Grosvenor Inquiry Submission. SIMTARS

GROSVENOR INQUIRY SUBMISSION SIMTARS SUBMISSION

My Submission sent today the 11th May 2021 is in the link above.

It starts as below

SIMTARS SUBMISSION SIMTARS, METHANE EXPLOSION and SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING

FINDING

SIMTARS Research Station as expressly Recommended by a succession of Royal Commissions and Mining Warden Inquiries; has not fulfilled some/majority of the Functions and Research into Underground Coal Methane Explosions and Spontaneous Combustion.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. A SIMTARS Advisory Committee formally be set up under the chairmanship of an independent person and that representation on the committee should include nominees from:—

           The Queensland Mining Unions

               The Department of Mines

              The Queensland Resource Council

        The of such an advisory committee would include advice to the Minister for Mines:—            Priorities for research

         Budget estimates          

 2. The SIMTARS Advisory Committee annually publish for the Public a Report including

a) Reports for Research Projects Concluded in that year.

b) Interim Reports and status of Research Projects Underway.

c) Research Projects Commenced During the Year and Reasons for funding.

d) Research Projects Declined and Reasons for.

 4) Annual Research Projects into Spontaneous Combustion, Methane Explosion and Survivability of Mine Workers, and Ventilation Structures and Systems be funded Annually out of the Industry Levy.

Practical Outcomes for Hands on practical training for Underground Coal Statutory Positions be constructed and located at the Dysart Mines Rescue Facilities (or equivalent Bowen Basin Town) to gain experience in the correct methods of dealing with full scale underground mine fires and the hazards associated with the varying conditions that may occur.

 This to be funded by Government Capital Outlay for construction and funds be Annually allocated from the Industry Levy for its on-going operation, improvement and maintenance.

5) Updated, comprehensive state-of-the-art Training and Assessment packages and facilities on the subjects of Ventilation, Methane and of Spontaneous Combustion in coal mines be available in the Central Highlands Towns.

Capital expenditure funded by Government and the Annual Levy to pay for ongoing Research, updating Training and Assessment and the running of Courses for Mine Workers

6)  Independent Review into the Research Conducted by SIMTARS over the last 26 years that includes its compliance to the Moura No 2 Recommendations, its Charter/Duties and Obligations and Funding.

Royal Commission and Mining Warden Recommendations.

These Recommendation in particular relate to.

1. Methane Explosion Research
2. Spontaneous Combustion Research
3. Ventilation Structure Design to Maximise survival chances from a Methane Explosion, and allow Self Rescue, Aided Escape and Mines Rescue deployment in a timely and safe manner.
4. Hands on practical training for Underground Coal Statutory Positions to gain experience in the correct methods of dealing with full scale underground mine fires and the hazards associated with the varying conditions that may occur
5. Collation of Information and Research into Spontaneous Combustion including Case Studies.
6. Keeping and making available to Mine Workers a Comprehensive and Up to Date Libraray.

 

SIMTARS has been in operation from 1986 and has had Tens, upon Tens, upon Tens of Millions of Dollars outlaid on its Buildings, Research Facilities and Equipment, its Full Time Researchers and of course the funding for actual Research Projects.

What did they have to show us for state-of-the-art research projects and gained insights into these areas?

There are numerous Research Papers that have been delivered at Ventilation and Mine Safety Conferences all over the world and include that annual Coal Operators Conferences run by the University of Wollongong in Wollongong NSW.

How many of these Research Papers are the Coal Mine Face Workers including Mine Deputies aware of?

I would say close to none.

If they were worthy of producing for the Grosvenor Inquiry they would have been.

 SIMTARS besides Gas Chromatograph Analysis; produced absolutely NOTHING beyond Reports from ACARP Grants dating back to 1996 and the latest 2010.

Their own evidence demonstrates that “If there is not a Research Grant, no Research Occurs.”

The Reference Documents used in the SIMTARS REPORT, “Assessment of Gas Chromatographic Data; part of Inspectorate Investigation M20-0007 Grosvenor Explosion” are from 1999 to 2004

D.Cliff 1999

Cliff, David, David Rowlands, and Jon Sleeman. 2004. Spontaneous Combustion in Australian Coal Mines. Redbank: Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station.

D.Cliff, C.Hester, C.Bofinger. 1999. The Interpretation of Mine Atmospheres particularly for Spontaneous Combustion, Mine Fires and Explosions. Redbank, 4301, Queensland, Australia: Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station.

The Inquiry has heard that there are only Two Current Research Projects into Spontaneous Combustion, both funded by ACARP Grants.

Neither have any real application to spontaneous in Underground Coal Mines.

GREEN TIMBER should never be used for passive roof support due to shrinkage along making them ineffective and unsuitable.

SEAN MULLER

1. Mr Hunter was referring you to timber, green timber, in particular, I think he referred to green timber underground. Are you aware of that work that’s being done by Simtars at the moment in the development of what’s ultimately to be an ACARP report?
2. Yes.

