❓ A parliamentary question regarding the safety and maintenance of ventilation equipment at the Raleigh Mine (later clarified as Kanowna Belle Gold Mine) and the adequacy of inspections by the Department of Mines and Petroleum. The Minister's response addresses the specific concerns and outlines inspection practices.
AnsweredQoN 2276Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Raleigh Mine owned by Barrick Australia located near Kalgoorlie-Boulder with senior management from Mr Evan Spencer, Mr Cullum Winn and Mr Ryan Burns and a picture taken 10 February 2010, available for viewing at
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
[file: 2010-02-04 Raleigh Ventilation Fan.pdf], of a primary ventilation fan with some cyclone meshing missing and damaged on the equipment, and I ask -
(1) Can the Minister explain what is the purpose and importance of having this cyclone meshing as depicted in the above referred to picture over one of the primary ventilation fans for this mine under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
and
Regulations 1995
?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectorate, prosecute the management of this mine for any breaches of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
and
Regulations 1995
for failing to ensure that important equipment is clearly in good working condition and that any hazards have been eliminated to ensure the safety of all workers at the mine?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Will the Minister ensure that the DMP inspectorate makes an unannounced visit without prior warning to management of this underground mine to ensure that all of the equipment within the mine is compliant with the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
and
Regulations 1995
to ensure that this type of equipment including all the other 6 primary ventilation fans is either fixed immediately or replaced?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state on what date, was the last date a diligent and thorough inspection by DMP inspectors undertaken of all the primary and secondary ventilation equipment at the Raleigh mine?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) If yes to (7), on what specific date did this occur and what were those specific issues identified by inspectors as requiring fixing to comply with legislation?
(10) Has the Raleigh Mine been in compliance with all primary and secondary ventilation parameters and equipment on the mine site in the last 24 months?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) If yes to (10), how was this compliance determined and independently factually verified on each occasion?
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
[file: 2010-02-04 Raleigh Ventilation Fan.pdf], of a primary ventilation fan with some cyclone meshing missing and damaged on the equipment, and I ask -
(1) Can the Minister explain what is the purpose and importance of having this cyclone meshing as depicted in the above referred to picture over one of the primary ventilation fans for this mine under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
and
Regulations 1995
?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectorate, prosecute the management of this mine for any breaches of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
and
Regulations 1995
for failing to ensure that important equipment is clearly in good working condition and that any hazards have been eliminated to ensure the safety of all workers at the mine?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Will the Minister ensure that the DMP inspectorate makes an unannounced visit without prior warning to management of this underground mine to ensure that all of the equipment within the mine is compliant with the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
and
Regulations 1995
to ensure that this type of equipment including all the other 6 primary ventilation fans is either fixed immediately or replaced?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state on what date, was the last date a diligent and thorough inspection by DMP inspectors undertaken of all the primary and secondary ventilation equipment at the Raleigh mine?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) If yes to (7), on what specific date did this occur and what were those specific issues identified by inspectors as requiring fixing to comply with legislation?
(10) Has the Raleigh Mine been in compliance with all primary and secondary ventilation parameters and equipment on the mine site in the last 24 months?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) If yes to (10), how was this compliance determined and independently factually verified on each occasion?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 May 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
30 days
1. The photo of the fan with the 3 segments of mesh missing, refers to Primary Ventilation Fan VR 5 at the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine and not at the Raleigh Mine. The fan is one of three fans on surface and they provide the primary ventilation system for Kanowna Belle. All three are exhaust fans. The purpose of the mesh is to stop small objects falling into the fans although the likelihood of that happening is small due to the volume of air being exhausted. The lower end of the fan opening where segments of mesh are missing is approximately 3 metres from the floor. The missing segments have been removed and new ones are ready to be installed. Installation will be done during the next shut down.
2. Not applicable.
3-4 The Department of Mines and Petroleum has found no breach that would warrant prosecution in this case.
5. The officers of the Department regularly make unannounced site inspections at all mine sites under its regulation.
6. Not applicable.
7. No reference to a specific inspection of the primary or the secondary ventilation was noted in the record book entries. On the 10 February 2010, an inspection of the secondary ventilation was done and temperature readings were taken at some working areas close to the lower section of the mine. Secondary ventilation was also inspected and the conditions were found to be satisfactory. The Ventilation Logbook was also inspected at this time to verify if any problems had been identified in the ventilation surveys and if those problems, if any, had been addressed.
8. Not applicable.
9. Refer to response to question 7.
10. Since the beginning of 2008, 27 inspections have been made at the Raleigh Mine. No notices regarding defects in the ventilation system have been issued.
11. Not applicable.
12. During such inspections of the secondary ventilation system the taking of temperature readings can be used to establish that the system is in compliance.
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2. Not applicable.
3-4 The Department of Mines and Petroleum has found no breach that would warrant prosecution in this case.
5. The officers of the Department regularly make unannounced site inspections at all mine sites under its regulation.
6. Not applicable.
7. No reference to a specific inspection of the primary or the secondary ventilation was noted in the record book entries. On the 10 February 2010, an inspection of the secondary ventilation was done and temperature readings were taken at some working areas close to the lower section of the mine. Secondary ventilation was also inspected and the conditions were found to be satisfactory. The Ventilation Logbook was also inspected at this time to verify if any problems had been identified in the ventilation surveys and if those problems, if any, had been addressed.
8. Not applicable.
9. Refer to response to question 7.
10. Since the beginning of 2008, 27 inspections have been made at the Raleigh Mine. No notices regarding defects in the ventilation system have been issued.
11. Not applicable.
12. During such inspections of the secondary ventilation system the taking of temperature readings can be used to establish that the system is in compliance.
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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