Mandalay Resources Costerfield Operations has been fined $110,000 after a two-tonne piece of rock fell from the ceiling of a tunnel, 1.5 metres from a worker.
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The mining company pleaded guilty to a single charge of failing to maintain for employees a working environment that was safe and without risks to health.
It was ordered to pay $12,000 in costs, in addition to being convicted and fined.
The rock fall happened as a worker was extending steel mesh lining into a new section of tunnel at the Costerfield mine in May 2016.
WorkSafe said the worker had just finished unbolting the leading edge of the existing steel mesh and was preparing to overlay new mesh and refasten the bolts.
An expert witness told the court the steel mesh installation method was "a departure from standard industry practice."
The court also heard it was reasonably practicable for Mandalay Resources to use a system of work that did not require removal of the rock bolts while installing new steel mesh.
Mandalay Resources Costerfield Operations general manager Ryan Austerberry said the company pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had implemented a number of enhancements across the business to continuously improve the health and safety of employees while they were at work.
"The health and safety of our people is of paramount importance," Mr Austerberry said.
"We work proactively to protect the health and safety of our people and safety is at the forefront of all our decisions and actions."
He said the affected employee was still working at Mandalay Resources.
However, WorkSafe said the worker had been unable to return to underground work since the incident.
WorkSafe health and safety executive director Julie Nielsen said the employee was left with long-term mental injuries because of a failure to meet basic safety obligations.
"Every worker should be able to go to work without their life being put at risk because of poor systems of work that expose them to serious injury or death," Ms Nielsen said.
"Mines are a high risk workplace and when incidents do occur they can leave workers physically and mentally scarred for life.
"Employers must ensure underground work is well planned and that the first priority is always the health and safety of workers."
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