8th September anonymous complaint regarding coal mine workers in Return/HomotropaI roadways.
POINTS TO NOTE
Wayne Bull advised that no one works in homotropal roadways and not in return during Longwall operation.
Inspector seems to take Bull at his word. Does not appear to confirm that by looking at any Statutory Reports.
UNDERGROUND INSPECTION
We entered the tailgate and I was immediately aware of the high ventilating pressure on the man door. In the tailgate I was provided an overview of the can pumping process by Outbye Superintendent Stephen Livingstone – Blevins, inbye two coal mine workers were setting up a pump.
Why does this not set off alarm bells?
Pressure, is it high to pull high quantities of Air around the longwall face?
How are the Regulators set?
Are they set with minimal resistance openings, or are they set at high restriction?
Is the mine ventilation system total resistance vastly increased by the methodology of Regulator being set at far higher resistance opening size than necessary?
Is the Ventilation system fit for purpose.
TG 101
No gas detectors on workers in Returns as required.
Water curtain to suppress respirable airborne dust not installed properly also acts as a Regulator.
No one properly aware of requirements to work in Return.
ERZC Inspection Boards not required, Statutory Reports by ERZC not avaliable to workers going into Returns.
Still does not stop Grosvenor putting workers in Returns no matter how many procedures are not trained and followed and how not compliant with Inspection Regime.
MG 101
Installing 8m bolts above conveyor bel by trialing platform.
Been used at Nth Goonyella and Moranbah North for years.
Are they pre-installing centre megabolts on advance in other development panels?
Guttering along Maingate
Cavity runs from Chock #70 to #98.
If there are 149 chocks on the face then that would be approximately 72 metres long. (28 x 2.5m). No mention of how high or wide the fall is.
No Road tape near Zone of Operation for Rocsil pumping.
Does not seem to check on whether the 350m on the return side of the ZOO is in fact in place stopping workers being within 350 on the Return side.
Inbye Seal Construction.
No ERZC Inspection Board.
No indication of gas detectors being worn by workers.
How does this happen after Paul McGuire fatality at the Grastree Mine (Anglo)?
DOCUMENT REVIEW
Working in Returns. Inspector has concerns and Recommends Review.
Description of Action Recommended to be Taken:
Review the content of Operators Training Manual Altair 4 & Altair 5X. The document has references to operating a vehicle? The document also contains other questionable statements.
References:
The Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2001 Section 82 Training.
Recommends, no legal standing. Takes no action stop this work until the proper procedures and training and assessment put in place. This includes all the things the Inspector found wrong.
08.09.2016 Complaint working in returns + comments MRE – Grosvenor Coal Mine –
