Mining Workers Compensation Claims NSW
Dust disease, crush injury, industrial deafness, shift fatigue — mining has a dedicated NSW scheme and the highest claim-value exposures of any industry. Our team handles underground, open-cut and engineered-stone claims.
For: Miners, drillers, heavy-machinery operators and mine-site support staff.
Mining workers are covered under NSW WorkCover
Every mine worker on a NSW payroll — full-time, casual, labour-hire or deemed-worker subcontractor — has the same access to treatment, income support and legal protection. Our team knows the mining scheme inside out.
Dust disease is a dedicated pathway
Silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis and other dust diseases sit under the Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Act 1942 in NSW. Our doctors arrange the pulmonary workup and our lawyers manage the Dust Diseases Tribunal process.
Talk to our teamFIFO and residential workers both covered
Whether you're a NSW-resident mine worker or FIFO from interstate, the employer's NSW policy covers you for the injury — the scheme follows the work, not the home address.
Talk to our teamContractor and labour hire included
Contract drilling crews, shutdown labour hire and mine services contractors are all covered under their direct employer's policy — not the mine operator's.
Talk to our teamThe numbers for Mining
Source-cited statistics from Safe Work Australia and NSW SIRA / icare — the data behind why early, properly-documented claims matter.
New silicosis and dust disease cases, NSW annual caseload
Mining and engineered-stone workers dominate NSW dust disease referrals. Source: icare Dust Diseases Care annual reporting (icare.nsw.gov.au).
Share of workplace fatalities — Mining industry group
Mining sits inside the top-six industries that make up around 76% of Australian worker fatalities. Source: Safe Work Australia, Key Work Health and Safety Statistics 2025 (safeworkaustralia.gov.au).
Common mining injuries we see
Each links to a detailed guide with NSW-specific claim information.
Industrial deafness from plant and machinery
Years of draglines, drills, crushers and heavy plant noise.
Read guideBack injury from lifting and whole-body vibration
Haul truck seats, long shifts and manual handling underground.
Read guideShoulder injury
Roof-bolting, drilling arm loads and crib-room rigging tasks.
Read guideKnee injury from ladders and uneven ground
Vehicle step-downs, ladder work and pit-floor walking.
Read guideEye injuries from debris and chemicals
Grinding, pit dust and blasting-area work.
Read guideBurns from electrical and chemical work
Arc flash, hot surfaces and process chemicals.
Read guidePsychological injury from fatality incidents
PTSD and anxiety after serious underground or pit incidents.
Read guideYour employer's obligations
What the law requires every NSW mining employer to do — whether they're doing it or not.
- Hold workers compensation cover under the NSW mining industry scheme (Coal Mines Insurance or icare nominal insurer)
- Comply with the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013
- Run respiratory health and audiometric surveillance for all dust- and noise-exposed workers
- Report notifiable incidents to the NSW Resources Regulator within the required timeframes
- Maintain fatigue management and shift-roster controls for underground and remote operations
Your rights as a NSW mine worker
The entitlements written into the NSW Workers Compensation Act that apply to your trade.
- Dust disease claims can be lodged years or decades after exposure — there is no six-month window on these
- FIFO and contract workers have the same entitlements as direct-hire mine staff
- Psychological injury claims after fatality incidents or serious near-misses are valid
- Treatment, travel to specialists, and lung-function or audiology testing are all covered
- You choose your own treating WorkCover doctor
How our team handles Mining claims
Our doctors arrange the respiratory workup — chest imaging, lung function testing and occupational physician review — for dust disease claims. Our compensation lawyers handle Dust Diseases Tribunal matters and significant injury claims at no cost to you. Our rehabilitation provider coordinates return-to-site plans when safe duties are available.
Not sure what you’ll be paid while you’re off work? Run the numbers with our weekly payment calculator before you lodge anything.
More resources for injured NSW workers
Should I claim WorkCover?
The eight reasons NSW workers hesitate — and the honest answers behind each one.
Read guideAm I eligible for WorkCover?
60-second eligibility quiz for NSW workers — worker status, injury type and reporting window covered in one pass.
Start quizWorkCover in numbers
NSW and national workers compensation statistics — claim counts, costs, industry breakdowns and mental health trends.
View dataOther industries
Mining WorkCover FAQs
More reading for mining workers
Industrial deafness from plant and machinery — NSW claim guide
Years of draglines, drills, crushers and heavy plant noise.
Read moreContinueBack injury from lifting and whole-body vibration — NSW claim guide
Haul truck seats, long shifts and manual handling underground.
Read moreContinueConstruction WorkCover claims NSW
Adjacent industry — see how our team handles construction cases.
Read moreContinueWorkCover Doctors
The frontline service for mining claims — fully paid under your claim.
Read moreInjured at work in mining?
Call us or book online. Our doctors, physios and compensation lawyers handle mining claims every week.
Call Now (02) 7238 7379