2. Overview of the Process
What is assessed?
• Principal Hazards identified in WHS(MPS) Regulations
– Fire and Explosions
• Hazards requiring Specific control measures in WHS(MPS)
Regulations – Diesel exhaust emissions
• Incident identified hazards – CHPP Structural Integrity
2
3. Overview of the Process
Why is your mine or facility assessed?
o Mining Hazards risk assessment
oIdentify hazards
oRank hazards
o Bow tie assessment of the highest ranked hazards
o Prepare assessment template
o Nominate assessment span (all mines, UG mines, highest risk)
o Identify the mines that will be impacted by the hazard
3
4. Overview of the Process
What is the process?
o Review the mining hazard risk assessment (BBRA, principal
mining hazards, etc)
o Review the controls required to mitigate the hazard
o Review the management systems in place to control
o Review the standards in the workplace
o Workforce feedback
4
5. TAPS with Mechanical Focus
Concentrate on three Programs with mechanical focus:
• CHPP Structural Integrity
• Diesel Exhaust Emissions
• Fire and Explosions
5
7. CHPP Structural Integrity - Focus
Department had been considering an assessment program
for Coal Handling Plants
Developed in response to incidents at coal handling and
preparation plants (SA17-02)
o Western coalfield - CHPP boilermaker on crusher
walkway incident
o Hunter Valley – person falls through corroded walkway
mesh
Campaign of Planned Inspections
o Determine if issues exist
Site inspections – April to August 2017
Report issued November 2017
7
8. • Criteria for prioritising inspection
o Older plant
o Inspectors had identified issues
o Previous incident
• 23 of the 46 facilities inspected
• Four sites considered satisfactory
• Six (6) facilities issued with Prohibition Notices, primarily
related to systemic absence of, or ineffective, guarding
8
CHPP Structural Integrity
Planned Inspection Program
9. Ten (10) plant areas scored
• Risk Management and documentation
• Structural Audit process
• Wash plant building
• Crushing and screening plant building
• Coal and rejects bins
• Stockpile stacker/reclaimer
• Elevated conveyor gantries and
trestles
• Reclaim tunnels
• Thickenner tanks
• Dense/correct medium sumps
9
CHPP Structural Integrity
Planned Inspection Program
Identification of Hazards and Risks
Implementation of Controls
Multi level, high density of static and dynamic
plant, complex network of
walkways/platforms/stairs
Interaction with surface machinery, single
accessway at high elevation
Additional risk of Engulfment/irrespirable
atmosphere
Additional risk of Drowning
11. 11
CHPP Structural Integrity
Planned Inspection Program
• Thickener tanks generally well designed and maintained
• Most reclaim tunnels were okay, but some poorly ventilated in vaults
• Buildings often structurally okay, but many had corroded/detached
cladding
• Elevated conveyors and dense/correct medium sumps poorly managed
12. • Most sites considered it a positive process - “Fresh set of eyes”
• Most facilities had a program for structural inspection, but not
always routine or systematic
• Specific items of good practice:
o Mesh or handrails across sections of alsinite or polycarbonate wall
sheeting to prevent falling through
o Reclaim tunnels compliant, well laid out, clean, and easily
accessed
o Functional and effective isolation points for pneumatic isolation
o Well engineered harness attachment points
o Bin discharge gates upgraded to mechanical fail to safe
arrangement
o Well designed access walkway or platform
12
CHPP Structural Integrity
Planned Inspection Program
15. Main issues included:
o Guarding of plant
– Absent or ineffective guarding of rotating components
– Access hatch or guarding not secured or require a tool to remove
– Absent guarding to prevent injury by falling objects
o Corrosion
o Damaged/bent structural members
o Site modification with no evidence of engineering design
o Spillage and fines build up
Later site inspections noted crowd fencing and scaffold barricades were
restricting maintenance access and spillage control
15
CHPP Structural Integrity
Planned Inspection Program
31. CHPP Structural Integrity
Significant recent incidents
• 27th January, 2018, 30kg section of steel fell 4 metres in
concentrator building of surface mill. Group of three personnel
only 15 metres away
• 0500 hours Thursday 17th May, 2018, a pipe hatch in CHPP
weighing 10 kg was pushed off by pressure from a blockage in
the pipe, hit an adjacent pipe and fell 3 metres onto a walkway
near fine coal centrifuges. Investigation indicates securing bolts
on the hatch were missing
• 30th May, 2018, worker fell through grid mesh floor on first level
of CHPP resulting in broken leg. In response the site installed
1,100 fixing clips, 180 fixing discs, and replaced two corroded
areas
31
32. CHPP Structural Integrity
• 6th August in a processing plant an overhead crane catenary
bracket weighing 1.3kg fell 22 metres to the floor of the crane
bay
• Open Cut workshop overhead crane monorail bracket weighing
around 1.5 kg fell approximately 10 metres onto floor.
