What Is Standard 11?
Standard 11 refers to the competency unit RIIWHS202E - Enter and Work in a Surface Mine or Quarry, from the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package. It is the baseline safety induction required for any worker - permanent, contractor, or visitor - who needs to access an Australian surface mine, open-cut coal mine, or quarry site.
The name "Standard 11" comes from the historical classification within Queensland's mining safety framework, where it was one of a set of mandatory standards for mining safety competencies. The numbering has persisted colloquially even as the unit has been updated and renamed under the national training package.
Standard 11 covers the unique hazards of the surface mining environment - high-capacity haul trucks, blast exclusion zones, highwall stability, hazardous substances, noise and dust, and the regulatory framework under which mines operate. It is a mandatory pre-requisite for site access at most surface mining operations across Australia, regardless of the worker's trade or function on site.
Course Learning Materials
Standard 11 covers ten core topic areas that reflect the specific hazards and regulatory requirements of Australian surface mining operations, drawn from the RII Training Package on training.gov.au.
Mining Legislation and Regulatory Framework
Mining safety in Australia is regulated at the state and territory level, with each jurisdiction maintaining its own mines safety legislation. Unlike construction (which has largely adopted the model WHS Act), mining operates under dedicated mining acts. Key legislation includes: the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013 (NSW); the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA); and the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 (QLD).
You will study the duties of mine operators (the principal duty holder under mining legislation), site senior executives (SSEs), supervisors, and workers. The concept of the Site Safety Management System (SSMS) - the mine's overarching safety framework - is introduced, along with the requirement for each mine to have a documented Principal Hazard Management Plan (PHMP) for each of its principal hazards.
- Mining legislation is primarily state-based, not the model WHS Act
- The Site Senior Executive (SSE) is the most senior person responsible for safety at the mine
- Every mine must have a documented Site Safety Management System (SSMS)
- Principal Hazard Management Plans (PHMPs) must address each major risk at the site
- Workers have a legislative right to refuse unsafe work without penalty
Surface Mine Hazard Identification
Surface mining presents a distinct set of hazards that differ significantly from construction or general industry. This module provides a comprehensive examination of the hazards you will encounter on a surface mine or quarry, and the controls that must be in place to manage them.
Hazards covered include: mobile plant interactions (haul trucks with gross vehicle masses of 300+ tonnes have severely limited visibility and take hundreds of metres to stop - the most common cause of surface mine fatalities); highwall and pit wall instability (ground movement, rock falls, slope failure); blast exclusion zones (defined areas cleared of all personnel before blasting operations); dust (coal dust - explosive; silica dust - carcinogenic); noise-induced hearing loss; heat illness in remote open-cut operations; hazardous substances (ammonium nitrate, diesel, lubricants, chemicals); and isolation failures on large-scale mining machinery.
- Large haul trucks have blind spots extending 15–20 metres in front and to the sides
- Never approach moving plant - wait until the operator acknowledges you and brings the machine to a full stop
- Highwall instability: stay back from the crest - the defined exclusion zone must always be respected
- Blast exclusion zones are non-negotiable - all personnel must be outside the zone before any blast
- Coal dust can form explosive clouds - no ignition sources in defined areas
Site Rules and Access Procedures
Every surface mine has a documented set of site rules that all workers and visitors must follow. These rules are not suggestions - they are enforceable conditions of site access and breach of site rules can result in immediate removal from site and cancellation of access rights. This module covers the typical scope of mine site rules, why they exist, and how to comply with them.
Site access procedures are examined in detail: pre-access induction requirements (Standard 11 plus a site-specific induction), sign-in and sign-out systems, visitor management, vehicle access rules (speed limits, designated haul routes, right-of-way rules), and travel management plans (TMPs) that govern movement across the mine footprint. The importance of never deviating from approved routes or accessing restricted areas without authority is emphasised.
