john vergunst – mining engineer – ontario ministry of labour

2007 NAALC - Panel IV - MOL 1

John Vergunst – Mining Engineer – Ontario Ministry of Labour

Nickel Rim South Mine Headframe, Sudbury


This presentation will focus on:

• Types of emergencies

• Emergency Training

• Mine Rescue

• Non-fire emergencies

• First Aid

• Evacuation Plans

• Managing accidents

Forest fire near Dryden, Ontario


PERSONAL INJURIES – evacuation to medical or first aid treatment – applies to all emergencies

FIRES - surface & underground - surface fires can be just as deadly as UG, smoke & gases can get into the fresh air supply fans

NON-FIRE ----

TOXIC OR FLAMMABLE GASES Underground: blasting operations, fire, diesel equipment, flammable gas, oxygen deficiency Surface: fires, diesel / gasoline equipment, process upset


NON-FIRE EMERGENCIES – Continued

POWER OUTAGES – loss of ventilation, cage & hoist, pumps, compressed air and any lights are not working.

INRUSH OF WATER – failure of water dams or bulkheads, water seepage through surrounding, water draining from portal


Ministry mandates training programs for miners & supervisors

Program # 770121 - Modular Training StandardsCommon Core First Line Underground Mine Supervisor

Underground Hard Rock Mining

Prepare For Emergencies - Module U6101

Terminal Objectives:6101.01 - Identify site specific emergency plans & procedures6101.02 - Ensure equipment & fixtures are in place & operable6101.03 - Follow reporting/ communication procedures6101.04 - Review site-specific emergency plans & procedures with employees


Employer to assess each site for hazards and have an Emergency Preparedness Policy which includes:

• Roles and Responsibilities (names, phone numbers)• Communications• Public Information procedures • Emergency Safe Areas• Site Safety and Security • Checklists - Role Checklists Equipment Checklists• Emergency Resources - Contact List (agencies, responders)• Mutual Aid Agreements • Training Employees, Contractors,• Notification and Reporting - • Review and Debriefing


Regulations mandate that underground mines must have sufficient personnel trained to respond to an emergency.

The Mines & Aggregates Safety & Health Association (MASHA) – funded by the mines through Workplace Safety Insurance Board is responsible for the delivery.


MASHA provides:

• Mine Rescue Training Officers to standardize training throughout the Province.

• management response training.

• Mine Rescue equipment to all mines (BG4)

• Publishes training manuals


Mine Management

Identifies volunteers to be trained

Ensure volunteers attend training (6 days / year)

Provide training locations on site

Ensures staff trained in management response

Responsible for fire procedures, drills, refuge stationsTraining with AFFF underground LDI


Inspectors

Review fire procedures – warning systems, fuelling areas, garages

Review UG fire drills & worker response times

Review number of men trained & available

Inspect refuge stations – air, water, integrity

Inspect fire controls – doors, sprinkler systems, etc


Underground MinesMandated to train underground workers in extrication & rescue methods & provide the equipment

Provide high-wall rescue training (not mandated)


CVRD Inco smelter, stack with North Mine in foreground

• Escape plan

• Re-entry plan (SCBAs, control process, etc)

Mining PlantsProvide for emergency training in plants – toxic gas releases

• Warning systems (i.e. HCN sensors)


Musselwhite Mine – First Aid Room

Underground MinesMandatory advanced first aid attendants on surface near the entrance of the mine.

• Coverage while workers underground• Mandatory first aid room• Evacuation plan if remote – no nearby ambulance or hospital


Underground Mines

• most first line supervisors require to have an equivalent to Standard St. John Ambulance First Aid & cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• the mines train many of the workers in first aid & CPR


Surface Mines, Plants & Diamond DrillsMandated by Workers Safety Insurance Board to have first aid trained workers. (Applies to all sectors)

WSIB approves firms that provide First Aid Training


Surface Mines, Plants & Diamond DrillsFor remote areas: the Ministry uses the General Duty Clause to have their employers provide an extrication plan to get injured workers to medical attention


Need vehicle at work site equipped to extract injured worker (not a skidder or bulldozer), must be able to carry a stretcher in a reasonably safe manner


Need adequate means of communication (Sat/cell/radio phone)

Need contact phone numbers of people available 24/7 to arrange rescue

Heliport & Helicopter arrangements are not always possible due to darkness and weather therefore the vehicle requirement still stands


FROM AN INVESTIGATOR’S PERSPECTIVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO:

Attend the site as soon as possible after being notified of an accident and establish your statutory authority.

Determine the severity of injuries as a result of the accident.


Do not interfere or direct rescue or recovery activity. Provide guidance only upon request.

Do request that the accident scene be left undisturbed to the extend possible during rescue or recovery activity.

Do “Freeze the Accident Scene” upon completion of rescue or recovery activity (ensure the accident scene is not disturbed).


Establish that you are in charge of the investigation and you will be interviewing witnesses, obtaining records and other documentations, drawings, in addition to conducting a site visit to the accident scene.

Recognize that rescue or recovery activity is very difficult and stressful on the participants


Observe accident scene. Make detailed notes and measurements of what you observe.

Take lots of photographs, ditigal pictures are not being challanged. Record photo locations in notes.

Always remain objective and impartial. Do not offer opinions or conclusions. Take your time.


Bring in experts – if necessary for items such as equipment failure (brakes, steering, valves,metal fatique, etc.)

Experts may recommend that the equipment or a part of the equipment be sent to a specially laboratory for further testing.

Sometimes the failure is obvious & has occurred in other mines.


Conduct witness interviews in seclusion, preferably just you and a witness.

Recognize witnesses may wish to have someone of their on choosing present when they make a statement (union representative).

Transcribe exactly what the witness said – not what you think was said.

Take detailed notes & include the date and time, as well as whom was present at all interviews


Recognize your own limitations, and always ask for help from others in your organization.

Never rush or be rushed in your investigation of an accident.

Never make assumptions, or jump to conclusions.

Always base the findings of your investigation upon the evidence collected.


Never try to make the evidence fit to a preconceived notion and always consider alternative plausible explanations.

Determine “what happened” to cause the accident and, if possible, “How to minimize/prevent future incidents”


It is not enough that legislative and company standards are communicated, understood and followed.

For accidents to continue to decrease behavior must change.

To change behaviors the IRS has to work

In my opinion - The workplace parties • must be proactive on safety related issues in the workplace• should conduct joint accident investigations• Need to develop a system to identify and resolve near misses• Must keep up continual dialogue on the importance of a safe and healthy workplace

john vergunst – mining engineer – ontario ministry of labour

Documents

naalc panel iv molmasha

rescue training officers

management response

rescue equipment

line underground

underground workers

diesel equipment

flammable gases underground