DECEMBER 1998 1DECEMBER 1998 1

Perth Quarry Becomes anInnovative Mine Safety

Training Facility❏ ❏ ❏ See page 2

DECEMBER 19982

MINESAFE IS PUBLISHED BY :The Mining Operations Division6th Floor, Mineral HouseDepartment of Minerals and EnergyWestern Australia100 Plain StreetEAST PERTH WA 6004ConsultantEditor: Catherine Stedman

Associate Editors:Mark ButsonChris StubleyPatrick BurkeMark Brown

Typesetting: Jo DugganGraphic Design: Christine Gillard

Enquiries: Tel: (08) 9222 3310 / 9222 3545Fax: (08) 9325 2280

e-mail: mod@dme.wa.gov.au

http: //www.dme.wa.gov.auMINESAFE is published four times a yearby the Mining Operations Division inconjunction with the Policy andPlanning Division. Articles and newsitems may be used freely, although wewould appreciate acknowledgment, aswell as a copy of any publication inwhich they are used.

PERTH QUARR Y BECOMES ANINNOVATIVE MINE SAFETY

TRAINING F ACILITYBORAL QUARRIES operates andmaintains a quarrying operation atOrange Grove, an outermetropolitan suburb east of Perth.The company’s quarry workforce isengaged in the operation ofscreening and crushing plant, andoff-highway earthmovingequipment.

The company has given safetytraining a boost by working withCentral Metropolitan TAFE toprovide practical training foremployees and students in theirquarry at Orange Grove. Boral hasalso provided a dedicated trainingcentre on the property, whichCentral Metropolitan TAFE hasequipped and furnished. Thefacility offers classroom tuition andallows students to walk out of thedoor and into a working quarry,close by, to carry out practicallearning on site. With theincreased number of fatalities inthe mining industry, there was arealisation that a facility of thistype, where training can bedelivered to existing employeesand new entrants, was badlyneeded.

An area of the quarry has also beenset aside for TAFE to use as atraining facility for their drillingcourse and forms part of thetraining centre. An operating drilldonated by Wallis Drilling is set upin this area. Murray Day, Directorat the Central Metropolitan Collegeof TAFE and Wally Lukic, StateManager of Boral Quarries, havealready noticed the improvementwhich the new practicalcomponent of the learning hasbought to the training of Driller’sOffsiders. Drill Hands have, formany years, been over representedin industry injury statistics duringtheir first few months of work.

“My training at Central TAFE as adrill offsider landed me a job in 3weeks. It’s hard, hot and dirtywork, but I know how to worksafely.”

As well as Driller’s Offsiders, thetraining centre will cater for a

range of other course work atTAFE, including the training of PitTechnicians, Geological FieldAssistants and students in theCertificate IV course in SurfaceMining. For existing and potentialQuarry Managers, the centre maybe used as a resource for theircareer path learning to Diplomalevel of the recently endorsedNational Competency Standardsfor the Extractive Industries.

“I had offers of work before Icompleted the course. I finishedthe course. I wanted to learn allI could on safety and drilloperation. I got a job in a week,and I am learning quickly aboutthe practicals of drilling.”

BORAL and TAFE have some hardand fast rules for students, whichemphasise the sense of realitybrought to the training. Allstudents must satisfactorilycomplete a competency basedinduction before they can enterthe quarry, have all the right PPEand be accompanied by alecturer. The induction is thestudent’s first introduction to thepriority given to safety and isreinforced by the knowledge thata breach of the safety rules in thetraining situation, means anautomatic failure of the course.The emphasis on safe behavioursmeans that these students enterthe workforce with the rightattitude towards their own safetyand the safety of others.Maintaining that attitude is, ofcourse, a joint responsibilitybetween the employer andemployee, but the comprehensivestart to employee training makesthat a lot easier for both.

Boral and TAFE have signed-offon a Memorandum ofUnderstanding that secures theavailability of the training centrefor at least the next five years,during which time Boral alsoexpects to benefit operationallyfrom many of the projects thatTAFE students will undertake aspart of their study.

Inside .........PAGE SPECIAL FEATURES:

2. Perth quarry becomes aninnovative mine safety trainingfacility

4. Structural safety of reclaimers,stackers and ship loaders

5. The heat stress hazard5. Incidence of underground rock

falls6. Big Bell’s healthy lifestyle7. Protect your hearing assets8. MINESAFE International goes

offshore10. WMC Blasting audit11. Changes to radiation safety

regulations12. Profile: Peter Crooks13. Mine rescue competitions14. Eltin wins national training

award

REGULAR ARTICLES

3. Guest Editorial14. What’s On15. New Publications

15. Staff changes16. Incident Alert

DECEMBER 1998 3

GUEST EDITORIALOver the past year there has been agreatly increased focus on safety inmining in Western Australia,following a run of fatal accidents inthe industry during 1997, whichregrettably continued until midyear.