- Standard 11 does not replace site-specific induction - both are required
- Always sign in and sign out - it enables muster in an emergency
- Haul roads have strict right-of-way rules - light vehicles always yield to heavy plant
- Speed limits on mine sites are strictly enforced - excess speed results in immediate removal
- Restricted areas require specific authority - never enter without written permission
Working Safely Around Mobile Plant and Equipment
Mobile plant interactions are the leading cause of fatal and serious injuries on Australian surface mining operations. This module provides detailed guidance on safely co-existing with the heavy equipment that operates on surface mines - from 300-tonne haul trucks to graders, dozers, excavators, and service vehicles.
You will study the concept of the exclusion zone around operating mobile plant; the specific blind spots of different machine types; the requirement to make eye contact and receive a signal from the operator before approaching; the right-of-way hierarchy on haul roads; parking and isolation procedures for light vehicles before working near heavy plant; and the fatigue-related risks that heavy plant operators face on long shifts.
- Never assume a plant operator can see you - always make eye contact and receive a signal
- Light vehicle operators must give way to all heavy plant on haul roads
- Park your vehicle in a designated area with the engine off, key out, and handbrake on
- Apply the isolation standard (LOTO) before any maintenance on mobile plant
- Reverse alarms and proximity detection systems support - but do not replace - safe practices
Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods
Surface mines use a range of hazardous substances and dangerous goods in their daily operations. This module covers the identification, safe handling, storage, and emergency response requirements for the most common substances encountered on a surface mine.
Substances examined include: Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) - the primary explosive used in surface blasting, classified as a dangerous good and subject to strict licensing and storage requirements; diesel fuel - fire and vapour hazard; hydraulic fluids and lubricants - environmental hazard and skin sensitiser; battery acid from large plant batteries; process chemicals depending on the mineral being extracted. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) labelling system are covered.
- Always read the SDS before working with any unfamiliar substance
- GHS diamond labels indicate hazard class - learn the key pictograms
- ANFO storage magazines require specific licences and separation distances from other facilities
- Report all chemical spills immediately - even small spills can become environmental incidents
- Segregation rules apply - never store incompatible chemicals together
Noise, Dust, and Health Monitoring
Surface mining environments expose workers to high levels of noise and dust. Both represent significant, potentially irreversible health risks that require systematic management. This module covers the health effects of prolonged noise and dust exposure, the engineering and administrative controls used to manage these risks, and the health monitoring programs that Australian mining regulations require.
Silica dust from drilling, blasting, and crushing operations is a particular concern - exposure causes silicosis, an incurable and potentially fatal lung disease. Coal dust presents both a health hazard (coal workers' pneumoconiosis - "black lung") and an explosion hazard. Noise from mobile plant, blasting, and processing equipment routinely exceeds 110 dB(A) - well above the 85 dB(A) action level.
- Silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis are permanent and can be fatal - prevention is critical
- Health surveillance (lung function testing, chest X-rays) is mandatory at regular intervals in many jurisdictions
- Hearing loss from mining noise is permanent - wear hearing protection every time
- Dust suppression (water carts, wet drilling) is a primary control - PPE is a supplement
- P2 respirators minimum for silica; P3 for very high-concentration tasks
Isolation and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) on Mining Equipment
Mining equipment operates at high voltages, extreme pressures, and with massive stored energy. Isolation procedures - preventing the unexpected release of stored energy during maintenance - are critical to worker safety. This module covers the isolation hierarchy for surface mining equipment and the specific LOTO procedures that must be applied before any maintenance or repair work.
Stored energy types examined include: electrical energy (high-voltage systems on large mining equipment); hydraulic energy (accumulators on excavators and haul trucks can store enough energy to crush a person); pneumatic energy; gravitational potential energy (raised bodies and booms); and chemical energy (fuel systems). You will study multi-isolation scenarios where multiple workers are working on the same piece of equipment simultaneously.
- Never work on energised equipment - always isolate, lock, and test before touching
- Each worker places their own personal padlock on the isolation point - never share a padlock
- Test for dead (attempt to start, check for voltage) after locking out
- Gravity is stored energy - props and pins must be installed before working under raised components
- In a group isolation, no worker removes their lock until their work is complete
Blast Management and Exclusion Zones
Blasting is an integral part of surface mining operations. Workers who are not involved in the blast itself must understand what happens during a blast sequence, the dangers of blast overpressure and flyrock, and their obligations during a blast. This module does not train workers to conduct blasting - only to safely manage their presence on site during blast events.
