Australian Mine Safety Journal is digital publication on mining industry

Today Roy Hill welcomed the Minister for Transport, the Minister for Environment and MP for the Pilbara, Kevin Michel MLA to open the completed Roy Hill Rail Bridge . The Roy Hill funded bridge is a $18.66 million new single span rail bridge carrying the Great Northern Highway over the Roy Hill rail line, leading into Port Hedland’s port. The new bridge replaces an existing level crossing, enabling the free movement of traffic over the rail line, and removes the potential for a railroad accident at the intersection. Main Roads WA have overseen the design, procurement process and construction of the project, and now the project is complete, will oversee the future operations and ongoing maintenance of the bridge. Main Roads WA appointed WA business Georgiou Pty Ltd the contract to construct the bridge, and local Pilbara Aboriginal business Gebro Contracting as the project site supervisor, with the construction of the bridge generating 65 ...

Nanotron Technologies , a wholly owned subsidiary of Sensera Ltd, and industrial safety solutions provider Selectronic have announced their first joint product: the PDS2400 Collision Avoidance Solution (CAS) proximity detection system for open-pit mine safety. “The PDS2400 is an RF-based proximity detection solution that supports collision awareness and proximity warning between fast-moving vehicles, as well as between vehicles and people. Unlike competitor solutions, it provides a turnkey, ready-to-go system, which requires zero calibration before use.” The new PDS2400 will be available in Q2 2019. The new solution helps mine operators ensure that they comply with all relevant safety legislation, such as Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) regulations in the USA. The PDS2400 CAS solution includes state-of-the-art vehicle systems with Controller Area Network (CAN) bus-based displays and personnel tags with wireless Qi chargers, and operates for up to ...

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is seeking public comment on a suite of guidance materials developed for ground control for WA mining operations . The department has prepared a  draft code of practice for ground control for Western Australian mining operations . This code of practice will assist those operating a mine to consider the geotechnical aspects for the safe design, construction, operation and closure of the mine workings for which they are responsible so they may meet their legislative obligations for occupational safety and health under the  Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994  and the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995. In addition, the department has developed a  draft ground control management in WA mining operations guideline . It is designed for those who have control of a mine (e.g. employer, Registered Manager, Quarry Manager, Underground Mine Manager), or have operational functions ...

As the 2018 year draws to a close there is a range of uncertainty in global mining markets that have made a few investors a little nervous. There are, however, some constants emerging across the mining industry. One of those clearly evident is that the mining industry is focusing efforts around the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, Big Data digital data transformation and there has been significant progress over this past year in development and convergence of mining safety technology. Mining safety technology set to progress The certainty for 2019 is that there will be further progress on mining safety technology globally. A range of companies are now looking to leverage integrated sensor technology and connectivity of devices to enhance productivity and improve mining safety in real time. Despite the future opportunities in mining safety technology, there will also be a range of imminent threats to work, health and safety that we have not seen before. ...

A rescued survivor has told authorities that there are 17 people trapped inside a flooded mine in the Indian region of Meghalaya .   According to available reports the mine was flooded last Friday. The survivor told Indian press that “There were 22 people in all. Five of us were on the ground while 17 others were busy cutting coal,” said Sayeb Ali, 21, from Panbari village in the Chirang district of Assam. ‘Ground’ refers to the landing area inside the mine. “There are three others from my village alone, who are still trapped,” he said. “I was about five feet away from the ground that morning and on my way up, when I suddenly felt a lot of air and then saw water,” Ali said. “I caught on to the wire and managed to climb upwards till the people outside sent in a carriage,” he recalled. “I was all drenched,” he said. “The water helped to push me out,” he claimed, adding that “four others on the ground” were also rescued. “They are in Meghalaya,” he said. Ali had...