The Mines Occupational Safety andHealth Advisory Board (MOSHAB),which carried out an inquiry intofatalities in the last quarter of1997, has been actively pursuingthe implementation of therecommendations of the InquiryReport. This was done through theMOSHAB Standing Committee anda series of work parties set up tocarry out the assigned tasks.

Regular reports have been given inMINESAFE on the progress of theseactivities.

A further initiative developed andcompleted during the year was theconduct of a survey on risk takingbehaviour in underground mines.

This project was carried out by ateam of three MOSHAB members,Mr Pat Gilroy (Chamber of Mineralsand Energy), Mr Henry Rozmianiec(Trades and Labor Council) and MrBob Leggerini (Employees Inspectorof Mines), supported by Ms TracyLong as Secretary and co-ordinator.

The survey was very well receivedand not one individual declined toparticipate. Approximately half thetotal underground workforce,(including supervisors) wereincluded in the survey, which wascompleted with speed andthoroughness.

A report on the survey whichincorporates the findings,conclusions and recommendations,will be available for distributionduring December 1998 – January1999, a brief summary will bewidely distributed to personnel atall minesites.

The report contains valuableinformation which will assist allmines in continuous improvementin safety performance. An issue ofoverwhelming importanceidentified by the workforce is theneed for thorough andcomprehensive training for minersand supervisors.

It is intended to repeat the surveyin two year’s time.

As Chairman of MOSHAB I amextremely pleased with the way theBoard, its Standing Committee andwork party groups have pulledtogether during the past year, withconcrete results from those efforts.

I expect this year to be a turningpoint in the drive to the goal of theelimination of fatalities and seriousinjuries within the first few years ofthe new millennium.

I commend the process ofcontinued improvement in safety atwork to all of you, and wish youwell for the year to come.

In closing I wish to record mypersonal sorrow at the death ofCatherine Stedman who wasadmired and respected by all whohad the pleasure of working withher.

Lee RanfordDIRECTOR GENERALCHAIRMAN MOSHAB

OBITUARY

Catherine Stedman

It is with the deepest sorrowthat we record the passing ofCa ther ine S tedman, whofounded MINESAFE and soably ed i ted i t s ince i t sinception in 1989.

Cather ine’s unt imely deathcame as a severe blow to all ofher friends and colleagues inthe Department of Mineralsand Energy, and throughout theminerals industry.

She has been a f r iend,counse l lo r, and mentor tomany, and our hear t fe l tsympathy is extended to Colin,Tiffany and Jeff and to all of herextended family.

Ca ther ine has cont r ibu tedmuch towards the improvedsafety and well being of somany in the mining industry,and the wider community, andher memory will live in thehearts and minds of all whoknew her.

Our industry and our lives arericher for her contributions.

Catherine Stedman

DECEMBER 19984

A Mining Operations Divisiontaskforce has coordinated thedevelopment of risk managementplans in conjunction with BHP IronOre, Hamersley Iron and RobeRiver Iron Associates for this type ofmachine operated by thesecompanies in the iron ore industry.The development of these plans hasbeen a comprehensive process andhas been ongoing since November1996.

The Division initiated the safetyreview following the structuralfailure of three machines in the ironore industry, between 1993 and1996, which resulted in the deathsof two operators and seriousinjuries to a maintenance engineer.

Essentially a risk management planidentifies all possible risks that mayjeopardise the structural integrity ofa machine, and formulatesmanagement processes whicheliminate all such identified risks.Such a plan is a “live” documentthat must be maintained throughoutthe life of the machine, and evolveto identify and manage newlycreated risks associated withmodifications or upgrades to themachine.

In September 1997, the taskforceconducted a presentation torepresentatives of operators of all

STRUCTURAL SAFETY OFRECLAIMERS, ST ACKERS AND SHIP

LOADERS

remaining machines in the miningindustry of WA. Taskforce membersprovided a synopsis of the riskassessment process to assist otheroperators to develop their own riskmanagement plans.

The operators of all such machinesin the mining industry of WA havenow been requested by the

September 1993. The operator was killed when the bucket wheel shaft failed on thisreclaimer, causing the machine to collapse.

January 1995. Amaintenance engineerreceived serious injurieswhen the mast frame andcounterweight boomcollapsed on this stacker.