You will study how exclusion zones are established (based on blast design, flyrock risk modelling, and regulatory requirements); how blast warnings are communicated (sirens, radio, flags, physical inspection of the zone); the obligations on all workers to be outside the exclusion zone before any blast proceeds; post-blast re-entry procedures; and the specific hazard of misfires (unfired explosives remaining in a hole after a blast).
- When the blast siren sounds - move immediately outside the exclusion zone
- Do not return to the blast area until the all-clear is given by the shot firer
- Report any suspected misfire to the shot firer immediately - never touch or investigate yourself
- Blast flyrock can travel hundreds of metres - exclusion zone distances are calculated conservatively
- Post-blast fumes (NOx, CO) are toxic - wait for adequate ventilation before re-entering
Emergency Procedures on a Surface Mine
Surface mines are remote, large-area workplaces with multiple simultaneous hazards. Emergency response requires a well-drilled, pre-planned approach. This module covers the components of a mine's Emergency Response Plan (ERP), how workers are notified of emergencies, muster procedures, and the specific emergency types common on surface mines.
Emergency scenarios covered include: mobile plant accident (do not move the plant unless directed - preserve the scene after rendering first aid); highwall collapse; fire on mobile plant (evacuation - fuel and hydraulic fires are intense and fast-moving); chemical spill; electrical emergency; personal injury in a remote area (communication, GPS coordinates, helicopter landing zone preparation); and the general emergency communications procedure (radio channels, emergency beacons, call 000).
- Know your muster point before work begins - verify at every site induction
- In a plant fire - exit the machine, move upwind, call the emergency channel, do not re-approach
- All workers on remote sites must carry a charged radio on the designated emergency channel
- Provide GPS coordinates or lat/long to emergency services when reporting an incident in a remote area
- Never move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger from a secondary hazard
Environmental Obligations and Mine Rehabilitation
Mining operations are subject to strict environmental conditions imposed by state and federal regulators. Workers need to understand their obligations to minimise environmental impact and report environmental incidents. This module covers: the regulatory framework for environmental management at mines (Environmental Impact Assessments, Environmental Management Plans); the management of water (acid mine drainage, sediment control, water treatment); fuel and chemical containment (spill bunds, secondary containment); dust management (land-based dust and airborne dust affecting communities); noise limits for operations near residential areas; and mine rehabilitation obligations.
- Environmental incidents must be reported through the same channels as safety incidents
- Never discharge contaminated water to the environment without treatment and approval
- Acid mine drainage (AMD) from exposed sulfide rock is a major long-term environmental risk
- Refuel mobile plant over a drip mat or in a designated refuelling area to prevent diesel spills
- Mine rehabilitation is a legal obligation - depleted mines must be returned to a stable, landform
How to Use This Study Resource
This site distils the six-unit Standard 11 (RIISS00034) skill set into a free, self-paced learning resource. The full real assessment combines a written exam with practical demonstrations (fire extinguisher use, CPR, self-rescuer donning) and is followed at every mine by a site-specific induction. This resource covers the written portion in depth.
Recommended study path
- Read the modules in order - allow ~2 days of focused study (in chunks).
- Pay particular attention to TARPs, PHMPs, the LOTO procedure, and the four case studies (Moura, Pike River, Grosvenor, Black Lung).
- Use the 39-question practice quiz in Study Mode first for instant feedback.
- When ready, switch to Exam Mode to time yourself under exam conditions (90 min, no feedback until submit).
- Use the topic-by-topic breakdown to identify weak units, then re-read those modules.
Three things this site does NOT cover
- Practical demonstrations. The real Standard 11 includes hands-on assessment of fire-extinguisher operation, CPR, and (for underground) self-rescuer donning. These are practical components done in person.
