condition to AS 4457.1, tyre damage, and track, roller and sprocket wear on crawler machines.
What you receive
- Prioritised defect register with location, severity and recommended action for each finding
- Photographic evidence of every recorded defect
- NDT reports for any weld, pin or structural indications examined
- Statement of fitness for continued service, or conditions for return to service
- Introduction-to-site inspection record where plant is being mobilised
Applicable standards and regulations
| Reference | Title | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| AS 2294 series | Earth-moving machinery — Protective structures | ROPS and FOPS performance and identification requirements for earthmoving plant. |
| AS 2958.1 | Earth-moving machinery — Safety — Wheeled machines — Brakes | Brake system performance criteria used to assess service, secondary and park brakes. |
| AS 4457.1 | Earth-moving machinery — Off-the-road wheels, rims and tyres — Maintenance and repair | Inspection, repair and retirement criteria for multi-piece rims and wheels. |
| AS/NZS 4024 series | Safety of machinery | Guarding of pinch points, rotating parts and hot surfaces. |
| AS/NZS 1554.5 | Structural steel welding — Welding of steel structures subject to high levels of fatigue loading | Acceptance criteria for repair welds on dynamically loaded structures. |
| NSW MDG 15 | Guideline for mobile and transportable plant for use at mines (other than underground coal mines) | Design and maintenance expectations for mobile plant used at NSW mines; widely referenced as good practice elsewhere. |
| State WHS (Mines) legislation | WA Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022; QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999; NSW Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 | Duties on the mine operator to ensure plant is inspected, maintained and fit for use, and to retain records. |
Evidence base for procurement
Public sources · reviewed 19 Sep 2026These regulator and standards sources provide the public basis for the inspection context on this page. They describe requirements and application context; they do not claim that Mining Inspection Australia holds a qualification, accreditation or project history.
Safe Work Australia
The model framework for plant duties, inspection, maintenance and records; check the adopted law in the relevant jurisdiction.
Safe Work Australia
Risk controls, regular inspection and testing, repair or replacement of plant, and the records that support those controls.
NSW Resources Regulator
An example of the NSW mine inspection framework, including procedures, timing and competent persons under section 39 of the WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022.
Typical findings
- Fatigue cracking at boom foot, stick-to-boom and bucket linkage welds on excavators
- Cracked or deformed haul truck frame rails and body pivot mounts
- Excessive articulation and centre-hitch pin bore wear on loaders, graders and articulated trucks
- Brake performance below AS 2958.1 criteria, or park brakes unable to hold on the rated grade
- Unapproved or undocumented repairs to ROPS/FOPS structures
- Multi-piece rim components outside AS 4457.1 acceptance limits
- Hydraulic hose abrasion and unsupported hose runs adjacent to hot surfaces
When to inspect
- Plant being introduced to a new mine site (introduction inspection)
- OEM or site-defined hour intervals (commonly 2,000 to 5,000 hours for structural inspection)
- Following a structural repair, incident, rollover or overload event
- Before hire, sale or purchase of a second-hand machine
- Regulator, principal contractor or insurer request for independent verification
Frequently asked questions
What does a mobile plant inspection cover?
Structure, hydraulics, brakes and steering, operator protection, fire and electrical systems, and tyres, rims or undercarriage. The scope is adjusted to the machine type — an excavator inspection concentrates on the boom, stick and slew system, while a haul truck inspection concentrates on the frame, body, suspension and braking.
How often should mining mobile plant be independently inspected?
There is no single statutory interval. Mine operators set intervals through their plant management system using OEM recommendations, operating hours and risk. Annual independent structural inspection is a common baseline, with more frequent inspection for high-hours machines or after repairs.
Do you inspect plant that is already on site, or only before mobilisation?
Both. Introduction-to-site inspections are carried out before plant is put to work. In-service inspections are carried out on site at agreed times with the machine isolated, and can be programmed across a fleet.
Can the inspection be used as evidence for a site or regulator audit?
Yes. Reports identify the machine by serial number, state the scope and methods used, record each finding with photographs, and give a clear fitness-for-service outcome, which is what regulators and principal contractors expect to see in a plant register.