July 1996. The operator was killed whenthe mast frame collapsed on thisreclaimer.

Division to develop riskmanagement plans for eachmachine.

For further information contactMark Butson Tel: (08) 9222 3607

DECEMBER 1998 5

THE HEAT STRESS HAZARDIn December 1997 a youngvacation student died whileworking as a sampler onexploration activity in the centralnorth of the State.

The cause of death was notdetermined by post-mortemexamination, but the pathologistreported indicators consistent withdeath due to extreme heat. (Referto Significant Incident Report No.95 – Death of Exploration Worker)August 1998.

It is of critical importance that thehazards of heat stress are fullyunderstood at all levels and that allidentified risks which may arise forpersonnel are effectively controlledor eliminated.

New employees must be fullytrained to understand how toprevent heat stress, particularly onexploration work in isolated areas.The issue is covered in the genericMARCSTA Induction. Particularaccount must be taken of the needto acclimatise when moving from acooler area of the State to work inhot and humid regions.

In normal circumstances the bodyhas a natural mechanism thatprotects it from overheating. Heatis transferred from the internal

organs and muscles to the skin; thesweat glands produce sweat andthe sweat evaporates, cooling thebody. Heat stress can occur whenthe body is unable to regulate itstemperature.

Vigorous activity in a hotenvironment can cause the bodytemperature to rise significantlyleading to heat strain and illnesswith typical symptoms of weakness,dizziness and nausea. Further risesin body temperature may lead toheat exhaustion or heat stroke.

♦ People most vulnerable toheat problems include; thosewho have just started on thejob (unacclimatised), olderpeople, those with certainmedical conditions requiringmedications, and those whoare overweight or physicallyunfit.

♦ The main way to beat theheat is to drink plenty ofwater. People working hardin hot environments can loseup to one litre of perspirationeach hour; If any of thesedescriptions fit you, helpyourself by drinking a glass ortwo of cool water everyquarter of an hour, even ifyou are not thirsty.

♦ Keeping fit and acclimatisedhelps to maximise the coolingprocess and reduces saltconcentration in perspiration.

♦ Wearing the correct clothingis important, for example,face shields near heatsources, protective suits,wide brimmed hats, andclothes that ‘breathe’. Heavyclothing can makeoverheating worse.

Alcohol is a major contributor toearly dehydration, causing thekidneys to lose water. Avoidexcessive alcohol intake. Thecolour of urine is a good indicatorof dehydration, the more yellow theurine the more dehydration. Aneasily implemented urine test (thefantus test) has been developed toassess the degree of earlydehydration.

The message is clear! Keep wellhydrated by drinking half a litre ofwater every half an hour, keepphysically fit, and minimise theintake of alcohol.

Copies of “Guidelines for theManagement and Prevention ofHeat Stress” are available from theMining Operations Division.

For further information contact Dr BrianGalton-Fenzi Tel: (08) 9222 3650.

The number of injuries per 1000underground employees due torock falls has shown anencouraging downward trendduring the past five years. Thisresult is a credit to the manyorganisations in the miningindustry of Western Australia thathave been involved directly andindirectly with the identificationand control of rock fall hazards inunderground mines.

INCIDENCE OF UNDERGROUND ROCKFALLSThe following graph demonstratesthe reduction in the number ofinjuries, caused by undergroundrock falls, that have been reportedto the Department of Minerals andEnergy during the period from 1994to 1998.

The challenge for the undergroundmining industry will be to maintainand improve upon the performancethat has recently been achieved.

0

2

4

6

8

16

12

14

1994 1998*199719961995

Injuries per 1000 employees

*Year to dateYear

DECEMBER 19986

The past 5 years have seen aprogressive change in the culture offly-in fly-out minesites. Where itwas once the practice to headstraight for the wet mess after work,nowadays mining companies andtheir employees are looking forpositive social alternatives. Hencethe evolution of on-site health andfitness programmes, following onfrom a greater communityawareness of the need for improvedhealth and well being.

Another trend Australia wide hasbeen the increase in WorkplaceBased Rehabilitation Providers.This shift has moved the role ofrehabilitation coordination fromexternal providers to the companyitself, in an effort to reduce soaringrehabilitation costs and premiums.Big Bell mine has created a two-fold comprehensive HealthyLifestyle Programme incorporatingnot only pro-active preventionstrategies, but developing on-siterehabilitation of work-site injuries.

