❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding safety and communication standards at the Norseman Gold Operations, specifically the OK, Harlequin, and Bullen Mines. The Minister's response reveals deficiencies and prompts further investigation.
AnsweredQoN 2319Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Norseman Gold Operations, the OK Mine, Harlequin Mine, and Bullen Mine, and ask -
(1) Can the Minister indicate the number of times and specific dates a district inspector and/or workman’s inspector 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 operators on a daily basis?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Has a district inspector from the DMP recently checked, that communications underground in all parts of the mine, are functional and operational?
(4) If yes to (3), -
(a) on what specific date were communications checked; and
(b) how did the inspector validate and check?
(5) If no to (3), will the Minister direct that an inspector expediently visit the mine to check that communications underground in all parts of the mine are functional and operational?
(6) Has a district inspector from the DMP recently checked to see whether there is communications or a telephone functional in all the refuge chambers at the above referred to operations?
(7) If yes to (6), -
(a) on what specific date was each individual refuge chamber checked; and
(b) how did the inspector validate and check?
(8) If no to (6), will the Minister direct that an inspector expediently visit the mine to check that communications or telephones in all refuge chambers are fully operational?
(9) Can the Minister state the specific, -
(a) number of refuge chambers that are located at each of the above referred to operations; and
(b) locations for levels in metres below the natural surface?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Is the Minister or the DMP aware that there is no mine air to the refuge chambers when the compressor is turned off at night time at the OK mine?
(12) If yes to (11), how long has the DMP known about this?
(13) If no to (11), will the Minister expediently request a DMP district inspector to check this without any prior warning to the mine?
(1) Can the Minister indicate the number of times and specific dates a district inspector and/or workman’s inspector 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 operators on a daily basis?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Has a district inspector from the DMP recently checked, that communications underground in all parts of the mine, are functional and operational?
(4) If yes to (3), -
(a) on what specific date were communications checked; and
(b) how did the inspector validate and check?
(5) If no to (3), will the Minister direct that an inspector expediently visit the mine to check that communications underground in all parts of the mine are functional and operational?
(6) Has a district inspector from the DMP recently checked to see whether there is communications or a telephone functional in all the refuge chambers at the above referred to operations?
(7) If yes to (6), -
(a) on what specific date was each individual refuge chamber checked; and
(b) how did the inspector validate and check?
(8) If no to (6), will the Minister direct that an inspector expediently visit the mine to check that communications or telephones in all refuge chambers are fully operational?
(9) Can the Minister state the specific, -
(a) number of refuge chambers that are located at each of the above referred to operations; and
(b) locations for levels in metres below the natural surface?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Is the Minister or the DMP aware that there is no mine air to the refuge chambers when the compressor is turned off at night time at the OK mine?
(12) If yes to (11), how long has the DMP known about this?
(13) If no to (11), will the Minister expediently request a DMP district inspector to check this without any prior warning to the mine?
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.
2. It has never been considered necessary to keep such records.
3. No
4. (a-b) Not Applicable
5. An inspector followed this matter up on 11 May 2010. Communication at the OK Mine was unsatisfactory and a Prohibition Notice was issued.
6. No
7. (a-b) Not Applicable
8. An inspector followed this matter up on 11 May 2010. As stated in response to number 5 above, a Prohibition Notice was issued. [
see tabled paper no .....].
9. (a) and (b). The relevant documentation provided to the Department by the company is tabled [
see tabled paper .....]
. It does not include the specific locations for levels in metres below the natural surface.
10. Not Applicable
11. No
12. Not Applicable
13. The Department is now arranging for such an inspection to be carried out.
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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2. It has never been considered necessary to keep such records.
3. No
4. (a-b) Not Applicable
5. An inspector followed this matter up on 11 May 2010. Communication at the OK Mine was unsatisfactory and a Prohibition Notice was issued.
6. No
7. (a-b) Not Applicable
8. An inspector followed this matter up on 11 May 2010. As stated in response to number 5 above, a Prohibition Notice was issued. [
see tabled paper no .....].
9. (a) and (b). The relevant documentation provided to the Department by the company is tabled [
see tabled paper .....]
. It does not include the specific locations for levels in metres below the natural surface.
10. Not Applicable
11. No
12. Not Applicable
13. The Department is now arranging for such an inspection to be carried out.
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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