❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the management of arsenic trioxide at the Kanowna Belle gold mine, focusing on safety protocols and incident reporting. The response indicates compliance with regulations and safe storage practices.
AnsweredQoN 2311Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Kanowna Belle gold mine owned by Barrick Gold located near Kalgoorlie Boulder, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that the name of the registered mine manager as recorded by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is Mr Evan Spencer?
(2) If yes to (1), how long has Mr Evan Spencer been recorded with the DMP as the registered mine manager for the above mine?
(3) If no to (1), what is the position of Mr Evan Spencer at this mine?
(4) Is it correct that Mr Cullum Winn is the manager of mining recorded with the DMP for the above mine?
(5) If yes to (4), how long has Mr Cullum Winn been recorded with the DMP as the manager for mining for the above mine?
(6) If no to (4), what is the position of Mr Cullum Winn at this mine?
(7) Has the DMP received any incident reports concerning arsenic trioxide underground leaking into hypersaline water down the decline or drives at the above referred to operation within the last 36 months?
(8) If yes to (7), what were the factual circumstances of each incident determined and investigated by DMP inspectors?
(9) In the last 36 months, is it correct that the decline at the Kanowna Belle mine was shut off for temporary use when arsenic trioxide was found to be leaking down the decline in the mine?
(10) If yes to (9), can the Minister explain how arsenic trioxide was allowed to leak down the decline?
(11) Do DMP inspectors visually inspect all the arsenic trioxide capsules/briquettes stored underground at the Kanowna Belle operation on every inspection undertaken?
(12) If yes to (11), -
(a) when was the last visual inspection of all the arsenic trioxide stored underground;
(b) was any of this material leaking onto the ground; or
(c) into the groundwater in the mine?
(13) If no to (11), why not?
(14) What does the DMP specifically require from the Kanowna Belle mine under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
appertaining to the containment of arsenic trioxide stored underground?
(1) Is it correct that the name of the registered mine manager as recorded by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is Mr Evan Spencer?
(2) If yes to (1), how long has Mr Evan Spencer been recorded with the DMP as the registered mine manager for the above mine?
(3) If no to (1), what is the position of Mr Evan Spencer at this mine?
(4) Is it correct that Mr Cullum Winn is the manager of mining recorded with the DMP for the above mine?
(5) If yes to (4), how long has Mr Cullum Winn been recorded with the DMP as the manager for mining for the above mine?
(6) If no to (4), what is the position of Mr Cullum Winn at this mine?
(7) Has the DMP received any incident reports concerning arsenic trioxide underground leaking into hypersaline water down the decline or drives at the above referred to operation within the last 36 months?
(8) If yes to (7), what were the factual circumstances of each incident determined and investigated by DMP inspectors?
(9) In the last 36 months, is it correct that the decline at the Kanowna Belle mine was shut off for temporary use when arsenic trioxide was found to be leaking down the decline in the mine?
(10) If yes to (9), can the Minister explain how arsenic trioxide was allowed to leak down the decline?
(11) Do DMP inspectors visually inspect all the arsenic trioxide capsules/briquettes stored underground at the Kanowna Belle operation on every inspection undertaken?
(12) If yes to (11), -
(a) when was the last visual inspection of all the arsenic trioxide stored underground;
(b) was any of this material leaking onto the ground; or
(c) into the groundwater in the mine?
(13) If no to (11), why not?
(14) What does the DMP specifically require from the Kanowna Belle mine under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
appertaining to the containment of arsenic trioxide stored underground?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
Yes.
Mr Spencer was first appointed as the Registered Manager for the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine on 3 August 2007.
Not Applicable
No. The position of Manager Mining is not a statutory position and is therefore not recorded in the Department's records.
Not Applicable
Questions regarding non-statutory positions held by individuals employed by mining companies should be directed to the company concerned.
No.
Not Applicable
No.
Not Applicable
No.
a) - c) Not Applicable
Arsenic Trioxide is a by product from the roasting process. Since 2003 it has been stored underground at the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine. Before storage it undergoes a process to allow for safe storage. Essentially the material is encapsulated in a 'dolocrete' material. This is an inorganic geo-polymer binder that micro-encapsulates the Arsenic Trioxide and traps it both chemically and physically. It conforms with International Standards and in particular to AS 4439.3-1997.This product is very stable and is stored in areas of the mine that are no longer in production.
Section 9 of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
(MSIA) specifies the duties of employers. This section of the MSIA requires that: "
an employer must, so far as is practicable, provide and maintain at a mine a working environment in which that employer's employees are not exposed to hazards....."
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
Mr Spencer was first appointed as the Registered Manager for the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine on 3 August 2007.
Not Applicable
No. The position of Manager Mining is not a statutory position and is therefore not recorded in the Department's records.
Not Applicable
Questions regarding non-statutory positions held by individuals employed by mining companies should be directed to the company concerned.
No.
Not Applicable
No.
Not Applicable
No.
a) - c) Not Applicable
Arsenic Trioxide is a by product from the roasting process. Since 2003 it has been stored underground at the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine. Before storage it undergoes a process to allow for safe storage. Essentially the material is encapsulated in a 'dolocrete' material. This is an inorganic geo-polymer binder that micro-encapsulates the Arsenic Trioxide and traps it both chemically and physically. It conforms with International Standards and in particular to AS 4439.3-1997.This product is very stable and is stored in areas of the mine that are no longer in production.
Section 9 of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
(MSIA) specifies the duties of employers. This section of the MSIA requires that: "
an employer must, so far as is practicable, provide and maintain at a mine a working environment in which that employer's employees are not exposed to hazards....."
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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