Inspector Matthew Kennedy interactions before and after issuing Directive “Suspending mining operations and directing that no-one was to return underground” with Grosvenor Management on 6th May 2020. What was the Anglo management response to the Kennedy Directive?

In my previous post I raised about why Inspector Kennedy has not given and is not scheduled to give evidence, and that is critical that he give evidence along with Inspector Brennan, DCIOCM Shaun Dobson and CIOCM Peter Newman.

How can anyone fully answer these questions for making a public submission about the adequacy of the Anglo Management and the Mines Inspectors when we have not heard from the Mines Inspectors directly involved who actually Inspected the Mine and wrote the referred to Mine Record Entries?

Why has Inspector Kennedy not given evidence or even scheduled to give evidence?

1. He was first Mines Inspector at the Grosvenor Mine on the same day methane explosion.
2. Inspector Kennedy was the one who (in person) issued the Directive to the Anglo Management preventing workers returning underground, This after consulting on the phone with CIOCM Peter Newman and DCIOCM Dobson.
3. Kennedy can give direct evidence about what he observed and heard at the Grosvenor Mine.
4. Inspector can give direct evidence about the discussions with Anglo Management before and after the Directive was issued, in particular any response to the Directive from Anglo Management

Glenn Britton by all I have heard was on site on the 6th of May 2020 when Inspector Matthew was the first Mines Inspector to arrive at the Grosvenor Mine.

Mr Britton (Anglo Head of Underground Operations) is said to be one of the Anglo Management that Inspector Kennedy personally informed that in consultation with the chief and deputy chief inspectors, a directive was given at about 6:15 pm suspending mining operations and directing that no-one was to return underground. TRA.500.014.0008

What was the reaction of Senior Anglo Management including Mr Britton?

Only Inspector Kennedy can tell us.

 

I am sure it will be very enlightening given the attitude of Mr Britton when the then SSE at Grosvenor was found by the Inspectors to be issuing technical instructions to the Underground Mine Manager while not himself holding the competencies needed himself.

At the Level 3 conducted by Inspector Shaun Dobson and Lead Investigator Andrew Smith compliance meeting in 2017, Mr Britton still disputes the findings and continues to argue the fact

The investigation also revealed the use of a process in the Grosvenor mine Safety and Health Management System that authorised non- statutory personnel to issue technical directions to statutory personnel.

The Inspectorate have determined that the use of this process is not in accordance with the intent of the Act and Regulations and should not be used.

This has already been discussed with the current SSE for Grosvenor mine.

An Offence against the Act.
Discussed with the SSE. What does this mean

Mr Britton requested that the requirement for persons who do not hold a statutory certificate of competency not giving directions to a person holding a statutory certificate of competency in charge of an Explosion Risk Zone be communicated to industry.

I am unaware of any other complaint on these sort of matters being investigated and found to be correct.

https://www.qldminingcrisis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/26.04.2017-SSE-instruction-complaint-comments-MRE-Grosvenor-Coal-Mine-.pdf.pdf

 

 

Grosvenor Mine and how it was Managed are central to what has happened at Grosvenor leading up to May 2020 Methane Ignition causing serious burns to five Mine Workers.

1. Logically it seems Glenn Britton is the creator of these provisions of the Mines SHMS.
2. Mr Britton is trying an illegal practice to authorise giving Technical Direction through trying to allow this Under the Mines SHMS.
3. Illegal as nothing in a Mines SHMS can contradict the Act and Regulations.
4. Does this process exist at other Anglo Operations?
5. No indication in the MRE whether the DNRME were looking at other Anglo Mines under Mr Britton’s to see if the same illegal provision exists in their SHMS and if so, have it removed.

The discussion also included the differentiation of technical direction in relation to operational and safety matters. The difference in these matters is not clearly definable as these are intimately connected. However all activities are required to be conducted at a level of risk that is as low as reasonably achievable and within acceptable limits. Therefore all operational matters invoke some facet of safety and health and cannot be clearly defined as to which matters may be separated to allow a person who does not holds a statutory certificate of competency to give directions to a person holding a statutory certificate of competency in charge of an Explosion Risk Zone.

Mr Glenn Britton, (Anglo Head of Underground Operations) disputes the findings by
This is one of the Mine Record Entries that falls outside the Ministerial Inquiry time frames for Grosvenor Mine
Mr Britton requested that the requirement for persons who do not hold a statutory certificate of competency not giving directions to a person holding a statutory certificate of competency in charge of an Explosion Risk Zone be communicated to industry