The first aspect of this multi-facetedapproach involves preventionstrategies such as a comprehensivefitness and sports programme,educational presentations includingback care and manual handling,survival for shiftworkers, heartdisease issues, nutritional

BIG BELL’S HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

awareness, and periodic ergonomicworkplace evaluations. The secondinvolves complete on-site physicalrehabilitation management startingwith pre-injury task assessmentsand the development of return towork plans, through to exerciserehabilitation prescription, andregular supervision with ongoingprofessional progress reviews ofeach case.

Big Bell has an Accredited ExercisePhysiologist specially trained toimplement the programme on-site.This multi-skilled healthprofessional has the backing of ateam of experienced colleagues,

whose constant support and inputensures on-going improvement anddevelopment of the programme.Benefits are both direct andindirect. The number of employeesneeding to be sent off site fortreatment has been drasticallyreduced, due to early interventionon musculo-skeletal injuries.Exercise rehabilitation on site hasallowed an early return to work formany injured employees previouslyforced to stay in the city.Furthermore, fitter, healthierworkers show greater productivity,with an increase in work capacityand well being.

The Exercise Physiologist also playsan important role in the planningand implementation of physicaltraining of Mines Rescue personnel.

The Healthy Lifestyle Programme isa comprehensive, pro-activeinitiative, tackling health, fitnessand injury prevention andrehabilitation issues on-site. Theprogramme is gaining increasingsupport and recognition fromwithin the mining industry and wasrecently awarded a “Heart WeekAward” from the National HeartFoundation.

For further information contactEugenie Kestel from WorksiteFitness and Rehabilitation Tel: (08)9343 9390.

Eugenie Kestel instructs Tony Babic at the gymnasium.

Big Bell workers enjoying volley-ball at the village.

DECEMBER 1998 7

Sound travels through air as tinypressure waves in the air. Thesesound waves enter your ear canaland then your eardrum making itvibrate. Three tiny bones in yourmiddle ear link the vibratingeardrum with the inner part of yourear. The last of these bones isconnected to a bony structure thatlooks a bit like a snail shell, but isabout the size of a pea. It is calledthe cochlea (pronounced cock-lee-ah). The cochlea is very complexinside as it contains fluid and about30,000 tiny hair cells that movewhen the fluid moves with a sound.Each hair cell connects to thehearing nerves. When the haircells move in response to a sound,they send messages along apathway of nerves to the brainwhich turns this signal into whatyou hear. All this happens in afraction of a second!

Each cell is tuned to a particularsound (or frequency). The haircells can only take so much energyand commonly break down withexcessive noise.

In the short term, noise-inducedhearing loss may be temporary withrecovery after a few hours or daysbreak. Sometimes this temporaryloss is described by employees as“getting used to the noise”.However, this is in fact a warningsign of excessive noise exposure.

In the long term this hearing losscan become permanent; the haircells are actually killed by thenoise!

The cells which pick up highfrequencies (eg. a telephoneringing) are damaged first followedby those which pick up theconversation frequencies. Speechbecomes distorted and confused tothe point where a simple statementlike “pass the sugar” sounds like“ah er oo ah” or a badly tunedradio. Holding a conversation withany sort of background noise, forexample at a party, becomes

PROTECT YOUR HEARING ASSETSextremely difficult.

Noise causes varying amounts ofdamage to different people’shearing. Some people are moresensitive than others so there is noexact level at which noise becomesa problem. It is known that there isa risk of hearing damage fromexposure to noise levels above75dB(A), and as the exposureincreases so does the proportion ofpeople who suffer hearing damage.

The MSI Act and Regulations placeresponsibilities on employers andmanufacturers to take allpracticable steps to reduce noiselevels. On the other hand,employees are required to use workprocedures which reduce their

exposure to noise, and are requiredto wear earmuffs and earplugswhere noise levels can not bereduced.

If you are required to wear hearingprotectors, be diligent about it.Make sure they are in good repairand fit properly. Make sure youknow when and how to use them.

The effects of excessive noise onyour hearing are permanent andcan never be cured. Remember,the hair cells you have are the onlyones you will ever get.

Protect your valuable hearingassets!

For further information contactJerry Wilczewski Tel: (08) 9222 3128

A normal undamaged ear. With the help of an electron microscope, onecan see the fine hairs of the haircells (or cilia).

A noise damaged ear. The electron microscope shows what has happened toan ear damaged by noise - the fine hairs of the cilias have been exposedrepeatedly to high sound levels and are broken.

The MINESAFE INTERNATIONALCONFERENCE for 1998 was held atSun City in South Africa.

The first three MINESAFEConferences were held in Perth(1990, 1993, and 1996), as a jointinitiative of the Chamber ofMinerals and Energy and theDepartment of Minerals and Energy.