Investigation indicated bolts not secured
• Handrail approx. 3.5 metres above ground pivoted when
worker leaned on it. Fortunately worker landed on scrap metal
chute and was okay. Locking bolt not installed after
maintenance
• Syntron fell onto conveyor under 2000 tonne bin after restraints
broke
32
34. CHPP Structural Integrity
27th February, 2018
NSW Metex
25 metre gantry
Approx 20 metres
high
Road crossing
2-3 years old
34
35. CHPP Structural Integrity
MSHA
MNM Serious Accident Alert
On April 11, 2018, a miner received serious injuries when he was
struck by a piece of metal floor grating. A construction supervisor
stepped on a section of metal floor grating. that was unsupported
and unsecured on one edge. The grating, which weighed over 100
lbs, tilted, fell through the opening it was supposed to cover, and
struck the miner 25 feet below.
Access the MNM Serious Accident Alert here
35
MNM Serious Accident Alert
On April 11, 2018, a miner received serious injuries when he was struck by a piece of
metal floor grating. A construction supervisor stepped on a section of metal floor
grating. that was unsupported and unsecured on one edge. The grating, which
weighed over 100 lbs., tilted, fell through the opening it was supposed to cover, and
struck the miner 25 feet below.
Best Practices
• Ensure that floor gratings and covers installed over travelways are substantially
constructed, fully supported, secured in place, inspected regularly and properly
maintained.
• Inspect metal structures located in wet or corrosive environments frequently to
identify
deterioration that may present a safety hazard.
• Evaluate the integrity and support strength of any cover that was not designed as a
walkway
prior to walking on it. Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working
places.
• Restrict access to covers over openings not specifically designed to serve as
travelways. Provide readily visible warning signs that clearly display the nature of the
hazard and any protective action required.
• If the travel surface integrity is unknown or cannot be readily confirmed, ALWAYS
wear fall
protection.
This alert can be posted on bulletin boards, used in safety talks, or given to miners
and contractors as a hand out.
Not limited to Australia
11th April, 2018
USA walkway incident
100 lb ~ 45 kg
25 feet ~ 7.6 m
39. Diesel Exhaust Emission - Focus
Focus on how the mine prevents worker exposure to harmful
diesel exhaust emission through:
1. Identification, assessment and risk controls for diesel exhaust
emission hazards.
2. Preventative controls (controlling emissions at the source).
3. Mitigating controls (controlling exposure to airborne
emissions).
4. Monitoring (worker exposure).
5. Verifying the effectiveness of controls.
Does the mine have Critical Controls?