- Site-specific induction. Standard 11 is the generic induction. Every mine additionally requires a site-specific induction on arrival covering its layout, principal hazards, TARPs, traffic plan, local channels, muster points, and isolation procedures.
- Coal Board Medical (NSW) / CMW Health Scheme (QLD). Coal mining in Australia operates under a separate statutory health surveillance regime - mandatory medical assessment is a legal precondition for site access (covered in detail in the Medical section above).
Official Resources & Verified References
Mining safety in Australia is regulated state-by-state under dedicated mining acts (not the model WHS Act). Use these primary sources to verify any claim on this page and as supplementary study material.
Note on "Standard 11" terminology
The name "Standard 11" originates from the historical classification in Queensland's Recognised Standard 11 (Training in coal mines). Today, most surface mine inductions are delivered against a combination of RII package units (RIIWHS201E / RIICOM201E / RIIRIS301E etc.). Queensland coal roles additionally require a Coal Board Medical (Form 11) under the CMSH Act.
Learn from Real Mining Disasters - Why Standard 11 Exists
Australian mining safety law is written in blood. Almost every section of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 (Qld) and equivalent state laws can be traced to a specific disaster, inquiry, or fatality. Standard 11 covers these because the same hazards are still present today.
Case 1 - Moura No. 2 underground coal mine, QLD, 7 August 1994
What happened: Eleven miners died in a methane explosion at the Moura No. 2 mine. The mine had a history of spontaneous combustion in goaf areas; gas levels were rising in the days before; signs were misinterpreted or ignored.
Why: Failure to evacuate when gas readings indicated escalating risk; inadequate response to spontaneous combustion warnings; communication failures between shifts.
Outcome: The Warden's Inquiry led directly to the modern Queensland Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 (and the 2017 Regulation). It introduced the Site Senior Executive (SSE) statutory role, mandatory Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs) for monitored hazards, and Principal Hazard Management Plans (PHMPs) for major risks.
Standard 11 takeaway: When a TARP triggers, the response is not optional - it is pre-decided exactly so that fatigue, normalisation of deviance and pressure to keep producing cannot delay action.
Source: Wardens Inquiry (Queensland) into Moura No. 2 underground mine, 1996.
Case 2 - Pike River underground coal mine, NZ, 19 November 2010
What happened: Twenty-nine miners died in a sequence of methane explosions at Pike River on New Zealand's West Coast. The mine had inadequate ventilation, methane drainage and gas monitoring - with multiple methane spikes in the months prior that were not acted on.
Why (Royal Commission findings): Production was prioritised over safety; second egress (escape route) was not provided; the ventilation was inadequate; gas readings were dismissed; the SSE-equivalent did not have the resources or independence to enforce safety.
Outcome: NZ overhauled its mining safety regime; the case is a standard reference in Australian coal mining inductions because the operational pressures and shortcuts identified are present in every mine. The bodies of the 29 men were recovered only between 2023–2025.
Standard 11 takeaway: A second means of egress is mandatory in underground operations. Gas readings are a stop-work trigger, not a recommendation. Refuge chambers and self-rescuers are last resort - ventilation and monitoring are first.
Source: Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy (2012).
Case 3 - Grosvenor mine methane explosion, Moranbah QLD, 6 May 2020
What happened: Five miners were seriously burned in a methane gas ignition at the Anglo American-operated Grosvenor longwall coal mine. Methane levels had been escalating prior to the event.
Why (QLD Mines Inspectorate Board of Inquiry, 2021): Inadequate response to rising methane; pressures to maintain production; deficient monitoring and management of hazardous gas zones; SSE accountability questioned.
Outcome: Anglo American suspended longwall operations at Grosvenor for over a year. The Board of Inquiry made 47 recommendations including significant strengthening of statutory duties and gas-management protocols. Anglo American has since divested its Queensland coal operations.
Standard 11 takeaway: Even with all post-Moura systems in place, normalising a slowly-rising hazard is the most common failure mode in mining. TARPs exist to make rising trends impossible to ignore.
Source: QLD Coal Mining Board of Inquiry (Brady Report 2020).
