Level 1 mine emergency exercise reports

All Queensland underground coal mines must run annual simulations to test their readiness for emergencies. In addition to their own exercises, each year one mine hosts the state's level 1 emergency exercise.

These exercises have been held annually since 1998 and are monitored by assessors from the Queensland, New South Wales and international coal mining community.

This systematic exercise of emergency procedures in mines provides valuable experience to industry and workers and is a vital tool in improving mine safety systems. The exercises are the result of a recommendation made by the Queensland Mining Warden's inquiry into the explosion at the Moura No. 2 Mine in August 1994.

2022 emergency exercises – Carborough Downs coal mine

To better test emergency response systems and enhance learning opportunities for industry, the Level 1 Exercise Executive Management Committee split the 2022 exercise into 2 separate events, each with a different focus.

A QMRS-focused event was held on Sunday, 30 October 2022, and a mine-focused event on Wednesday, 23 November 2022.

The 2022 level 1 mine emergency exercise report details the timeline of the events, assessors notes, what worked well, and provides detailed recommendations for all participants.

Reports from previous exercises

• 2021 level 1 mine emergency exercise report
• 2020 level 1 mine emergency exercise report
• 2019 level 1 mine emergency exercise report
• 2018 level 1 mine emergency exercise report

Level 1 reports dating back to the first exercise held in 1998 at Southern Colliery are available for download.

Also consider...

• View Recommendations from Level 1 exercises since 1998 (XLS, 130KB).
• View the 2015 level 1 emergency exercise video.
• Read the Recognised Standard 08 - conduct of mine emergency exercises (PDF, 644KB) for guidance on how to conduct mine emergency exercises.
• View all past reports of level 1 mine emergency exercises.