❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding safety protocols at the Kalgoorlie Superpit during lightning storms, specifically concerning operators working near explosives and on waste dumps. The Minister's response indicates no reported incidents or complaints, but highlights existing regulations and responsibilities.
AnsweredQoN 2369Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM) operations owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Australia commonly known as ‘the superpit’ in the Kalgoorlie Boulder region with management from Russell Cole, Dale Oram, Willie Leslie and Mick Harvey, and ask -
(1) In the last 24 months is it true that operators at the abovementioned have been operating in situations whereas there is lightening in the immediate vicinity and the operators still operate near a loaded shot with explosives in the pit?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister state why this is tolerated by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectorate?
(3) If no to (1), what is specifically correct in relation to these matters?
(4) Is it true that operators at the abovementioned operations, are forced to operate in situations where there is lightening in the immediate vicinity, and the operators still operate on the tip head on the waste dump and the rom pads, including in trucks and in track machines, for example, excavators and dozers?
(5) If yes to (4), can the Minister state why this is tolerated by the DMP inspectorate?
(6) If no to (4), what is specifically correct in relation to these matters?
(7) Will the Minister state how many incidents have been recorded, both with the DMP and the company’s internal reporting systems, concerning operators working in and around loaded shots with explosives and on tip heads during lightening storms in the last 24 months?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Will the Minister state how many complaints have been received, and investigated, by the DMP concerning operators working in and around loaded shots, and on tip heads during lightening storms in the last 24 months at all operations within Western Australia?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Will the Minister quote and state which sections of the
Mines Safety and Inspections Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
prohibit the type of incidents referred to in (1), and (4), above?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(1) In the last 24 months is it true that operators at the abovementioned have been operating in situations whereas there is lightening in the immediate vicinity and the operators still operate near a loaded shot with explosives in the pit?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister state why this is tolerated by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectorate?
(3) If no to (1), what is specifically correct in relation to these matters?
(4) Is it true that operators at the abovementioned operations, are forced to operate in situations where there is lightening in the immediate vicinity, and the operators still operate on the tip head on the waste dump and the rom pads, including in trucks and in track machines, for example, excavators and dozers?
(5) If yes to (4), can the Minister state why this is tolerated by the DMP inspectorate?
(6) If no to (4), what is specifically correct in relation to these matters?
(7) Will the Minister state how many incidents have been recorded, both with the DMP and the company’s internal reporting systems, concerning operators working in and around loaded shots with explosives and on tip heads during lightening storms in the last 24 months?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Will the Minister state how many complaints have been received, and investigated, by the DMP concerning operators working in and around loaded shots, and on tip heads during lightening storms in the last 24 months at all operations within Western Australia?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Will the Minister quote and state which sections of the
Mines Safety and Inspections Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
prohibit the type of incidents referred to in (1), and (4), above?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
41 days
(1) Neither the Department nor KCGM have any reports of such occurrences.
(2) Not applicable
(3) KCGM has a procedure for monitoring approaching thunder storms and to suspend work in the designated blast exclusion zone when conditions warrant.
(4) There are no regulations requiring this type of work to be suspended. Normal operating procedures apply in this situation. KCGM has stated that employees are not forced to work. Employees may stop if concerned about lightning in the area.
(5) Not applicable
(6) Section 9 of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act
1994
places responsibility on the manager to assess the systems of work at the mine and take adequate precautions against any hazard.
(7) No incidents have been reported relating to working around loaded shots during lightning storms. Tipping has not been prohibited so it is not a reportable incident.
(8) Not applicable
(9) No such complaints have been received from employees within Western Australia over the past 24 months.
(10)Not applicable
(11) Mines Safety and Inspection Regulation 8.38 deals with firing during electrical storms. There is no specific regulation relating to the suspension of tipping operations during lightning storms.
(12) 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
(2) Not applicable
(3) KCGM has a procedure for monitoring approaching thunder storms and to suspend work in the designated blast exclusion zone when conditions warrant.
(4) There are no regulations requiring this type of work to be suspended. Normal operating procedures apply in this situation. KCGM has stated that employees are not forced to work. Employees may stop if concerned about lightning in the area.
(5) Not applicable
(6) Section 9 of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act
1994
places responsibility on the manager to assess the systems of work at the mine and take adequate precautions against any hazard.
(7) No incidents have been reported relating to working around loaded shots during lightning storms. Tipping has not been prohibited so it is not a reportable incident.
(8) Not applicable
(9) No such complaints have been received from employees within Western Australia over the past 24 months.
(10)Not applicable
(11) Mines Safety and Inspection Regulation 8.38 deals with firing during electrical storms. There is no specific regulation relating to the suspension of tipping operations during lightning storms.
(12) 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
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.