Quick Answer
Shutdown work in mining is planned downtime where a mine, plant or major piece of equipment is deliberately taken offline so a contractor workforce can perform maintenance, replacements and upgrades that can't be done while the site is running. Key facts:
- Planned shutdowns run to a schedule — usually every 6–12 weeks per major asset
- Typical scopes: HME component change-outs, dragline shuts, CHPP maintenance, longwall moves, conveyor overhauls
- Workforce spikes: 100–1,000+ additional contractors on-site for 1–4 weeks
- Rates: significantly above base — often $65–$120+/hr for trades on rosters with penalties and allowances
- Won through prequalified contractor panels via Avetta, Rapid Global, Cm3, Pegasus
What a shutdown is (and isn't)
A shutdown (also called a "shut" or "turnaround") is planned mine or plant downtime with a locked scope, budget and duration. It's not a breakdown — breakdowns are unplanned. Shuts are scheduled 6–12 months ahead, tendered, resourced and rehearsed. Every hour lost costs the miner tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in deferred production, so shuts run to the minute.
Typical shutdown scopes
Common Bowen Basin and Pilbara shutdown scopes: HME major-component change-outs (engines, transmissions, wheel motors, buckets, trays), dragline shuts, CHPP maintenance and structural work, conveyor belt splices, longwall moves (underground), truck rebuilds, tyre changes and civil earthworks. Each scope is broken into tasks with earned-value tracking.
Who works on shutdowns
Shutdown crews mix operator maintenance teams, resident contractors, OEM specialist crews (Hastings Deering, Komatsu, WesTrac, Liebherr) and short-term labour hire. Roles include boilermakers, diesel fitters, auto electricians, riggers, dogmen, crane operators, hydraulic fitters, electricians, supervisors, planners and safety advisors.
Shutdown pay rates in 2026
Shutdown rates are consistently higher than base site rates. Typical 2026 figures for tradespeople: $65–$95/hr base, $85–$120+/hr on penalties (night shift, weekends, remote sites), plus LAFHA, per-diems and travel allowances. Supervisors, planners and specialist trades often earn more.
Compliance and prequalification
Contractors win shutdown work only if they're already prequalified through the operator's system — most commonly Avetta, Rapid Global, Cm3 or Pegasus. Every worker needs current standard 11 (or standard 11 underground), coal board medical (QLD coal), site-specific inductions and role-relevant tickets. Failed audits cost you future scope.
How contractors win shutdown work
Winning shutdown scope means: (1) being on the operator's prequalified panel, (2) having a live training matrix, licences, medicals and inductions tracked per worker per site, (3) demonstrating on-time / on-budget delivery on prior scopes, (4) rapid mobilisation and rest-and-recreation compliance, (5) tight cost control and reporting. SprintSuite gives contractors all of the above in one place.
Related reading: BMA shutdown planning · Bowen Basin mines map · Boilermaker jobs in Mackay · Mining tenders in QLD · How mining contractors respond to job cuts.