BEAMISH

TRA.500.022.0018

1. And, for example, obviously the spontaneous combustion of coal is significant for the shipping industry?
2. That’s correct.
3. Is this methodology applied in that context as well?
4. No, it’s not. They have their own devised test arrangement that has been signed off by the various          countries.  However, it is under severe review at this point in time. 

There is an ACARP project reviewing the application of that test, primarily because it’s creating a few issues for Australian coals.

 

The Inquiry has also heard that there is an urgent need to do more Research and has in effect asked the Inquiry to Recommend a number into Spontaneous Combustion, including from the effects of PUR, no doubt in large part funded by the Taxpayers of Queensland.

SIMTARS as historically has fallen well short of fulfilling any of its obligations to the Coal Mine Workers of Queensland for well over 20 years.

The Moura No 2 Wardens Inquiry made comprehensive Recommendations all accepted by Government and included in the SIMTARS obligations and duties.

MOURA NO 2 WARDENS INQUIRY (Windridge1995)

Evidence before the Inquiry indicated that there is a great deal of basic scientific and technical knowledge already available on the subject of spontaneous combustion of coal; on its causes, its detection and methods of dealing with it.

The regrettable fact is that much of this information is not widely known, and not readily available to mine operators.

It is recommended that funds be made immediately available to undertake an exhaustive international literature and data search, to critically review the literature and data and to prepare a comprehensive state-of-the-art report on the subject of spontaneous combustion in coal mines.

The investigation should include the collection and analysis of the available international information on field experiences with notable spontaneous combustion events in mines, on the circumstances of the occurrences and of the actions taken.  This would establish a portfolio of case studies (against which the likely efficacy of different strategies could be assessed) for education and training purposes.

The Inquiry is not in a position to recommend who should be commissioned to undertake the project.  SIMTARS might have the range of technical expertise required for the task but it may be profitable to have more than one organisation working on it conjointly.  The project should have high priority and urgency as a necessary pre-requisite to the formulation of an Australian research strategy on spontaneous combustion.

 

All these Recommendations were accepted by the Government and the SIMTARS website boasts the areas of research and highly trained Research and Development Staff.

SIMTARS and the RSHQ have nor been able to demonstrate from any Report, Video, Witness or “Expert” that they do any of the relevant Research below.

The Literature Library does not work.

If you press the Link all that comes up is

This site can’t be reachedlibrary.dnrme.qld.gov.au took too long to respond.

Try:

 https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/simtars/about-us/about-simtars

 Research themes

We conduct a broad range of commercially funded and non-profit research projects on themes such as

1. accident and incident investigation
2. large-scale and medium-scale spontaneous combustion testing
3. frictional ignition testing
4. mine explosion propagation and suppression testing
5. mine escape vehicle navigation systems
6. emergency response technology.

 

Simtars’ highly trained R&D staff have a wealth of experience in mining safety technology and systems. We have specialist, purpose-built laboratory and testing facilities to deliver high-quality testing and research.

 

https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/simtars/resource-library

 Simtars mining information and resource library

Simtars’ library and resource collections comprise a rich and diverse range of books, journals and magazines, maps, rare books, e-resources and more.

In addition to our history collection, you will find resources on underground mining health and safety subjects, and occupational health and safety.

The library can provide specialist advice and assistance in sourcing information from the following:

National and international databases containing journals

Scientific publications, articles and reference materials

Mining operations, health and safety

Occupation and environmental hygiene and monitoring related information

Government links and affiliated organisations and businesses

Links to mining industry reports, conferences and presentations.

 

During the Grosvenor Inquiry, we have had a number Former SIMTARS Employees and other non SIMTARS Mining Consultants, try and inform the Inquiry about,

1)           Methane Explosions and the mechanisms and energy required for ignition at standard atmospheric conditions, and

2)           Gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen, and Ethylene as escalating indicators of an active coal heating, and (page 2)

3)           GOAF GAS FLOW STUDIES (page 3)

4)           Spontaneous combustion propensity of virgin coal that has not had its inherent moisture removed as happens with the gas drainage and mining activities. (page 4)

THE ONLY AREA SIMTARS EMPLOYEES WERE IN RELATION TO GAS READINGS FROM GAS CHROMATOGRAPH.

Gas chromatograph “Experts” employed by SIMTARS have almost UNIVERSALLY been University Chemistry Graduates.

Historically being a Chemistry Graduate and Gas Chromatograph Operator has led several people to positions of Safety and Health Authority and Stature within the Underground Coal Mining Industry totally unrelated to their Tertiary Academic Qualifications

They also Universally have no Coal Mining Practical Experience

Thus, they cannot and hold no.

1. Recognised Competencies prerequisites for Statutory Positions,
2. Ventilation and Gas Competencies.

Some though have delivered and deliver courses for Management Level Competencies for Positions such as Ventilation, Spontaneous Combustion and Risk Management for the last 2 decades.