MINESAFE INTERNA TIOThe Conference in South Africa wasjointly sponsored by the respectiveChambers and Departments fromWestern Australia and South Africa,and was well attended by some 420delegates, with seventeen countriesrepresented.

Western Australia was stronglyrepresented with in excess of 50

delegates, and 14 of the 52 papersdelivered.

The theme of the Conference was“Combining our Resources forImproving Safety and Health in theInternational Mining Workforce.”

There was a considerable focus onoccupational health issues, as well

DECEMBER 19988

Occupational health sessionpresenters (L- R) Dr Dave Barnes,Prof Ernie Mastromatteo,Dr Nic Ormonde and Tracy Long.

Hard at work behind the scenes (L - R)Mark Brown, Dr Lettie la Grange andTracy Long.

DME and Chamber of Minerals andEnergy information booth.

ONAL GOES OFFSHOREas physical safety aspects, andsubstantial interest in experience indeveloping countries, reflecting theincreasingly global spread of majormining activity.

The feedback from the Conferencewas very positive and severalmembers of the Mines

Occupational Safety and HealthAdvisory Board attended anddelivered papers.

Attendance at such forums keepsmembers up to date with newdevelopments, and allows avaluable international network of

contacts in the mining safety fieldto be established and maintained.

MINESAFE INTERNATIONAL 2000will be held in Perth in September2000.

DECEMBER 1998 9

Tracy Long and Doug Austin at theinformation booth.

Some WA delegates enjoying theconference dinner.

Pre-conference tour of Impala Platsmine and the underground monorailsystem.

DECEMBER 199810

At WMC Resources’ request, the Department of Minerals and Energy assisted with the selection of experts toconduct a blasting audit at all their minesites in May and June this year.

Following the audit, all the WMC minesites, the Department, and MOSHAB were fully briefed. Action plans toaddress identified issues began immediately with the review and implementation of WMC ‘s Elimination ofFatalities Taskforce (EOFT) standards, particularly the explosive and blasting standards.

FINDINGS:1. A lack of standards and procedures covering; blast design, issue of instructions, and monitoring of drilling

and blasting was evident in the operations visited.

2. There was considerable variation in the quality of development work instructions provided to miners andsupervisors.

3. Charging vehicles used in underground mines appeared to be poorly designed, particularly;

♦ quality, inspection and maintenance of ANFO pressure loaders, and

♦ poor design of charging vehicles and work platforms.

4. Safe transport of detonators and explosives from magazines to the point of use presented difficulties atvirtually all mines audited.

5. Inconsistency of firing systems - the use of one or two electric detonators to initiate blasts exposes shotfirers to less risk than using safety fuse.

6. All mines have established Safe Firing Positions, considerable effort has been put into establishing robustfiring procedures.

7. All systems involved physical clearance of areas.

8. Tag boards are an integral part of the clearance procedure.

9. Mines with complex ventilating circuits and those experiencing seismic events associated with blasting,located the firing position a significant distance from the blast, and remote from the auxiliary fan starter.In some mines not enough consideration had been given to this issue and it was left up to the shotfirer.

10. Surface magazines were well established and maintained to a high standard.

11. With some exceptions the standard in main underground magazines needed to be raised. The mainshortcomings resulted from:

♦ inappropriate location,

♦ inadequate stock control and management, and

♦ inadequate delivery and transport arrangements.

12. Few of the underground mines had a safe and efficient system of handling explosives once they wereunloaded at the portal/shaft area.

13. All but two mines were using contractors.

14. Drill and blast standards appeared generally higher when the contractor/principal relationship wasobviously positive.

15. Worker turnover affected the performance of the general workforce, the technical workforce and sitemanagement, and this was a major issue at some mines.

16. Training systems at mines were unable to cope with these high rates of worker turnover and it is unlikelyany training system could handle such rates.

17. There were good pre-shift communication and co-ordination meetings at all sites.

18. Radio systems offer an opportunity to improve underground blasting operations.

WMC BLASTING

DECEMBER 1998 11

RECOMMENDATIONS:

♦ Increase the level of technical control over drilling and blasting activities by placing responsibility forthese activities on a Drill and Blast Engineer.

♦ Improve the presentation and technical quality of mining work instructions.

♦ Review existing procedures relating to “breakthroughs” and clearing of misfires.

♦ Introduce a planned maintenance program for all pressure ANFO loaders.

♦ Introduce design standards for specialist charging vehicles and work platforms.

♦ Introduce new procedures for electric firing.

♦ Review blast clearance provisions.

♦ Review ventilation and re-entry procedures.