39
41. Diesel Exhaust Emission
General good practices
identified
• Procedure/workorder board
• Airborne contaminants (dust)
board for continuous miners
41
42. Diesel Exhaust Emission
Diesel test station
o Mandalong - PLC controlled VIV,
records automatically and results sent
to surface control room, but test
against brake
o Appin - load bars for torque stall, but
manual VIV
o Ashton – brattice for known quantity
(10.2 m3/s), XAM on rope
42
43. Diesel Exhaust Emission
Tag board
o Pad lock area, magnetic tags
o Slide in tags, or hooks
o CRO computer spreadsheet
o RFID tags
43
45. Diesel Exhaust Emission
Targeted Assessment Program
Main issues identified in underground coal:
• Ventilation
o Multi heading roadways
o Last line of cut throughs (behind continuous miner)
o Inbye crib room
• DPF seals
o DPF housing on entire man transport fleet missing seals
o Incorrect DPF in housing – Jug and SMV look similar
o Approval drawing incorrect configuration
o Seals cut off to make incorrect DPF fit in housing
o Modified DPF retainers (Jug spring, SMV rod/bolt)
• Disposal of DPF (unbagged)
45
46. Diesel Exhaust Emission
Targeted Assessment Program
46
Use of SMV diesel particulate filter in
Jug-A-0 by cutting off the seal ring
48. Diesel Exhaust Emission
Targeted Assessment Program
Things to consider:
• Measure air quality entering mine so understand impact
• Routine deputy NO2 measurements in panels to get data so can
show compliance
• Look at measured CO, NOx and DPM levels with respect to DES
baseline to optimise fuel settings and engine parameters for
your mine
• Regular meaningful training for workforce
48
54. Fire and Explosion - Focus
Fact sheets issued September
and October, 2017
Involved in 7 TAP’s
Review
• Risk identification
• Hazards
• Controls
• Mine standards
• Implementation
54
55. Fire and Explosion - Focus
Why assess the mine on fire and
explosion management?
Principal mining hazard
WHS (MPS) Regs Clause 5 (a) (ix)
55
56. Fire and Explosion
23rd June 2018
A haul truck caught fire
in the decline of an
underground metal
mine, blocking egress.
All workers were
accounted for, safe, and
took refuge in chambers
for approximately 10
hours
56
57. Fire and Explosion - Focus
Applicable Legislation – Mechanical Engineering Control Plan
WHS (MPS) Regulations Schedule 2 Clause 2
• (1) …“determining the means by which the mine operator will
manage the risks to health and safety from the mechanical
aspects of plant and structures”
• (2) …“ set out the control measures for…
o (b) the unintended initiation of explosions
o (f) uncontrolled fires being initiated or fuelled by plant
57
58. Fire and Explosion - Focus
Applicable Legislation – Mechanical Engineering Control Plan
WHS (MPS) Regulations Schedule 2 Clause 2
• (3) …”must be taken into account…
o (g) the risks associated with diesel engines
o (h) … face machines, mobile plant, drilling plant
o (j) … transfer and storage of combustible liquids
o (k) the prevention, detection and suppression of fires on
mobile plant and conveyors
o (m) the maintenance of explosion protected equipment in an
explosion protected state
o (n) undertaking of hot work
o (o) the use of fire resistant hydraulic fluids and materials…”
58
59. Fire and Explosion
Targeted Assessment Program
Mechanical Hazards
• Frictional ignition
– cutter drum picks and sprays
– drilling/bolting rigs water flow and tips
• Diesels
– explosion protection = over 3000 contained explosions per
minute (electrical and mining plans avoid one explosion in a
lifetime)
– fuel over hot engine components
– CAT3126 engine catastrophic failures
59
60. Fire and Explosion
Targeted Assessment Program
Mechanical Hazards
• Conveyor fires
– hot/collapsed bearings (grease/oil/fibres)
– belt tracking (friction, fibres)
• Hot works
• Flammable liquid use and storage
• Aluminium components
60
61. Fire and Explosion
Targeted Assessment Program
Repeated issues
• MECP does not reflect actual standards at mine – refuelling bays,
preuse inspections CM/diesels
• Conveyor standards -
spillage/clearance/tracking/fibres/fines/guarding/
housekeeping/valid inspections/verification of inspection standard.
