The State Mining Engineer has announced that the government is poised to collect millions via a safety regulation tax as the Department of Mines and Petroleum is set to impose fresh steps that will secure the safety performance of the resource industry.

State Mining Engineer Simon Ridge told ABC that under the new regulations, companies are required to evaluate hazards on mining sites and implement safety measures, adding that he is expecting to see encouraging improvements from the mining sector as a direct result of the new safety regulations.

He said that the new system will render both the regulator and the industry on constant watch for safety, as the government is preparing to hire additional 37 mines inspectors that will be deployed to fully cover the new safety measures' impending implementation.

Mr Ridge admitted that the government has been largely reactive in the past, blaming the resources, or the lack of them, that were available before but he is confident that the changes they are instituting "will enable us to move on to a much more proactive footing and to address the risks and hazards and situations that are out there in the industry."

Voicing out the industry's reaction, Chamber of Minerals and Energy director Nicole Roocke told ABC that they expect the new measures to actually deliver significant safety improvements, noting that the $35 million a year to be shelled out by the industry should go a long way.

She added that the industry is not very concerned about the levy collection or the great number of inspectors that will keep watch but on the successful implementation of these changes and "how that levy is used to make sure that people working in our industry could go home safe by the end of the day."

Ms Roocke also stressed that the government must ensure that inspectors should posses the sufficient skills and experience to effectively evaluate the implementation of the new safety measure in the industry, adding that their role is very crucial since "they are out there on site, asking companies or requiring companies to demonstrate that the systems are working and are improving safety."