♦ Establish design standards for main underground magazines and review explosive transportationarrangements.

♦ Take advantage of underground radio systems to assist with blast clearance procedures.

The audit reinforced the work already under way at WMC. The EOFT explosive standard gained from the audit,because as it finished, the expert team developing the standards met to consider the findings. This meant thatthe development of the explosives standard included the findings of the audit.

An important outcome of the audit is that it provided a lot of valuable information and suggestions that can beused by the whole industry.

For further information contact Peter Plavina (WMC Resources) Tel: (08) 9442 2000.

Significant amendments to PART 16 – RADIATION SAFETY of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995were gazetted in November 1998. The changes were considered and approved by the Mines OccupationalSafety and Health Advisory Board. The purpose of the amendments is:

♦ to ensure that particular aspects of the regulations concerning the use and storage of radiation sources andirradiating apparatus in mines are applicable to all mines, not just those at which radioactive ores aremined or where exposure to radiation in excess of the prescribed level is considered likely, and

♦ to clarify the intent of the regulation concerning the management of radioactive waste generated frommining and processing radioactive ores so that, as far as practicable, there is no restriction on the futureuse of the disposal site at the mine, in the long term.

For further information on aspects of the amendments contact Ian Marshman. Tel: (08) 9222 3651. Copies ofthe amendments are available from the State Law Publisher, 10 William Street, Perth. Tel: (08) 9321 7688.

CHANGES TORADIATION SAFETY REGULA TIONS

AUDIT

DECEMBER 199812

There are many quiet achievers inthe mining workforce, and once inawhile they come to MINESAFE’Sattention. One such person is PeterCrooks, who is currently theElimination of Fatalities Taskforce(EOFT) Co-ordinator at WMC St.Ives Gold Mines.

Peter started his mining career asan underground miner inCastlemaine, Victoria, and wentthrough the tough times broughtabout by mine closures before hemoved to Kambalda in 1990. Hestarted with WMC Resources as aserviceman, and went through thecompany training scheme for airlegminers at Long Shaft before startingwork at Otter Juan. Peter becamean underground supervisor at OtterJuan and the Victor Decline.

In July 1996, unknown to Peter, hislife was about to take a dramaticturn. He was appointed as aworkforce representative on theElimination of Fatalities Taskforce,which was made up of people fromall levels in WMC Resources. Hispart-time involvement was a smallbeginning, but by October, Peterhad been appointed as a full timemember of the EOFT, primarily toparticipate in the development of

the Underground Ground ControlStandard, and the UndergroundMobile Equipment Standard. InJuly 1997 he became the EOFTcoordinator at St. Ives Gold Mineswhere he now coordinates theimplementation of the 10 EOFTstandards completed, and assists inthe development and reviewprocess of 10 other draft standards.

Peter spent six years in minesrescue and was the Captain of theKambalda Team during 1996 and1997. His years with the rescueteam identify Peter as a man withthe safety and welfare of his fellowworkers close to his heart. Whatmotivates him now?

His reasons are the same, buthaving been closely involved witheight fatalities over the past fouryears, he has seen the devastationthat tragedy causes in a smallcommunity. Peter has a wife,Andie and two sons Ben andDaniel. He knows several childrenthough, who no longer have afather.

His experiences have helped Peterto find a direction, and definecertain truths for him. He believesthat when someone says work

safely, it doesn’t matter if theymean it or are just paying lipservice. It gives you the right to dowhatever it takes to do the jobsafely, and working in a dangerousindustry, is no justification foraccepting death. He knows thateveryone wants to eliminatefatalities, but also knows thatpeople’s attitudes and behaviourshave to change if that is to happen.In his own company, Peter has seenthe difference that involving theworkforce has made, and thereinperhaps is his message to the rest ofus. The biggest barrier to change isthe resistance to involving theworkforce, so remove that barrier ifyou are serious about safety. That’sgood advice.

The MINESAFE committee wish readersa safe Christmas and New Year(L-R) Mark Brown, Christine Gillard,Chris Stubley, Jo Duggan, Jim Torlachand Mark Butson.

PROFILE: PETER CROOKS

DECEMBER 1998 13

South west emergency response teamscompeting at the Collie River.

An emergency response teamerecting a temporary bridge over theCollie River.

John Shipp (registered manager, centre) with theKCGM Gold Diggers team.

MINE RESCUE COMPETITIONS

Hamish Bohannon (registered manager, seatedleft) with apprentice, Jack Bohannon and WMCKambalda emergency services.

Peter Beilby (registed manager, standing right)with the Black Swan Nickel team.

