❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding safety inspections and compliance with regulations at the Norseman Gold company's Harlequin and Bullen mines, specifically concerning escape ways and return airways. The Minister refers to a previous question for much of the answer, but confirms the importance of escape ways and outlines relevant regulations.
AnsweredQoN 2705Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Norseman Gold company and the Harlequin, Bullen and Okay Operations, and ask -
(1) Will the Minister state how many inspections have taken place by Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectors, at the abovementioned operations in the past three years, and on what date each inspection took place?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Is it correct that for quite some time, the escape ways, and the return airways have not been kept up with both the development headings, and the production headings as is required in the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
, in the Harlequin mine?
(4) If no to (3), what then is correct concerning this matter?
(5) If yes to (3), what enforcement action has been taken by the DMP inspectorate to ensure that the escape ways, and the return airways, have been kept up with both the development and the production as is required in the
Mines Safety And Inspection Act 1994 And Regulations 1995
in the Bullen mine to eradicate the problem and to ensure the occupational safety of the employees in that mine?
(6) How many inspections and on what particular dates, have taken place in the last three years by a DMP inspector physically traversing all escape ways and return airways in the Bullen Mine, to establish that the escapeways and the return airways have been kept up with both the development, and the production, as is required in the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
in the Harlequin mine?
(7) Is it correct that the DMP inspectorate has known for quite some time that the escape ways and the return airways, have not been kept up with both the development and the production as is required, in the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
, in the Bullen mine, but has not taken the enforcement action necessary to see that this problem is eradicated, to ensure the occupational safety of the employees in that mine?
(8) If no to (7), what is correct concerning this matter?
(9) Have any sections of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
been breached in relation to (3)?
(10) If yes to (9), -
(a) which sections have been breached; and
(b) what is the maximum penalty for each breach?
(11) Will the resident manager or any other responsible person at Norseman Gold Bullen Mine be prosecuted for any of these breaches referred to in (9)?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Can the Minister state how many active levels of the above mentioned mine are operating presently without escape ways and return airways?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(15) Does the Minister regard any mine operating without escape ways and return airways on each active level, as being a serious breach of the legislation?
(16) If no to (15), why not?
(17) If yes to (15), why?
(18) Can the Minister state which specific provisions of the legislation are applicable to escape ways and return airways at this mine?
(19) If no to (18), why not?
(1) Will the Minister state how many inspections have taken place by Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectors, at the abovementioned operations in the past three years, and on what date each inspection took place?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Is it correct that for quite some time, the escape ways, and the return airways have not been kept up with both the development headings, and the production headings as is required in the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
, in the Harlequin mine?
(4) If no to (3), what then is correct concerning this matter?
(5) If yes to (3), what enforcement action has been taken by the DMP inspectorate to ensure that the escape ways, and the return airways, have been kept up with both the development and the production as is required in the
Mines Safety And Inspection Act 1994 And Regulations 1995
in the Bullen mine to eradicate the problem and to ensure the occupational safety of the employees in that mine?
(6) How many inspections and on what particular dates, have taken place in the last three years by a DMP inspector physically traversing all escape ways and return airways in the Bullen Mine, to establish that the escapeways and the return airways have been kept up with both the development, and the production, as is required in the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
in the Harlequin mine?
(7) Is it correct that the DMP inspectorate has known for quite some time that the escape ways and the return airways, have not been kept up with both the development and the production as is required, in the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
, in the Bullen mine, but has not taken the enforcement action necessary to see that this problem is eradicated, to ensure the occupational safety of the employees in that mine?
(8) If no to (7), what is correct concerning this matter?
(9) Have any sections of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
been breached in relation to (3)?
(10) If yes to (9), -
(a) which sections have been breached; and
(b) what is the maximum penalty for each breach?
(11) Will the resident manager or any other responsible person at Norseman Gold Bullen Mine be prosecuted for any of these breaches referred to in (9)?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Can the Minister state how many active levels of the above mentioned mine are operating presently without escape ways and return airways?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(15) Does the Minister regard any mine operating without escape ways and return airways on each active level, as being a serious breach of the legislation?
(16) If no to (15), why not?
(17) If yes to (15), why?
(18) Can the Minister state which specific provisions of the legislation are applicable to escape ways and return airways at this mine?
(19) If no to (18), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 October 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
35 days
(1) - (14) Refer to Parliamentary Question 2516
(15) Yes, so far as it relates to the provision of an escape way to active stoping levels of a mine. General development may be carried out on a level under the provisions of Regulation 10.10 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.
There are no provisions under these regulations requiring a return airway on each active level of a mine.
(16) Not applicable
(17) Escape ways are required to ensure employees have an alternate route to escape from the mine in an emergency.
Return airways are required to remove dust, fumes and contaminants from underground work places
(18) The provisions relating to escape ways are outlined in Regulation 10.10 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.
Part 9 of these regulations relates to ventilation and control of dust and atmospheric contaminants on mines. Regulations 9.5 and 9.16 refer to primary ventilation circuits and Regulation 9.14 requires the manager of an underground mine to ensure that a sufficient volume, velocity and quantity of air is provided in the mine.
(19) Not applicable
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(15) Yes, so far as it relates to the provision of an escape way to active stoping levels of a mine. General development may be carried out on a level under the provisions of Regulation 10.10 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.
There are no provisions under these regulations requiring a return airway on each active level of a mine.
(16) Not applicable
(17) Escape ways are required to ensure employees have an alternate route to escape from the mine in an emergency.
Return airways are required to remove dust, fumes and contaminants from underground work places
(18) The provisions relating to escape ways are outlined in Regulation 10.10 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.
Part 9 of these regulations relates to ventilation and control of dust and atmospheric contaminants on mines. Regulations 9.5 and 9.16 refer to primary ventilation circuits and Regulation 9.14 requires the manager of an underground mine to ensure that a sufficient volume, velocity and quantity of air is provided in the mine.
(19) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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