What is the Mines Safety and Inspection Levy?

For updated information relating to the information on this page go to Mines safety inspection levy

On 31 March 2022, the Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws replaced the health and safety elements of the Mines Safety and Inspection laws. For information visit www.demirs.wa.gov.au/whs

Transitional arrangements may be in place for the compliance requirements on this page.

All health and safety notifications, forms and guidance for mining and petroleum has moved to the WorkSafe website

The information below has been left for historical compliance reference purposes

 

 

Work health and safety laws impact on reporting hours

State mining engineer advice - Commencement of WHS legislation and its effect on worker hours reporting (issued 30 March 2022) - 164 Kb

The commencement of the WHS Act 2020 will result in a change to the way that worker hours are to be reported. This communiqué provides advice on how to accommodate the fact that commencement of the new laws does not align with a reporting quarter.

Reason for the levy

In order to maintain safety regulatory services and acquire additional resources as required under RADARS, the safety reform strategy for Resources Safety, it was necessary for funding to be obtained through cost recovery from the relevant industry sectors.

On 24 April 2010, the Mines Safety and Inspection Levy Regulations 2010 came into effect. The regulations describe the Mines Safety and Inspection Levy scheme that covers the costs of administering the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.

The Mines Safety and Inspection Levy Regulations 2010 and related legislation can be viewed, downloaded or purchased in hard copy from the Parliamentary Counsel’s web site.

Find out more about reform and development at Resources Safety at What is RADARS?

How is the levy calculated?

The mines safety levy is calculated based on the number of hours worked by workers on a mining operation. All mining operations, including exploration, regulated by the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 are required to pay the levy if the quarterly total of hours worked is more than 5,000 hours.

If less than 5,000 hours are worked for the quarter, there will be no Notice of Assessment.

Each Principal Employer submits monthly data on worker hours, usually using the online Monthly Status Report form (MO) through the Safety Regulation System (SRS). The levy hours are totalled at the end of each quarter.

The levy hours submitted may be audited from time to time.

The levy regulations set out who is liable to pay the levy, how it will be assessed and charged, and the payment process.

The levy rate is reviewed annually to apply from 1 July each year.

Mines Safety and Inspection Levy - information sheet - 373 Kb

This information sheet outlines the frequently asked questions on the mines safety and inspection levy.

What happens to the levy monies collected?

To ensure that levy funds are used only for mines safety activities, the levy monies are held in a special purpose account. This account must comply with the accounting and reporting requirements of the Financial Management Act 2006, and is subject to audit scrutiny. The Department has also developed internal cost controls.

Contact

Questions about the mines safety and inspection levy?
Email: minessafety@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Questions regarding the audit of hours reported or recorded?
Email: minessafety@dmirs.wa.gov.au

General questions regarding recording hours for the online monthly status reports?
Email: srsmanager@dmirs.wa.gov.au