Methane High Potential Incidents and Non-Reportable Incidents
Non-Reportable Methane Incidents gets defined by Inspector Gouldstone in July 2017.
MRE – Grosvenor Coal Mine – 19.07.2017.pdf
THE TERM NON-REPORTABLE INCIDENT IS NOT USED IN THE COAL MINING ACT AND THERE IS NO DEFINTION FOR IT.
BETWEEN THE DNRME AND MINE OPERATORS THIS TERM HAS NOW BEEN DEFINED AND APPLIED
INTRODCUES A WHOLE NEW SET OF TERMS OPEN TO MANAGEMENT INTERPRETATION.
THIS INTERPRETATION WILL INEVITABLY APPLIED TO OTHER TYPES OF HPI EVENT
“OF COURSE” WE HAD CONTROL OF IT. IT WAS ONLY A SHORT-TERM PROBLEM.
19 July 2017 MRE Richard Gouldstone
Mr Adam Garde (SSE), Mr Wayne Bull (Operation Manager), Mr Cec Ivers (UMM), Mr David Thomason (TSM), Mr Michael Webber (VO), Mr Chris Englebrecht (Seamgas Superintendent)
HPI Reviews
1.1.1 GB Methane Exceedances
The principle to be observed in deciding if it is a HPI or NRI is whether control of the situation has been lost.
An instantaneous or short term spike is acceptable but not if associated with other controllable contributory factors eg , VCD damage or misuse, methane drainage shortcomings, or, anticipated barometric variations. Each exceedence reported will be examined by at least two inspectors and over time a series of criteria can be established which will make the qualification of either NRI or HPI more readily obvious.
IT EXPLAINS A LOT ABOUT HOW AND WHY METHANE >2.5% GENERAL BODY IS TREATED SO POORLY BOTH IN REPORTING TO DNMRE OR MINE INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIAL ACTION.
THIS NEWLY INTRODUCED TERM OF “ NON-REPORTABLE INCIDENT’ AND THE INTERPRETATION PUT BY THE DNMRE INSPECTORS IN MY VIEW HAS INTRODUCED A NEW WAY FOR COMPANIES AND INDEED THE DEPARTMENT TO HIDE THE SEVERITY OF INCIDENTS AND THERBYE ALSO THE REQUIREMENTS OF MANADATORY REPORTING TO DNRME IMMEDAIELY AND FULL INVESTIGATION REPORT FORWARDED TO INSPECTORS WITHIN 1 MONTH
