The Queensland Mining Industry Safety Reporting Survey aims to independently survey workers in Queensland's coal mining and mineral mining and quarrying industries to better understand safety reporting practices and to drive potential improvements to safety and health.

The survey is driven by the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry finding that, "an extensive study undertaken by CMSHAC on reporting culture in coal mines would benefit the industry in Queensland” (Finding 91) and its recommendation that, “as part of carrying out its functions under section 76A of the Act, CMSHAC considers including within its 5-year Strategic Plan activities that will facilitate improvements in the reporting culture in Queensland coal mines” (Recommendation 28).

The survey was adapted by the Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health from the safety culture survey tool that was developed by Safer Together as a workforce engagement tool to provide managers and supervisors in the oil and gas industry with information about the overall safety attitude/feeling of a team, department, and organisation. It is supported by the Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee and the Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee.

Methodology and approach

In response to the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry finding and recommendation, CMSHAC and MSHAC established tripartite working groups of experienced industry personnel to collaborate with the Commissioner’s office in the development of the survey.

The survey questions were designed to understand a respondent’s perceptions of the behaviours of members of their team, supervisors and senior leaders in relation to safety reporting culture.

To ensure the robustness and suitability of questions across sectors and company hierarchies, the Commissioner’s office ran cognitive testing sessions at coal mines, mineral mines, and a quarry in February 2023.