❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding safety inspections and compliance at the BHP Billiton nickel smelter near Kalgoorlie Boulder. The response details inspection history, breaches, and actions taken, along with reasons for not conducting further investigations.
AnsweredQoN 2281Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the BHP Billiton nickel smelter located near Kalgoorlie Boulder, and I ask -
(1) When the last inspection of all guard rails, anchor points and fall arrest equipment at the above referred to operations conducted by an inspector of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) in regards to meeting the safety requirements and standards stipulated under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
?
(2) How long in working hours did this inspection take, over what period of time and how diligent and thorough was it during that last inspection?
(3) At the last inspection by DMP inspectors were any breaches of the Act or Regulations identified?
(4) If yes to (3), what actions did the DMP take to deal with these breaches?
(5) Will the Minister direct the DMP inspectorate to carry out an investigation of all guard rails, anchor points and fall arrest equipment?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state how many mines record book entries, provisional improvement, improvement and prohibition notices have been issued by the DMP under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 95
at the above operation in the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) If yes to (7), what was each entry, notice order issued for?
(10) Can the Minister table the full text for all the mines record book entries, stop work orders, and all types of notices issued by DMP under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 95
in the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) Have DMP inspectors received notification that all safety training of mine personnel with respect to anchor points have been provided to employees at the above mentioned operations?
(1) When the last inspection of all guard rails, anchor points and fall arrest equipment at the above referred to operations conducted by an inspector of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) in regards to meeting the safety requirements and standards stipulated under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
?
(2) How long in working hours did this inspection take, over what period of time and how diligent and thorough was it during that last inspection?
(3) At the last inspection by DMP inspectors were any breaches of the Act or Regulations identified?
(4) If yes to (3), what actions did the DMP take to deal with these breaches?
(5) Will the Minister direct the DMP inspectorate to carry out an investigation of all guard rails, anchor points and fall arrest equipment?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state how many mines record book entries, provisional improvement, improvement and prohibition notices have been issued by the DMP under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 95
at the above operation in the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) If yes to (7), what was each entry, notice order issued for?
(10) Can the Minister table the full text for all the mines record book entries, stop work orders, and all types of notices issued by DMP under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 95
in the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) Have DMP inspectors received notification that all safety training of mine personnel with respect to anchor points have been provided to employees at the above mentioned operations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 May 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
30 days
1. None of the Record Book Entries in recent times make reference to a specific inspection of the guard rails, anchor points or fall arrest equipment. On the 13/4/2010 an inspection of the granulator and convertor area was conducted and no problems with the guard rail in these areas were recorded.
2. The inspection took approximately two hours and was part of a walk through inspection.
3. No breaches were indentified.
4. Not applicable.
5. No.
6. Such a matter is for the principal employer as it is their principal duty of care to maintain safe plant and equipment.
7. The following inspections and notices were recorded:
a)
During 2008
Ten Record Book Entries were made and two Improvement Notices were issued.
b)
During 2009
Fifteen Record Book Entries were made and three Improvement Notices were issued
c)
During 2010
Up to the 28/04/10 - four Record Book Entries were made and no Notices have been issued
8. Not applicable
9. Detail of the issues are as follows:
2008
The following Record Book Entries were made:
a)
27/03/08:
Occurrence - fire on slag hauler 362
b)
7/07/08:
Smelter area inspection
c)
21/07/08:
Classified Plant Register and support books
d)
30/7/08:
Work in the furnace, associated store and lay out areas
e)
7/08/08:
Incident - Crane made contact with overhead powerlines
f)
19/08/08:
Three separate entries - Complaint involving BIS Slag Handlers
g)
21/10/08
: Inspection of Plant and Work Shops
h)
28/11/2008
: Incident involving an Elevating Work Platform
The following notices were issued during 2008
a) IB 00299 Classified Plant.
