Many mining companies have so far managed to escape widespread disruption by adhering to the required safety procedures.  

In its latest advice to mine operators, the NSW Resources Regulator states: "As we move forward and restrictions ease, we must adapt and continually manage the risk of COVID-19 at mining operations.

"Under the NSW work health and safety laws, mine operators must have measures in place to eliminate or minimise the risk of COVID-19.

"Mine operators must do all that is reasonably practicable to eliminate, and if that's not possible, to minimise the risk to all workers and visitors at a mine."

A NSW Minerals Council spokesman confirmed most of its members were operating normally, albeit with strict COVID-19 protocols in place.

A spokeswoman for Centennial Coal, which has operations concentrated in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas told Australia's Mining Monthly that the company remained vigilant. 

"Our mine sites are continuing to adhere to the public health orders as we have done so for the duration of the pandemic," she said. 

"Screening is still undertaken upon entry to each site and masks worn when social distancing is unable to be achieved [such as muster areas, travelling underground].  Ongoing vigilance at our sites is paramount as restrictions begin to ease in the broader community."

Whitehaven Coal reports that there are no known cases of COVID-19 at any of its sites to date and operations remain largely unaffected but for distancing and hygiene measures.

Whitehaven Coal CEO Paul Flynn said: "In terms of COVID, there are no cases for us, which is fabulous.

"We have launched an incentive program to ensure our people are vaccinated and that's moving well," he said.

"Take-up through the sites has been very good, but the regions are lagging the state average [with regard to vaccination] more generally and so we are taking a cautious approach to how we moderate the various hygiene and distancing measures that we have in place.

"They will probably last longer than what will apply for the state average related measures."