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Respirable Dust Monitoring. It Take 18 Months For Inspectors To Make Grosvenor Mine Test The Minimum Number Of Tests Required By Regulation

Respirable Dust Monitoring. It take 18 months for Inspectors to make Grosvenor Mine test the minimum number of tests required by Regulation

The Mines Inspectorate became aware of personal dust monitoring results of over twice the legal limit (6.5 mg/m3 and 6.2 mg/m3) for workers who were in the returns while coal production was occurring at Grosvenor Mines at least as early as February 2016.

The tests are from May 2015 and the Mine Manager states that there has not been any personal Dust Monitoring for the last 3 months.

This finding of the Inspectors is detailed in the MRE of Inspectors Dobson and Gouldstone dated the 11th of February 2018.

MRE – Grosvenor Coal Mine RD – 11.02.2016 (002).pdf

Most mineworkers would imagine that with the so called emphasis the Mines Inspectorate is putting into Respirable Dust Levels and testing, that once they became that personal dust monitoring was not occurring on a quarterly basis, that the Inspectors would issue a Directive to ensure the Minimum sampling number required.

It is another 18 months until then Inspector Marlborough does finally issue a Directive mandating a minimum of 8 to 10 personal dust sampling per quarter, after there were 5 done in the Second Quarter of 2017.

Inspec6or Marlborough also requested Management to attend a meeting with the Mines Inspectorate at 1 William Street at 10:00am on Tuesday 15th August to explain why this non-compliance occurred and what immediate actions are being implemented to prevent a recurrence of this

MRE – Grosvenor Coal Mine RD – 11.08.2017.pdf

On February 11th Inspector Dobson does issue a Directive

Inspectors Dobson stopped Grosvenor deploying contractor Mine Workers in the development panel return roadway while production was occurring for 5 days, until there was a risk assessment and controls were introduced.

Pursuant to section 167 of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999

Prevention of exposure to Respirable dust and Silica with working activities in returns during development production. Due 16/02/2016

To suspend all working activities in returns during development production. This will require the risk assessment for this matter to be reviewed and controls to be implemented.

October 2016 MRE by Inspector Brennan when he went to Grosvenor Mine to investigate an anonymous complaint regarding coal mine workers in Return/HomotropaI roadways.

Inspector Brennan inspects 101 Tailgate Return where workers are employed doing secondary roof support.

Inspector Brennan finds at least 3 separate non compliances to the Grosvenor Coal Mine – SWI – Working in Returns Task – 5. Accessing into Returns.

The so called Engineering Control of a Water Curtain to control the level of respirable dust did not comply with the design parameters in Task 7 of Grosvenor Coal Mine – SWI – Working in Returns Task – 7.

MRE – Complaint working in Returns Grosvenor Coal Mine – 08.09.2016 (002).pdf

Inspector Brennan Inspects the 101 Tailgate Return at 17ct, and finds that the none of the initial group of mineworkers had a Hand Held Gas Detector as required by Grosvenor Coal Mine – SWI – Working in Returns Task – 5. Accessing into Returns

Water Curtain did not comply with the design parameters in Task 7 of Grosvenor Coal Mine – SWI – Working in Returns Task – 7.

Working in Returns Inspection Board” is located as documented in Grosvenor Coal Mine SWI – Working in Returns Task – 4. Accessing Panel dot point two?

 

MRE – Grosvenor Coal Mine RD – 11.08.2017.pdf

From a review of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines dust exposure database it is evident that there has been a failure to comply with regulation 89 of the Queensland Coal Mine and Safety Health Regulations. The results from Grosvenor for the second quarter of 2017 indicate that only 5 valid personal respirable dust monitoring results for the Development Production Similar Exposure Group (SEG) were submitted.

As a result a directive is issued to review the mines safety and health management system documents that provide for compliance with Regulation 89, and Recognised Standard 14. This needs to ensure that these documents include mechanisms for effective personal respirable dust monitoring and the submission of results in accordance with the regulatory timeframes.

You are also requested to attend a meeting with the Mines Inspectorate at 1 William Street at 10:00am on Tuesday 15th August to explain why this non-compliance occurred and what immediate actions are being implemented to prevent a recurrence of this.

This Post Has One Comment
  1. Hi Stuart,

    Its like formula 1 where the track limits are not really the limits, and the drivers keep pushing the boundaries because they get faster lap times. Maybe the regs have become guidelines and not everyone has got the memo yet.
    It would be good to see if this is a local issue at Grosvenor, an Anglo issue or is it Industry wide.

    You’re last couple of articles don’t show the inspectors in a positive light and probably are not competent compared to the previous generation of inspectors, I’m sure there are good capable inspectors within the department but are getting tarnished by those that aren’t.

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