Position of CO alarms
• Oil drums – not on bunds, damaged, positioned where can be
damaged
• Refuelling bay - Fuel pods spillage (200 litres), rubbish, lack of
preparation/standards for temporary bays (stonedust/shotcrete/
concrete/drainage/ventilation), is it a temporary bay? (6 months – 18
months)
61
62. Fire and Explosion
Targeted Assessment Program
Repeated issues
• Surface fuel tank – build up of combustible material around
• Aluminium – splice gear not stored in steel container
• Lack of fire fighting equipment to suit the risk at key
infrastructure locations. Working off old legislative
requirement and MDG1032 for minimum. Consider the hazard
and provision/locate accordingly
• Smoking paraphernalia in a hazardous goods shed
62
63. Fire and Explosion
Other issues
• Conveyor guarding – access to rotating equipment, area guards full of
spillage, underpass transitions so don’t walk into return belt, brow
points
• Lifting gear - inspections out of date (hoarding,
fitter/rigger/dogman, static loaded), damaged and in service, etc
• Scaf tags – inspection out of date, no barricade to prevent use
• Lack of ventilation in workshop/diesel bay. If don’t want to waste air
into return then use vent tubes and air fan. Lack of ventilation not
classed as a control measure in the fire triangle
• Sump handrails – drive in sump, surface dams
• Gas cylinders not restrained from falling
• MECP includes management of items in Schedule 2
63
64. Fire and Explosion - Fitters
Broad generalisation
• They have better understanding of fire risks and controls
associated with diesels, conveyors and frictional ignition
• Lesser understanding of fire fighting system, except around
conveyors (deluge systems)
• Reasonable inspections of picks/sprays, water flow/pressure.
Often not recorded in Deputy report
• Require maintenance and inspection standards, such as:
o rules for numbers of picks/sprays before stop and change
o curtains and additional throat sprays
• Inspection shift – If one shift is doing all the maintenance and
daily inspections then diminishing skills on other shifts =
reliance
64
65. Fire and Explosion
Controls
• Identify biggest hazard in mine – Conveyor fires, Frictional ignition
• Identification of critical controls – top of head examples
o Conveyor pulley RTD’s
o Conveyor wander switch
o Conveyor inspection (idler tags, spillage clearance, etc)
o Equipment preuse inspection
• Verification of controls
• Equipment designed to prevent oil spills (bunded oil pods) are
maintained
65
66. Fire and Explosion
Recent events
24th May 2018
Belt tracking off in
conveyor LTU. Found
smoke and flames from
a collapsed pulley
66
67. Fire and Explosion
Recent Incidents
Recent issues
13th May 2018
Deputy found fire on LTU tag a long
roller. Failed bearing.
5 x Tag-A-longs in main trunk
conveyor.
Approximately 6 x failed rollers on
floor beside LTU
67
68. Fire and Explosion
Recent events
23rd January 2018
Ignition of methane
at coal mine
development face
68
69. Fire and Explosion
Recent events
4th January 2018
Mono pump in UG
hard rock metal mine
stopped pumping.
Elecco found fire on
belt drive and used
extinguisher
69
70. Fire and Explosion
Recent events
13th November 2017
Operator smelt smoke
at tag board. Found
flames at conveyor
boot end. Hosed area
and removed cover to
inspect.
70
71. Fire and Explosion
Recent events
29th October 2017
Outbye Deputy smelt
smoke. Found fire on
collapsed conveyor
return idler. Used
stonedust and fire hose
to extinguish
71
74. MECP - Configuration
• MECP – describes overall system and maintenance philosophy,
with subordinate docs describing how applied to specific issues
(North Wambo good example)
Versus
• MECP – Directory to subordinate systems, then area document
directory to specific items, then item details how managed.
74
75. MECP – Roles and Responsibilities
• Identifies all the Mechanical and associated roles (including
trades, leading hands, supervisors, coordinators, managers,
etc)
• Dictates the hierarchal relationship between roles
• Clearly describes the role and associated responsibilities
75