Case 4 - The re-emergence of Black Lung (CWP), 2015–present
What happened: Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis ("black lung") was thought to have been eliminated in Queensland by the 1980s. From 2015 onwards, multiple new cases were diagnosed in working and retired Queensland coal miners. By 2024 over 200 cases had been confirmed.
Why: Inadequate dust controls, inadequate respiratory protection, missed or misread chest X-rays in the Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme.
Outcome: Comprehensive re-screening of the Queensland coal workforce; rebuilt Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme with mandatory chest X-ray review by certified B-readers; tightened dust limits and respirable dust monitoring requirements; the formation of statutory health surveillance functions.
Standard 11 takeaway: Health hazards are as deadly as safety hazards - they are just slower. Dust controls and respiratory protection are not optional. Submit to your statutory medical - it is your earliest warning.
Source: Senate Inquiry into the re-emergence of black lung disease (2016); Queensland Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme.
TARPs in Practice - A Worked Example
A Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) is a pre-written, three-tier playbook for a monitored hazard. The site decides - in calm conditions, before anything is wrong - what specific actions will be taken at what specific trigger levels. When a trigger is reached, no one needs to debate - the response is already decided. Below is a representative TARP for methane gas in an underground coal section.
| Level | Trigger (general body methane) | Response - Operator | Response - Supervisor / SSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREEN Normal |
< 0.5% | Continue normal operations. Record reading per schedule. | Standard reporting in shift report. |
| YELLOW Caution |
0.5% – 1.25% | Inform supervisor immediately. Increase monitoring frequency. Check ventilation for known causes. | Investigate ventilation; check methane drainage; review for any new emission source. Document. Notify Underground Mine Manager. |
| AMBER High |
1.25% – 2% | Stop machine cutting. Withdraw to fresh air. Maintain reading update every minute. | Increase ventilation airflow; isolate electrical equipment in the panel; consider partial withdrawal. Notify SSE. Issue Section 116 directive if required. |
| RED Withdraw |
≥ 2% | Withdraw immediately to fresh-air base. Don self-rescuer if smoke or further escalation. Travel to muster point. | Withdraw all personnel from the affected zone. Isolate all electrical. Establish exclusion. Notify regulator. Initiate full investigation under SSE authority. |
Critical principle: TARPs are commitments, not suggestions. When the trigger is reached, the response happens - full stop. Anyone (including the SSE) attempting to override or delay a TARP response is acting outside the safety management system and may be personally liable. Workers have an absolute right to act on TARP triggers without further authorisation.
Other typical TARPs at a surface coal mine: airborne dust concentration (escalating water cart deployment, tarp-down loadout, work cease at red); highwall movement (radar/prism monitoring with mm/day triggers leading to exclusion zone expansion and ultimately evacuation); pit water level (escalating pump capacity, then evacuation if a pump bank fails); tyre temperature (haul truck tyre fires escalate fast - defined responses at first temperature trigger).
Principal Hazard Management Plans (PHMPs) - What's In One
A Principal Hazard Management Plan (PHMP) is the next tier above a TARP. It documents everything the mine does to manage one named principal hazard, from elimination through to emergency response. Under Section 62 of the QLD Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017, PHMPs are mandatory for the following principal hazards (and their equivalents):
- Strata failure / ground or rib falls
- Inundation (water inrush)
- Fire (above and below ground)
- Explosion (methane, coal dust)
- Spontaneous combustion
- Gas (methane, CO, CO₂, H₂S)
- Airborne contaminants (dust, DPM)
- Tyres & wheel assemblies (large mine vehicle)
- Mobile and transport equipment
- Working at heights
- Electrical (HV / LV)
- Slope stability (open cut)
Mandatory contents of a PHMP
- Hazard description & analysis: Specifically what scenarios are credible at this mine? (e.g., for "Inundation" - old workings to the east, surface water during wet season, pit water rising due to pump failure.)
- Risk assessment: Likelihood, consequence, current controls, residual risk - documented to a recognised risk-assessment standard (e.g., ISO 31000 / AS NZS 31000).
