North Goonyella Mine Fire 28th September 2018. “Suspend all operations within the exclusion zones established today to remove persons from these until an acceptable level of risk is achieved” “During the 30 minutes spent at the gate it was clear to see thick black smoke issuing from principally, the belt drift (1 in 4) and also, the Main fan evasee, The situation had worsened in the period 3 to 5pm yesterday, 27 September 2018”
MRE – North Goonyella – 28.09.2018.pdf
During the night of the 27th after being informed that as of 17:50 that black smoke was coming from the main fan, at 11pm Inspector Nugent issued a Section 167 Directive that stated
to suspend all operations within the exclusion zones established today to remove persons from these until an acceptable level of risk is achieved’
The main fan has since ceased operating, black smoke is now coming from the drifts.
A couple of sentences that stand out.
I would think that black smoke coming from the main fan, the main fan shutting down and black smoke coming out the drifts are fair sorts of indicators that even non-coal miners can understand.
Contacted David Cliff and discussed inference from indicators
The situation at the Mine is escalating and the plan is to deploy the GAG and make arrangements to seal up.
While it is all well and good to talk about deploying the GAG is that it will take time (likely days) and the Main Drifts need to be sealed as well as some activities about the main fan.
It is no longer possible to deploy Mineworker, or Mines Rescue Brigade due ” from the risk of an explosion and toxic or irrespirable atmospheres”
Inspector Nugent has his 167 Directive in place.
Black smoke from main fan at 17:50, evacuated site
23:00 DNRME Directive issued not to enter past locked gate at site until risk is determined acceptable level and ALARA
2:20 main fan stopped , 03:44 black smoke stopped from main fan
05:50 noticed black smoke laminated low / slow flow from drift
Contacted David Cliff and discussed inference from indicators
The situation at the Mine is escalating and the plan is to deploy the GAG and make arrangements to seal up.
Inspectors Richard Gouldstone, Geoff Nugent and Steve Smith arrived at NGC Mine at 06:45am on Friday 28 September 2018. We viewed the Mine from the security gate established to prevent access to the Mine following an escalation in the spontaneous combustion incident currently occurring
The exclusion zone was subject of a verbal Directive issued the previous day at 1 1 pm by Inspector Nugent to Mr John Anger (SSE), which is contained in the MRE for that date – i.e.
Due to the unstable and volatile conditions of fire and explosion risk in the underground environment of North Goonyella Coal Mine and its unpredictable potential to impact any people in all surface areas of the operation both from the risk of an explosion and toxic or irrespirable atmospheres, I Geoff Nugent Inspector of Mines am issuing the SSE of North Goonyella Coal Mine a directive under s167 of the Queensland coal mines safety and health act 1999 to suspend all operations within the exclusion zones established today to remove persons from these until an acceptable level of risk is achieved’
During the 30 minutes spent at the gate it was clear to see thick black smoke issuing from principally, the belt drift (1 in 4) and also, the Main fan evasee, The situation had worsened in the period 3 to 5pm yesterday, 27 September 2018. Those observing the situation commented upon the changing colour and volumes of smoke emanating from the Mine.
We met briefly with Mike Carter (SSE Millennium) who had been deployed for the 1M T at NGC. He explained that drone footage had been taken, and, that he with Shane Fleming (Engineering Maintenance Manager) had driven the perimeter of the exclusion zone as far as the Bleeder Fan to assess the possibility of access to it for GAG operations
We were satisfied that the main route into the Mine was secure from inadvertent access with suitable security personnel.
We travelled on to attend a meeting at the Mine camp in regard to progress on dealing with the spontaneous combustion event. Meeting at 8:30am Friday 28 September 2018
Attendees
Peter Purdie (CMW)
Marek Romanski (UMM)
Neville Impson (Compliance Manager)
Richard Gouldstone (Mines Inspector)
Steve Smith (Mines Inspector)
Mike Carter (SSE Millennium)
Peter Baker (Peabody Operations Manager)
Ross Bannerman (Peabody Legal Counsel)
Gavin Shields (HST Manager)
Shane Fleming (Engineering and Maintenance Manager)
Brendon Williams (LW Mechanical Engineer)
Stephen Woods (ISHR)
Dial in — John Anger (SSE) and later David Cliff (Consultant)
The Mine team provided an update as follows
Last 24 hours
1 . Liquid Nitrogen restarted at GN2698 13:45
- Continued with inertisation
- 2 hourly bag samples from T B 14, 25 and 26
- DR 1265 GN2699 Preparing rig on GN2703
- DR 1218 GN2702 1 15.6m
- DR 1226 GN2701 15m from holing
- Black smoke from main fan at 17:50, evacuated site
- 23:00 DNRME Directive issued not to enter past locked gate at site until risk is determined acceptable level and ALARA
- 2:20 main fan stopped , 03:44 black smoke stopped from main fan
- 05:50 noticed black smoke laminated low / slow flow from drift
1 1 . Contacted David Cliff and discussed inference from indicators
Next 24 hours
- Maintain exclusion zones
- RA generic controls for key hazards, explosion and fumes
- RA assessing ability to connect GAG to bleeder fan
- RA each activity to ensure acceptable level of risk
- Prepare for sealing mine remotely while maintaining exclusion zones and withdrawing if combustion fumes are present
Discussion
The matters above were discussed, with the Mine explaining a suite of options with David Cliff
The following exchanges occurred between the DNRME and the Mine which resulted in a small team visiting the Bleeder fan location under controlled conditions to identify the potential tasks to allow the GAG to be introduced.
Email from Mike Carter
Dear Richard,
I would like to provide notice that North Goonyella has complied with the Directive issued by Inspector Geoff Nugent* to manage risk to an acceptable level for site access into the exclusion zones established on 27/9/18. This has been achieved through the completion of a risk assessment to ensure that the risk to personnel is at an acceptable level for the following task:
- Safe access and return to inspect the bleeder fan via surface roads.
Attached is the JSA for the task. Note have discussed the additional controls raised by John Anger with the Risk Assessment team, they have provided clarity that the team had addressed these items. The risk assessment is for visual inspection only and no work will be carried out.
Could you provide notice of receipt of this email and if you have any additional concerns regarding please let me know.
Regards Mike
Response from Richard Gouldstone
For the task of ‘QMRS to inspect bleeder fan for potential GAG set-up’ you have complied with the requirement of the directive issued verbally by Inspector Geoff Nugent on 28/09/2018 ie
‘Due to the unstable and volatile conditions of fire and explosion risk in the underground environment of North Goonyella Coal Mine and its unpredictable potential to impact any people in all surface areas of the operation both from the risk of an explosion and toxic or irrespirable atmospheres, I Geoff Nugent Inspector of Mines am issuing the SSE of North Goonyella Coal Mine a directive under s 167 of the Queensland coal mines safety and health act 1999 to suspend all operations within the exclusion zones established today to remove persons from these until an acceptable level of risk is achieved’
This confirms the earlier verbal exchanges between us, after which personnel were deployed to the task in question.
Regards Richard Gouldstone
The situation at the Mine is escalating and the plan is to deploy the GAG and make arrangements to seal up.
