Introducing Plant
to Mine Sites
Introducing plant to a mine site involves more than getting equipment through the gate. Plant needs to meet site-specific requirements, be supported by the right documentation and be ready for assessment before it can begin work.
Capability Resources helps mine operators, contractors and equipment suppliers across the Hunter Valley and NSW navigate the Introduction to Site (ITS) process.
Our Introduction to Site (ITS) process supports plant owners through collaborative consultation with key stakeholders, helping to identify and minimise risks associated with the safe use of plant and equipment. This approach supports compliance with industry standards, improves workplace safety, and provides a clear pathway to site acceptance and ongoing operational reliability.
From individual items of plant through to larger fleets, we work with our customers to identify requirements early, address issues efficiently and help get plant onsite and operational.
Helping you get plant
mine site ready.
Introduction to
Site Support for NSW Mining Operations
Mine sites have specific requirements for the plant and equipment operating within their environments. For contractors and suppliers, navigating these requirements before mobilisation can be time-consuming, particularly when plant is moving between different operations.
For mine operators, a thorough Introduction to Site process helps confirm that incoming plant has been appropriately assessed, documented and prepared for its intended operating environment.
Capability Resources works with both sides of this process. Our team has extensive experience supporting mines and contractors with site-specific ITS requirements throughout the Hunter Valley and NSW, providing a practical and thorough approach to plant inspection and documentation.
Our Introduction to Site services include:
- Physical and video plant inspections
- Site-specific ITS inspections and documentation
- Plant Safety File audits
- Assistance addressing identified non-conformances
- Electronic inspection reports with embedded photographic evidence
- Access to cloud-based reporting and Plant Safety File systems
- MDG 15 inspections and assessment support
- Thermal imaging
- Support with ITS and MDG 15 plant upgrades
What is MDG 15?
MDG 15, Mobile and transportable plant for use on mines and petroleum sites, is a Mining Design Guideline published by the NSW Resources Regulator.
The guideline is designed to assist in protecting workers and other people by eliminating or minimising lifecycle risks associated with mobile and transportable plant intended for use at mines and petroleum sites.
MDG 15 applies generally to mobile and transportable plant used at surface mines, surface areas of underground mines, underground metalliferous mines and petroleum sites. It does not apply to mobile and transportable plant for use at underground coal mines.
The guideline addresses a broad range of risks and plant safety considerations, including fire, unplanned movement, access and egress, isolation, safety-critical systems, proximity detection, human factors, and wheels, rims and tyres.
Importantly, MDG 15 is a guideline rather than a mandatory compliance document. Its recommendations are intended to help identify known areas of risk and possible controls for consideration as part of an appropriate risk assessment and site safety process.
MDG 15 and Introduction to Site
Introduction to Site is specifically addressed within MDG 15.
The guideline recommends that, before plant is used at a mine or petroleum site, it is assessed against the mine's standards or other appropriate standards. As part of introducing mobile and transportable plant to site, MDG 15 identifies considerations including:
- Assessing plant against the relevant recommendations within MDG 15
- Checking plant for potential fire risks
- Checking the functionality of safety-critical systems
- Assessing plant against the mine's engineering standards and Mechanical Engineering Control Plan (MECP)
- Ensuring the Plant Safety File is available to assist with the mine site assessment
- Undertaking appropriate risk assessment for the plant, its intended use and operating environment
This is where an experienced ITS inspection team can make a difference.
Capability Resources helps customers navigate the practical requirements involved in preparing plant for mine site introduction, identifying potential issues and providing the inspection records and supporting documentation required for the ITS process.
MDG 15 Plant Inspections in the
Hunter Valley and NSW
Capability Resources provides MDG 15 plant inspection and ITS support from our Rutherford facility in the Hunter Valley.
Our team understands that plant safety requirements need to be considered in the context of the equipment, its intended duty and the mine site where it will operate.
We provide a thorough assessment process supported by clear reporting, photographic evidence and practical assistance where non-conformances or upgrade requirements are identified.
For contractors and suppliers, this helps identify issues before mobilisation and reduces unnecessary delays when getting equipment onto site.
For mine operators, our ITS services provide an experienced external resource to support plant introduction and inspection requirements.
Capability Resources MDG 15 MultiSite Inspection
Moving plant between mine sites can mean navigating different Introduction to Site requirements and inspection forms. The Capability Resources MDG15 MultiSite inspection provides a thorough baseline inspection that can then be used to support the site-specific ITS process.
Our Compliance Inspectors assess the plant or equipment, identify non-conformances and review the supporting Plant Safety File documentation. Once the required evidence and documentation have been received, Capability Resources finalises the inspection report for the plant owner or representative.
The finalised report can then be submitted to the relevant site contact for review and approval by the site's statutory engineering team.
Because mine site inspection requirements are generally based on MDG 15, Capability Resources can use the completed MDG15 MultiSite report as a baseline when working through additional site-specific inspection forms. This can help reduce unnecessary duplication when preparing plant for introduction to different mine sites.
How the CapRes MDG 15
inspection process works
1. Request an inspection
The plant owner or their representative contacts Capability Resources to arrange an MDG 15 inspection of the plant or equipment.
2. Plant inspection
A Capability Resources Compliance Inspector inspects the plant or equipment and identifies any non-conformances requiring attention.
3. Non-conformances and Plant Safety File
We provide the owner or representative with a non-conformance report and request the required supporting Plant Safety File documentation.
The owner or representative works through the identified items and supplies photographic evidence showing that non-conformances have been rectified, together with the requested documentation.
4. Final inspection report
Once Capability Resources has received the required photographic evidence and Plant Safety File documentation, our team finalises the MDG 15 inspection report and provides it to the owner or representative.
5. Site review and approval
The owner or representative submits the finalised inspection report to their site contact for review and sign-off by the site's statutory engineering team.
6. Supporting site-specific ITS requirements
The completed MDG15 MultiSite inspection report can then provide a baseline for Capability Resources to work through other site-specific inspection forms and requirements.
For contractors and equipment suppliers working across multiple Hunter Valley mine sites, this approach provides a structured starting point for managing ongoing ITS requirements.
What Plant Can We Inspect?
Capability Resources provides Introduction to Site inspections across a broad range of mobile, transportable, electrical and ancillary plant.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Surface mobile plant
- Medium vehicles
- Road-going vehicles
- Cranes
- Pumps
- Compressors
- Drill rigs
- Generators
- Electrical equipment
- Ancillary equipment
Not sure what inspection requirements apply to your equipment? Get in touch with our ITS team before mobilisation.
Addressing ITS Non-Conformances
Finding an issue during an inspection does not have to bring mobilisation to a standstill.
Where non-conformances are identified, Capability Resources can help customers understand and address the required items. Our wider electrical and mechanical capabilities also allow us to support ITS and MDG 15 plant upgrades, servicing, testing, repairs and maintenance where required.
This integrated approach helps reduce unnecessary handovers between providers and keeps the focus on getting the plant appropriately prepared for site.
Why Work With Capability Resources?
Capability Resources has built a strong reputation supporting mining operations and contractors with plant Introduction to Site requirements.
Based in Rutherford, NSW, our team combines plant inspection experience with electrical and mechanical capability, allowing us to provide practical support throughout the process.
Customers choose Capability Resources for:
- Experienced and competent ITS inspectors
- Strong knowledge of mine site plant requirements
- MDG 15 inspection capability
- Support for both mine operators and contractors
- Physical and video inspection options
- Plant Safety File auditing
- Electronic reports with photographic evidence
- Cloud-based reporting
- Support addressing non-conformances
- Electrical and mechanical plant upgrade capability
- Convenient Hunter Valley location