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7Nth Longwall Spontaneous Combustion Event. 3Nth/4Nth Spontaneous Combustion Event Mine Management “Had Difficulty In Finding Any Information Because Of Insurance Issues And Confidentiality.

7Nth Longwall Spontaneous Combustion Event. 3Nth/4Nth Spontaneous Combustion Event Mine Management “Had Difficulty in Finding Any Information Because of Insurance Issues and Confidentiality.

140114 DME MRE

That Statement the reply to a Question posed by Inspector Russell Albury’s and contained in the MRE dated the 14th January 2018

I asked the mine if they had reviewed the situation which had occurred in 3/4 Nth. My understanding is that it was a similar situation and similar mine lay out i.e 2 x LW’s side by side.

The mine said they had not and had difficulty in finding any information because of Insurance issues and confidentiality. I suggested the mine talk to Martin Watkinson and Darren Brady who were both involved at the time of this previous event.

How is such a situation even possible?

Firstly, Section 68 of the Coal Mining Act sets out requirements for keeping of records.

If 3Nth/4Nth heating occurred after January 2007 (and it did) then the Mine Operator is in Direct Breach of Section 68.

Secondly how can the Information be confidential to the Mine where it happened? There is no logic at all. (As well defies all best practice and  displays absolutely No common sense)

How can a Company make Information it is require by Law to Keep, confidential from itself?

Thirdly, no doubt the Spontaneous Combustion TARP’s and Hazard Management Plan (HMP)and sealing procedures was subject to Review after 3Nth/4Nth heating and prior to 7Nth in 2014

If the TARPS, HMP and any associated procedures were altered based on whatever findings they had from the 3nth/4Nth then there is an additional Requirement to keep the documents.

No wonder they keep setting longwall blocks on fire and making Insurance Claims for loss of Longwall equipment and lost production.

2) For subsection (1), a matter must be kept in the mine record for 7 years after the matter is included in the record.

 Coal Mine Safety and Health Act 1999 Current as at 30 March 2017

Section 68

Mine record

  1. A coal mine operator for a coal mine must keep a mine record that includes—

a) all reports of, and findings and recommendations resulting from inspections, investigations and audits carried out at the mine under this Act; and

b) all directives issued under this Act to the coal mine operator and the operator’s agents or representatives; and

c) a record of all remedial actions taken as a result of directives issued under this Act; and

d) a record of and reports about all serious accidents and high potential incidents that have happened at the mine; and

e) all other reports or information that may be prescribed under a regulation for this section.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

2) For subsection (1), a matter must be kept in the mine record for 7 years after the matter is included in the record.

3) Subsection (2) applies whether the matter was included under this Act or the repealed Coal Mining Act 1925.

4) The coal mine operator must ensure the mine record, relating to at least the previous 6 months, is available at all reasonable times for inspection by each of the following— (a) coal mine workers employed at the mine; (b) the site senior executive.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

5) If a person (the former operator) who is the coal mine operator for a mine is replaced by another person (the new operator) as the coal mine operator for the mine, the former operator must give the new operator the mine record for the mine as soon as practicable after being replaced.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

6) A person must not destroy, deface or alter the mine record so that it is no longer a correct and complete record.

Maximum penalty—400 penalty units.

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