Kit list by trade
Safety gear for mining and resources
What PPE is used on Australian mine sites?
Mine sites usually specify more than the general construction minimum: hi-vis with a stated class under AS/NZS 4602.1, often in a flame resistant fabric, safety boots certified under AS/NZS 2210.3, hearing protection matched under AS/NZS 1270, respiratory protection under AS/NZS 1716, and fall protection under AS/NZS 1891.
Key takeaways
- Site specification usually beats the general minimum on a mine, so buy to the specification the site issues and keep the documentation.
- Flame resistant hi-vis is a combination of two separate properties, and the listing names a designation for each.
- Hearing protector selection is a measurement job: match the class and SLC80 figure to the measured noise level rather than buying the highest number.
- Respirator fit testing, gas detection and rescue planning sit outside anything a buying guide can tell you.
Why do mine sites specify flame resistant hi-vis?
Where an ignition or flash hazard is present, the garment has to do two jobs at once: stay visible and not contribute to a burn injury. Australian ranges answer that with hi-vis fabrics that also carry a flame resistance designation, and segmented reflective tape rated for the same use.
Listings for these garments name several designations at once: the hi-vis class, the material classes, the flame resistance reference and sometimes an antistatic reference. Check each one against the specification your site issued.
A flame resistant garment is not an arc rated garment unless the listing says so. Read the specific claim on the specific product.
What boots suit mine site conditions?
Look for a stated AS/NZS 2210.3 code set, a lace up or zip sided closure that suits the site rules, ankle support for uneven ground, and a sole compound suited to the surfaces underfoot. Several mine sites specify a boot height, which the product listing states in millimetres.
Heat resistant outsole and slip codes are appended to the code set on some listings. Read the whole code, because that is where the sole properties are recorded.
Where a site specification names a code, buy a boot whose listing names that code rather than one that looks equivalent.
How do you choose respiratory and hearing protection for a mine?
Both come from measurement. Respiratory protection is selected against the contaminant and its concentration, with devices named under AS/NZS 1716 and a filter marking such as P2. Hearing protectors carry a class and an SLC80 figure under AS/NZS 1270, matched to the measured noise level at the task.
Tight fitting respirators need a seal, so fit testing and a clean shaven sealing surface are part of the system.
Double protection, meaning plugs under muffs, does not simply add the two figures together. Follow your procedure for how it is treated.
What height safety equipment do mine sites use?
Harnesses, lanyards, anchorages and rescue equipment under the AS/NZS 1891 series, including confined space and rescue kits where entry work is involved. Equipment is one part of the system; anchorage, clearance, training and a rescue plan are the rest, and they come from the site procedure.
Any harness involved in a fall is withdrawn from service. Webbing products carry a manufacturer service life that ultraviolet, heat and chemicals all shorten.
Who regulates mine safety in New South Wales?
Mine safety in New South Wales is administered by the NSW Resources Regulator, which sits separately from the general SafeWork NSW arrangement that covers most other workplaces. Mine sites also run their own site specific standards, which frequently go beyond the legal minimum.
Buy to the site specification, keep the supplier documentation, and treat this hub as a way to compare products rather than as a compliance reference.
Where to start
Guides for this trade
- Bisley APEX 160 taped hi-vis FR ripstop vented shirt
- Bool regular weight PPE2 FR shirt with segmented Loxy FR tape
- FlameBuster FR hi-vis segmented reflective fleece
- DNC hi-vis 6-in-1 bio motion tape jacket, 3963
- Oliver 150mm zip side boot
- Bata Longreach Ultra steel toe work boot
- Force360 Eco earmuff, class 5 hearing protection
- JSP Typhoon 8 half mask respirator pack with P2 filters
- LINQ Elite riggers harness, H301
- LINQ confined space rescue kit 1
Frequently asked questions
Is flame resistant workwear the same as arc rated workwear?
No. Flame resistance and arc rating are assessed differently and stated separately. A garment listing that names a flame resistance reference is not making an arc rating claim unless it says so. Buy to the specification your site issues.
What does SLC80 mean on earmuffs?
SLC80 is the sound level conversion figure reported for a hearing protector tested under AS/NZS 1270, in decibels. It is used with the class number to match a protector to a measured noise level. Use the figure the manufacturer publishes on the protector, together with a measured noise level, rather than a rule of thumb.
Do mine sites accept boots certified to the European standard?
Acceptance is a site decision, not a product one. Where a site specification names AS/NZS 2210.3, buy a boot whose listing names AS/NZS 2210.3. Some boots name both that designation and EN ISO 20345, which means the manufacturer has certified the boot to both.
How often is height safety equipment inspected?
A user check before every use, plus a documented inspection by a competent person at the interval set by the manufacturer and your procedure. Equipment involved in a fall is withdrawn. Guides on this hub do not set inspection intervals.