Fire on Longwall AFC Kestrel Mine in March 2019. Will never get a mention at the Grosvenor Inquiry
Electrical Energy is not the only source of fires on the longwall face.
There is also Mechanical.
In this case at Kestrel was caused by overtemperature, resulting in hot grease catching fire
The fire on the AFC drive at Kestrel will never get a mention at the Grosvenor Inquiry.
Kestrel is not named in the terms of reference at all.
Falls outside the time frames of the Inquiry
Hot Grease caught Fire on MG drive shaft sprocket o/b bearing
- Incident occurred at LW407 Maingate (chainage 1783m) 17 > 18 ct at 1900 Hrs.
- Shearer was heading to TG and stopped at #70 roof support when cutting to the TG.
- AFC was faulted on MG1 & MG2 error with nil indication on CITECT. Prior to this fault the AFC sprocket bearing had been purged with grease after maintenance day between 7:30 am and 5:00pm. The fault indicated was investigated with the Electrician and PCS Engineer (by phone).
- Hot/Grease – Oil smell. The ERZ Controller checked at CME/Spill plates area with his personal gas detector. Nil Carbon Monoxide detected.
- Small indication of change on mine gas monitoring system in control that is consistent with normal CO changes in the shift
- AFC Sprocket inspection plate removed and open flame witnessed by trades and ERZ Controller at the muff coupling area where grease has caught fire
- Flames were put out with fire extinguishers, area quarantined and fire watch put in place.
