A crack or wall-loss result at a NSW mine has to move through the mine safety management system, principal hazard controls and the responsible engineering review. An NDT report is most useful when it states the method, sensitivity, indication size and acceptance basis clearly enough to support that decision.
Mining Inspection Australia provides field NDT for mobile plant, cranes, pressure equipment, conveyors, bins, chutes and mine steelwork across NSW. We use the relevant MDG guidance where it informs the site control, while keeping the applicable Australian Standard visible in the report.
New South Wales requirements
- Regulator
- The NSW Resources Regulator oversees mine safety. SafeWork NSW covers the broader workplace and plant framework, including general pressure equipment and high-risk plant requirements where they apply.
- Mining regulations
- The NSW WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 requires mine operators to manage structural and plant risks through the safety management system and principal hazard management plans. MDG 15 and MDG 41 are relevant references for mobile plant and fluid power controls, while engineering acceptance remains asset-specific.
- Registration and notification
- NDT is recorded as evidence for the inspected asset rather than as a separate NSW plant registration. Prescribed plant, pressure equipment, mine notifications and site defect records can have their own requirements; the report identifies where the NDT outcome must be attached or escalated.
- Mobilisation
- NSW coal and non-coal visits are scheduled around induction, isolation, access and the site’s nominated engineering authority. Hunter Valley work can often be integrated with an outage; regional work is planned with the cleaning, lighting and access needed for repeatable field testing.
State-specific inspection focus
- MDG 15 mobile plant
- Structural and NDT checks for mobile and transportable plant are linked to applicable MDG 15 controls and the machine’s duty.
- MDG 41 fluid power
- Hydraulic hose, stored-energy and failure evidence is recorded where MDG 41 and the site’s hydraulic risk controls are relevant.
- Principal hazard evidence
- Indications in primary structures, crane components and fixed plant are escalated through the NSW principal hazard and engineering review pathway.
- Repair verification
- Post-repair MT, UT, PT or PAUT is reported against the approved repair procedure and the site’s return-to-service decision.
Applicable standards and regulations
| Reference | Title | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| NSW WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 | Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 | NSW mine safety management and principal hazard context for structural findings. |
| NSW MDG 15 / MDG 41 | Mobile plant and fluid power safety guidance | NSW mining guidance for mobile plant structures, hydraulics and stored energy. |
| ISO 9712 / AINDT | NDT personnel qualification and certification | Competency basis for field NDT methods. |
| NSW Resources Regulator | NSW mining safety regulator | Regulatory context for structural evidence, defect management and mine records. |
Inspection checkpoints
- The applicable NSW regulation, MDG guidance, site management plan and responsible engineering contact are confirmed.
- The chosen method and acceptance criteria are recorded before testing, with calibrated equipment and traceable results.
- Indications are sized, mapped and photographed, then assigned a repair, monitoring or engineering action.
- The final evidence pack supports the NSW defect register, principal hazard review and return-to-service decision.
Frequently asked questions
Which MDG documents matter for NSW NDT work?
MDG 15 and MDG 41 are common references for mobile plant and fluid power, but the applicable guidance depends on the asset and site. The report identifies the actual basis used.
Can you verify a repair weld at a NSW coal mine?
Yes. We can inspect the repair area using the agreed NDT method and report the result against the approved repair procedure and acceptance criteria.
Does an NDT finding automatically stop a machine?
The report identifies the indication and its acceptance status. The mine’s responsible person and engineering authority then apply the site’s hold, repair, monitoring or release process.