KALGOORLIE UNDERGROUND MINE RESCUE COMPETITION

SOUTH WEST EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS’ COMPETITION

DECEMBER 199814

Mining services group Eltin Limitedhas won the mining category of theEmployer of the Year Award in thisyear’s Australian Training Awards,presented at the BurswoodConvention Centre duringNovember.

Organised by the AustralianNational Training Authority (ANTA)the annual awards recognise theachievements of Australia’semployers, training providers,

ELTIN WINS NA TIONAL TRAINING A WARDcommunity organisations andvocational students.

Eltin spent $3.5 million on trainingover the past financial year.Initiatives undertaken by thecompany in recent years include anannual apprenticeship program, aninnovative pre-employmentaboriginal mine training program,management training courses forsupervisors and managers and apilot program to fast-track adults

with past trade experience tobecome qualified tradespersons.The pilot program fortradespersons, developed inconjunction with the WA Chamberof Minerals and Energy and TAFE,received a special commendationfrom the ANTA.

Congratulations to Eltin on a fineachievement!

FLACPERTH, FEBRUARY 8-9 1999

VENUE: UWA COMPUTER LAB

This course is designed to providebasic training for engineers andscientists who wish to use FLAC tosolve practical problems in rock orsoil mechanics. It will consist ofan introduction to FLAC, and moreadvanced aspects of FLACmodelling, including applicationsof the FISH programming language.

FLAC 3DPERTH, FEBRUARY 10-11 1999VENUE: UWA COMPUTER LAB

This course is designed to providebasic training for engineers andscientists who wish to use FLAC 3Dto solve practical problems in rockor soil mechanics. It will consist ofan introduction to FLAC 3D, andmore advanced aspects of FLAC 3Dmodelling, including the FISHprogramming language.

UDECPERTH, FEBRUARY 12 1999

VENUE: UWA COMPUTER LAB

This course is designed to providean introduction to UDEC coveringmodelling strategies and thecommand structure of the program,with illustrations. It is expectedthat registrants will have someprior experience with other explicitcodes such as FLAC.

TAILINGS - CORPORATE RISK AND

RESPONSIBILITY

PERTH, MARCH 10 1999VENUE: NOVOTEL LANGLEY PLAZA

This seminar has been designed forSenior Management with theobjective of stressing theimportance to mining companies ofthe Risks and Responsibilitiesimposed by the short and long-termcontainment of the tailings residue.There is a growing recognition thatthe management anddecommissioning of tailingsstorages can have a significanteffect on the economics of miningoperations, and should beaddressed as early as possible.

MINING IN HIGH STRESS AND

SEISMICALLY ACTIVE MINES

PERTH, APRIL 15 -16 1999VENUE: IBIS HOTEL

This workshop will be the third in aseries of workshops on rockburstand mine seismicity. It will includethe following:

♦ Focus on Australianexperience with rockburstand seismicity.

♦ Mining in high stress but notnecessarily seismically activeconditions. Difficulties andsolutions for mining in highstress.

♦ Presentations fromexperience, and point of viewof operating mines rather thantheoretical aspects.

♦ Special emphasis on mineplanning and design issues.

For further information contact:

Christine Neskudla or GillianMacmillan

Tel:(08) 9380 3300Fax: (08) 9380 1130Email: acg@acg.uwa.edu.au

WHAT’S ON

EXAMINATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF

COMPETENCY

First Class Mine Manager’s

Underground Supervisor’s

Quarry Manager’s

Restricted Quarry Manager’s

Mining Law Examinations onlywi l l be he ld in Per th on15 February 1999. Applicationsclose on 15 January 1999. Thefee is $100.

Mining Law and Mining PracticeExamina t ions wi l l be he ldstatewide on 19 Apri l 1999.Applications close on 19 March1999. The fee is $100.

For appl icat ions and fur therinformation contactAlan Sheppard Tel: (08) 9222 3683.

DECEMBER 1998 15

MOD PUBLICATIONS

Significant Incident Report 94:

Fall from Height in Gig Rise – FatalAccident (August 1998)

Significant Incident Report 95:

Death of Exploration Worker(August 1998)

Significant Incident Report 96:

Remotely Operated LHD – BrakeFailure (September 1998)

Significant Incident Report 97:

Radio Operated Crane –Uncontrolled Movement(September 1998)

Significant Incident Report 98:

Jumbo Drilling Rig – UndergroundFire (September 1998)

Significant Incident Report 99:

Remotely Operated LHD –‘Runaway’ (November 1998)

“ADVANCING SAFETY” -AN AUSTRALIANWORKPLACE GUIDE

Advancing Safety – An AustralianWorkplace Guide due out in late1998 is a companion volume toEnhancing Safety – An AustralianWorkplace Primer. Together thetwo books cover all the material inthe National Diploma inOccupational Health and Safety.Advancing Safety – An AustralianWorkplace Guide will be avaluable asset for TAFE andUniversity students in OHS as wellas people with responsibilities forhealth and safety at work.

