❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding safety and environmental concerns at Barrick Gold's Kanowna Belle and Raleigh gold mines, focusing on ventilation, inspections, and arsenic trioxide storage. The Minister's response indicates a lack of specific record-keeping for unannounced inspections and defends the current arsenic trioxide storage method.
AnsweredQoN 2312Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Kanowna Belle gold mine and Raleigh Gold mine both owned by Barrick Gold located near Kalgoorlie Boulder and
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
, and ask -
(1) Will the Minister indicate the number of times with specific dates, a district inspector and workman’s inspector from the Department of Minerals and Petroleum (DMP) has visited the above operations in the last three years, without any prior warning to management so that the conditions on the day are in fact typical of what is experienced by the miners and surface working personnel on a daily basis?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), for each occasion how long in hours did the inspector stay on site?
(4) Can the Minister state why is it so important that the primary and secondary ventilation be compliant with the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
for all workers at the above referred to mines?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Can the Minister state, what is the maximum penalty that can be imposed under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
for non compliance with the primary and secondary ventilation at any mine site in Western Australia?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) Can the Minister quote the specific sections and regulations under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
appertaining to primary and secondary ventilation at the above referred to mine sites?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Is it correct that arsenic trioxide stored underground at the Kanowna Belle gold mine was previously given approval, on the basis that this material was to be disposed of at the remote Mt Walton waste disposal site?
(11) If no to (10), what specifically is correct in relation to these matters?
(12) If yes to (10), in what year did this change?
(13) Did the DMP previously impose any conditions or mechanisms in place to protect workers and the environment, when the arsenic trioxide was permitted to be stored underground as opposed to being dumped at the remote Mt Walton waste disposal facility?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(15) If yes to (13), what were those conditions or mechanisms put in place to protect workers and the environment?
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
, and ask -
(1) Will the Minister indicate the number of times with specific dates, a district inspector and workman’s inspector from the Department of Minerals and Petroleum (DMP) has visited the above operations in the last three years, without any prior warning to management so that the conditions on the day are in fact typical of what is experienced by the miners and surface working personnel on a daily basis?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), for each occasion how long in hours did the inspector stay on site?
(4) Can the Minister state why is it so important that the primary and secondary ventilation be compliant with the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
for all workers at the above referred to mines?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Can the Minister state, what is the maximum penalty that can be imposed under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
for non compliance with the primary and secondary ventilation at any mine site in Western Australia?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) Can the Minister quote the specific sections and regulations under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
appertaining to primary and secondary ventilation at the above referred to mine sites?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Is it correct that arsenic trioxide stored underground at the Kanowna Belle gold mine was previously given approval, on the basis that this material was to be disposed of at the remote Mt Walton waste disposal site?
(11) If no to (10), what specifically is correct in relation to these matters?
(12) If yes to (10), in what year did this change?
(13) Did the DMP previously impose any conditions or mechanisms in place to protect workers and the environment, when the arsenic trioxide was permitted to be stored underground as opposed to being dumped at the remote Mt Walton waste disposal facility?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(15) If yes to (13), what were those conditions or mechanisms put in place to protect workers and the environment?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
The Department does not keep specific records of site visits made without prior notification.
It has never been considered necessary to keep such records.
Not Applicable
The primary and secondary ventilation installed at a mine is designed to ensure that the air in the working places is of adequate quantity and quality for the nature of the work being carried out.
Not Applicable
A breach of the regulations may attract a general penalty as specified in Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 regulation 17.1. For an employee $6,250.00, for an individual $31,250.00 and for a corporation $62,500.00 each being for a subsequent offence.
Not Applicable
Specific provisions of Part 9 (Ventilation and control of dust and atmospheric contaminants) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 are applicable to the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine and the Raleigh Gold Mine. In addition, Regulations 10.52, 10.53, 10.54, 10.55 and 10.56 are also applicable to underground ventilation at these two mines.
Not Applicable
No. The Arsenic Trioxide was previously stored at Mt Walton.
After encapsulation, the underground areas where the product is stored will be paste filled.
Not Applicable
No
The process whereby the Arsenic Trioxide is mixed with an inorganic geo-polymer binder that micro encapsulates the arsenic is a safe and proven method. It conforms to Australian Standard 4439.3-1997. The finished product forms a cement like material that is chemically stable.
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
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It has never been considered necessary to keep such records.
Not Applicable
The primary and secondary ventilation installed at a mine is designed to ensure that the air in the working places is of adequate quantity and quality for the nature of the work being carried out.
Not Applicable
A breach of the regulations may attract a general penalty as specified in Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 regulation 17.1. For an employee $6,250.00, for an individual $31,250.00 and for a corporation $62,500.00 each being for a subsequent offence.
Not Applicable
Specific provisions of Part 9 (Ventilation and control of dust and atmospheric contaminants) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 are applicable to the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine and the Raleigh Gold Mine. In addition, Regulations 10.52, 10.53, 10.54, 10.55 and 10.56 are also applicable to underground ventilation at these two mines.
Not Applicable
No. The Arsenic Trioxide was previously stored at Mt Walton.
After encapsulation, the underground areas where the product is stored will be paste filled.
Not Applicable
No
The process whereby the Arsenic Trioxide is mixed with an inorganic geo-polymer binder that micro encapsulates the arsenic is a safe and proven method. It conforms to Australian Standard 4439.3-1997. The finished product forms a cement like material that is chemically stable.
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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