- Control measures: Mapped to the hierarchy - what has been eliminated, substituted, isolated, engineered, administered, and what PPE is the last line.
- Monitoring requirements: Sensors, inspection schedules, surveys, calibration regimes.
- TARPs: The formal trigger-action plans for the hazard (see above).
- Roles, responsibilities & competencies: Who is statutorily responsible for what (SSE, Underground Mine Manager, Ventilation Officer, etc.).
- Training & communication: How are workers trained on the PHMP? How is it briefed at shift changes?
- Emergency response: What happens if controls fail despite TARPs? Self-rescuer use, refuge chambers, evacuation routes, emergency services notification.
- Review & audit: How often the PHMP is reviewed, by whom, and under what trigger conditions.
- Document control: Version history, accessibility, changes signed off by SSE.
As a Standard 11 worker, you don't write the PHMP - but you must understand which principal hazards apply at your site, where the PHMP is held, and what your role is within it. Site-specific induction will brief you on the local PHMPs the day you arrive.
Coal Board Medical (NSW) and Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme (QLD)
Coal mining in Australia operates under a separate, statutory health surveillance regime - reflecting the long-recognised health hazards of coal dust, silica, diesel particulate matter and noise. There is no "private medical clears me for site" in coal mining: you must complete the regulator-approved scheme.
NSW - Coal Services Order 43
- Administered by Coal Services Pty Ltd (a not-for-profit jointly owned by mining companies and the CFMEU).
- Mandatory pre-employment medical before commencing coal mining work.
- Mandatory periodic medical every 3 years while employed.
- Includes: respiratory function (spirometry), chest X-ray reviewed by ILO B-readers (specially certified radiologists who screen for pneumoconiosis), audiometry, vision, blood pressure, BMI, drug & alcohol baseline.
- Failed or restricted medical - cannot work in coal mining until issue addressed.
- Records held by Coal Services for life of worker plus 30 years.
QLD - Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme
- Administered by Queensland Health under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999.
- Same intent as NSW: pre-employment, periodic (every 5 years), and exit medical.
- Following the 2015–2024 black lung re-emergence, all chest X-rays must now be reviewed by a certified B-reader; a percentage are also reviewed by a second specialist for quality assurance.
- Workers have the right to a copy of their X-ray and to seek their own specialist review.
- Suspected pneumoconiosis cases are referred for HRCT scan and respiratory specialist review.
Drug and Alcohol
- Most mine sites enforce 0.00% BAC - some allow up to 0.02% pre-shift but practically all return to 0.00% during shift.
- Pre-employment, random, post-incident and reasonable-cause testing is universal.
- Cannabis: oral fluid (saliva) test detects THC for ~12 hours; urine test up to 30 days. Positive test = stand-down regardless of legal status.
- Prescribed medication: declare to your supervisor and site doctor.
- Refusal to test = same consequence as positive test (stand-down).
A failed coal medical does not necessarily end a mining career - many issues (BMI, blood pressure, audiometric notch) can be addressed and the worker re-cleared. But the scheme is not negotiable. Your medical is the single greatest predictor of your long-term health: take it seriously.
Practice Quiz - Standard 11 Generic Coal Induction (RIISS00034)
Built around Queensland's Recognised Standard 11 - Training in coal mines, the nationally recognised RIISS00034 skill set. Standard 11 bundles six RII units: RIIWHS201E (WHS), RIICOM201E (communication), RIIRIS201E (local risk control), RIIERR205E (initial response first aid), RIIERR302E (respond to local emergencies), RIIGOV201E (site work procedures). It is statutory under the Coal Mining Safety & Health Regulation 2017 (Qld); WA and NSW run near-equivalent inductions.
Real assessments cover ~40–60 written items across the 6 units, with ~80% pass mark, plus practical demonstrations (fire extinguisher, CPR, self-rescuer for underground) handled separately on site. This 39-question quiz covers the written component; topics are weighted to match the unit coverage. This study material does NOT replace the on-site site-specific induction required at each mine.
Sources: Qld Recognised Standard 11, training.gov.au - RIIWHS201E, Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 (Qld).