The first ten chapters areaccompanied by practical activitiesbased on the material in thechapter, the last two chapters areaction-oriented. All chaptersinclude further reading. The bookincludes a useful list of referenceson current topics appearing in OHSjournals, and on accident models.It has a section on informationsources and a list of usefulWebsites.

For further information and orderscontact:

Training PublicationsTel: (08) 9227 3360Fax: (08) 9227 3298

NEW PUBLICA TIONS

STAFF CHANGESCongratulations to Anne Thomas on her appointment as Administrative Assistant with the Karratha Inspectorateand to Sylvana Deluca who was appointed as Environmental Officer Agreement Acts.

Welcome to Samantha Lloyd who is joining the Division for three months as a Project Officer.

Congratulations to Mike Rowe who has been appointed Manager Occupational Health.

OBITUARY

John Charles (Shaun) Argus

(7 Sep tember 1931 to 19October 1998)

Shaun started his mining careerat the New Coolgardie GoldMines and at the Gold Mines ofKalgoorlie, Mt Charlotte wherehe became Mining Engineertowards the end of his servicethere . He obta ined anAssociate Diploma in Miningf rom the School o f MinesWestern Australia.

With his qualifications in hishand, Shaun embarked on along min ing career r i s ingrap id ly to h igh leve l s o fresponsibility. He worked at anumber of mining operationsthroughout WA and while atWiluna Gold Mines decided tojoin the Department of Mineralsand Energy in 1990.

Shaun was initially based withthe Department in Perth thent rans fe r red to the Kar ra thaOf f ice , where he workeddiligently as a District Inspectorof Mines in the Karratha Regionuntil his retirement last year.

Shaun will be sadly missed byall his family and friends.

INCIDENT ALER T

DECEMBER 199816

UNDERGROUND FIRE

INCIDENT

A twin-boom development jumbodrilling rig caught fire in anunderground metalliferous mineand was extensively damaged.

The fire started while the machinewas unattended and was wellestablished when discovered by thedayshift jumbo operator on arrivalat the workplace.

All personnel were evacuated fromthe underground workings until thefire was extinguished some 29hours later by the mine’s rescueteam. No injuries were sustained.

CAUSE

The 1000 volt electricity supply tothe jumbo’s trailing cable (and24volt from the batteries) had notbeen isolated after use by thepreceding dayshift.

During the nightshift while themachine was unattended, a 10kgrock fell and deflected into thedriver’s cabin damaging the dashconsole and causing a fire to startfrom internal (live) 24volt wiring.

The rock may have been dislodgedfrom the backs following a blastthat was fired two levels above.

COMMENTS ANDPREVENTATIVE ACTION

Mines Safety and InspectionRegulation 10.41(1)(a) states:

“The operator of a trackless unit inan underground mine must ensurethat the unit is not parked or leftunattended unless the engine orpower supply has been switchedoff.”

The above requirement (and long-standing industry practice) appliesequally to trackless units fed bytrailing cables, and must be fullyunderstood and practised byrelevant supervisory, operating,training and maintenance staff.

Less obvious is a recommendationto take the additional precaution ofswitching off the vehicle’s enginebattery isolator. In this incident,the machine’s dash console wiringwas also energised from the on-board 24volt batteries, and it islikely that the fire would still haveoccurred even if the trailing cablehad been switched off.

WATCH OUT!NUMBER OF INCIDENTS REPORTED SINCE 1994 FIRE INCIDENTS BY TYPE SINCE 1994

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Presence of gasBreakage of rope

Railway incient

Explosives incident

Light vehicle incidentUnconsciousness/fuming

Crane incidentDrill/power shovel incident

Truck/mobile equip. incident

Fixed plant incident Rockfall

Wall failureElectrical incident

Number of incidents

Gas or dust ignition

Other incidents

Outbreak of fire

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

U/G mobile plant brakeSurface mobile plant, object on hot surface

U/G vent fanSurface mobile plant battery

Grass fireSurface mobile plant brake

Bin/rubbish firesU/G mobile plant electrical

Welding firesSurface mobile plant electrical U/G mobile plant oil/fuel leaks

Treatment plant firesSurface mobile plant oil/fuel leaks