Devlin, 57, joined the Mines Rescue staff in 1995 and has spent more than 36 years dedicated to safety and rescue in Australia’s coal industry.

Prior to joining Mines Rescue, Devlin enjoyed a 20-year career in the coal mining industry, including 13 as a statutory official in the southern field and two years in the Queensland Mines Rescue Service.

He has been instrumental in evolving the Mines Rescue business from an emergency response function to an organisation that focuses proactively on world-class safety training to help prevent accidents occurring.

The shift in safety focus shows in industry statistics, with approximately one in 10 workers suffering a lost-time injury in 1995-96, to one in 50 workers in 2010-11.

“NSW has the best health and safety record in the world,” Devlin said.

“It’s hard to believe that when I started my career back in 1975, we still kept canaries at Mines Rescue stations.

“The industry should be very proud of the advances we have all made over the last few decades.

“The focus on getting our workers home safe to their families every day is everyone’s responsibility – a responsibility we take very seriously.”

During his tenure as state manager, Devlin oversaw several industry-changing initiatives, including the introduction of registered training organisation standards for Mines Rescue in 1996, overseeing the introduction of virtual reality training simulators, assisting in the development of numerous industry standards and guidelines and playing key roles at critical mining incidents such as Beaconsfield (2006), Gretley (1996), Appin (1979) and Pike River (2010).

“I am proud of the transformation in Mines Rescue from a reactive ‘we’re here if you need us’ attitude to an integral and active part of the safety culture of the whole industry,” he said.

“We endeavour to work with industry to be the primary source of all aspects of safety training in an industry that demands, and deserves, the highest standards. Australia is blessed with a unified approach from employers, equipment suppliers, legislators and unions that makes our coal mining industry’s safety standard the best in the world.”

Mines Rescue general manager Paul Healey said the appointment of Tonegato was the result of a rigorous succession process.

Healey said: “Steve has big shoes to fill but brings the right mixture of expertise, experience and dedication from his previous roles in the industry and most recently as the Southern Mines Rescue Station manager in Woonona".

Tonegato, 49, has maintained a 17-year career with Mines Rescue holding various management roles at the Woonona based station.

Prior to this, Tonegato gained 10 years practical experience at West Cliff and Tower collieries, as operator, mining engineer and under-manager.