Austmine’s Brisbane End of Year Networking event provides an opportunity to celebrate with industry colleagues and the Austmine team at the end of a fantastic year for our industry. The event will be held on Monday 26th November 2018 at the Queensland Cricketer’s Club. Together mining and METS companies have reached new heights in 2018 and are ushering in an exciting digital age driven by new technologies, innovative thinking and collaborative problem-solving. This collective strength and support has enabled Austmine to explore new frontiers for our members throughout the year, such as the creation of international initiatives and projects, facilitation of key industry workshops, increased networking opportunities and greater influence to advocate for our world-leading METS sector. The event will facilitate new connections between METS and miners in attendance and will include short presentations and networking drinks and canapes. More details on the ...

In July this year a new standard for gas detection and monitoring equipment in coal mines was launched. The new standard incorporates world-leading practices feature for management of life saving gas detection equipment in coal mines across Australia and New Zealand. AS/NZS 2290.3:2018 , Electrical equipment for coal mines – Introduction, inspection and maintenance, Part 3: Gas detecting and monitoring equipment was published by the joint Australian and New Zealand technical committee of Standards Australia. “The primary emphasis of this standard is the safety of coal miners, by providing guidance on the use of gas detection equipment in mines,” said Dr Bronwyn Evans, CEO of Standards Australia. “ The Pike River Mine disaster of 2010 is one of the many devastating examples why continued standards development is so important. “Among the changes in this edition of the standard, is a new requirement for routinely measuring the response time of installed gas detection systems....

In preparation for cyclone season many mines across Australia have already formalised emergency response plans for cyclone related events but mining safety regulators are warning that there is no place for complacency. The cyclone season officially started on 1 November 2018 and will run through to 30 April 2019. The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that the probability of cyclones will be reduced due to the effects El Niño On average, there are 10 to 13 tropical cyclones each season in the Australian region, four of which typically cross the coast. El Niño typically reduces the number of coastal crossings, but at least one tropical cyclone has crossed the Australian coast each season since reliable records began in the 1970s. The BOM advised that “during El Niño years, the first tropical cyclone to cross the coast is typically during the second week of January. This is generally later than seasons which are ENSO-neutral when the first cyclone landfall...

Working in the mining sector obviously comes with risks, however not all the risks are directly linked to the physical side of the job and its dangers.  There are obvious workplace risks of course, but living near the mines can also pose a range of health concerns and hazards in itself. Whether it is deep or surface mining there are risks, and in recent times it has been a widely publicised subject, and every year we have more and more information available to us through research and testing. So what are the main risks associated with coal mining, and how does it affect you (or your family). The Occupational Hazards of Mining Miners face a range of dangers working in coal mines. It’s never truly been a safe or healthy environment, and the threat of injury from falling objects, faulty equipment, or roof collapses are as prevalent as they have always been. Even though workplace health and safety has improved immensely in the last 20-30 years, risk is still hig...

The  NSW Mining HSEC Conference  will be held on  6-8 August 2018  – and now they want you to contribute to the program. Each year they define the issues and highlight the challenges facing mining developments and operations in NSW with keynote presentations, inspirational stories, case studies, technical and regulatory updates and panel discussions. You’re invited to  submit a proposal to be part of the technical program  and share your knowledge, experience and solutions with industry colleagues from around NSW. They just need a short summary now of around 250 words describing the issue or project and the key take outs you want to get across. Prevention of risk is the key to safety – can you afford to risk it? Welcome to Safe Lace Industrial We have all experienced the inconvenience of having to continually stop and retie our shoe/boot laces, but do you realise the danger that this can cause as well? It is a HUGE safe...

Safe Work mining October is National Safe Work Month, a time to commit to building a safe and health workplace for you and your colleagues. Safe Work Australia was established in 2008 to develop national policy and guidance for WHS and workers’ compensation. Since then, they’ve been running national campaigns to raise awareness about WHS in the Australian working community. Since Safe Work Australia’s inception, there has been a steady decline in the rate of work-related fatalities and workers’ compensation claims. However, work-related injury and disease cost the Australian community $61.8 billion in a year. There’s still work to be done. No industry should be unsafe to work in and no death or injury is acceptable. And, because the whole community bears the financial cost of poor WHS, safe and healthy work benefits everyone. This is why, during October each year, Safe Work Australia ask workers and employers across Australia commit to building safe and healthy workpl...