❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the safety of the Norseman OK mine reopening, specifically regarding emergency communication channels and escape routes. Hon Norman Moore defers answering, citing the need for research and the unavailability of relevant inspectors.
AnsweredQoN 501Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NORSEMAN OK MINE — SAFETY ISSUE
I refer to question on notice 2432 and the operations at the Norseman OK mine and regulations 10.10(3) and 10.15 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995. (1) Is there any requirement for a communication channel or, more specifically channel 45, to be established as an emergency channel on radios in underground mine workings? (2) If yes to (1), was such a channel operative when operations recommenced after the closure of the mine on Wednesday, 12 May? (3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE
I refer to question on notice 2432 and the operations at the Norseman OK mine and regulations 10.10(3) and 10.15 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995. (1) Is there any requirement for a communication channel or, more specifically channel 45, to be established as an emergency channel on radios in underground mine workings? (2) If yes to (1), was such a channel operative when operations recommenced after the closure of the mine on Wednesday, 12 May? (3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(1) Is there any requirement for a communication channel or, more specifically channel 45, to be established as an emergency channel on radios in underground mine workings? (2) If yes to (1), was such a channel operative when operations recommenced after the closure of the mine on Wednesday, 12 May? (3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(2) If yes to (1), was such a channel operative when operations recommenced after the closure of the mine on Wednesday, 12 May? (3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(1) Is there any requirement for a communication channel or, more specifically channel 45, to be established as an emergency channel on radios in underground mine workings? (2) If yes to (1), was such a channel operative when operations recommenced after the closure of the mine on Wednesday, 12 May? (3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(2) If yes to (1), was such a channel operative when operations recommenced after the closure of the mine on Wednesday, 12 May? (3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(3) When allowing the Norseman OK gold mine to be reopened, was the mines inspector aware that not all escape routes had been completed or were in an inoperable and unsafe condition before production operations again recommenced? (4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(4) If no, why not? (5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
(5) If yes, why was the mine allowed to restart operations? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. This response was given yesterday, and so it relates to the situation yesterday. There may well have been a change today; I do not know. The response to this question without notice requires some research by the mines safety inspectors who were dealing with this matter at the time. One of those inspectors is currently engaged in an investigation into a recent fatality and the other inspector is carrying out an investigation into another safety incident at a mine site and therefore I ask the member to place the question on notice.
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