b) IB 15639 Operation of machinery in vicinity of live overhead powerlines
2009
a)
9/01/09:
Electrical Inspection
b)
20/01/09:
Incidents at the Furnace
c)
16/02/09:
Follow up on the Incidents at the Furnace
d)
19/03/09:
Main Workshop, Acid Plant Nickel Bag House, Precipitators, Crusher and Furnace
e)
20/03/09:
Smelter Area
f)
14 & 15/04/09:
General Inspection & OSH Inspection
g)
14/05/09:
Installation of the 25T overhead crane
h)
18/06/09:
Plant and Work Shops
i)
14/07/09:
Classified Plant Record Book
j)
21/07/09:
Tapping Platform, Boilermaker Workshop and Surface area
k)
26/08/09:
Acid Plant & Matte Packaging Shed
l)
27/08/09:
Electrical Inspection
m)
24/11/09:
Plant & Workshops
n)
24/11/09:
Workshops, Acid Plant, Rail Unloading System, Crusher & Convertor Areas
The following notices were issued during 2009
a) IC 02257, Scaffolding Tagging.
b) IC 01901, General safety
c) IC 01635, Maintenance of the electrical log book.
2010
a)
9/02/10:
Respirator Centre, Concentrate Unloading Bay, Flash Furnace, Crane, Convertor Offices, Acid Plant.
b)
13/04/10:
Two separate entries - Complaint on bullying & Convertor Area
c)
20/04/10
: Main Stores. Work Shops, Acid Plant, Power House, Furnace, BIS Yard, Slag Dump & Area 41 & Convertors
10. Copies of the requested data are attached.
[tabled paper ________].
11. Not applicable.
12. Notification is not required and has not been requested.
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. The inspection took approximately two hours and was part of a walk through inspection.
3. No breaches were indentified.
4. Not applicable.
5. No.
6. Such a matter is for the principal employer as it is their principal duty of care to maintain safe plant and equipment.
7. The following inspections and notices were recorded:
a)
During 2008
Ten Record Book Entries were made and two Improvement Notices were issued.
b)
During 2009
Fifteen Record Book Entries were made and three Improvement Notices were issued
c)
During 2010
Up to the 28/04/10 - four Record Book Entries were made and no Notices have been issued
8. Not applicable
9. Detail of the issues are as follows:
2008
The following Record Book Entries were made:
a)
27/03/08:
Occurrence - fire on slag hauler 362
b)
7/07/08:
Smelter area inspection
c)
21/07/08:
Classified Plant Register and support books
d)
30/7/08:
Work in the furnace, associated store and lay out areas
e)
7/08/08:
Incident - Crane made contact with overhead powerlines
f)
19/08/08:
Three separate entries - Complaint involving BIS Slag Handlers
g)
21/10/08
: Inspection of Plant and Work Shops
h)
28/11/2008
: Incident involving an Elevating Work Platform
The following notices were issued during 2008
a) IB 00299 Classified Plant.
b) IB 15639 Operation of machinery in vicinity of live overhead powerlines
2009
a)
9/01/09:
Electrical Inspection
b)
20/01/09:
Incidents at the Furnace
c)
16/02/09:
Follow up on the Incidents at the Furnace
d)
19/03/09:
Main Workshop, Acid Plant Nickel Bag House, Precipitators, Crusher and Furnace
e)
20/03/09:
Smelter Area
f)
14 & 15/04/09:
General Inspection & OSH Inspection
g)
14/05/09:
Installation of the 25T overhead crane
h)
18/06/09:
Plant and Work Shops
i)
14/07/09:
Classified Plant Record Book
j)
21/07/09:
Tapping Platform, Boilermaker Workshop and Surface area
k)
26/08/09:
Acid Plant & Matte Packaging Shed
l)
27/08/09:
Electrical Inspection
m)
24/11/09:
Plant & Workshops
n)
24/11/09:
Workshops, Acid Plant, Rail Unloading System, Crusher & Convertor Areas
The following notices were issued during 2009
a) IC 02257, Scaffolding Tagging.
b) IC 01901, General safety
c) IC 01635, Maintenance of the electrical log book.
2010
a)
9/02/10:
Respirator Centre, Concentrate Unloading Bay, Flash Furnace, Crane, Convertor Offices, Acid Plant.
b)
13/04/10:
Two separate entries - Complaint on bullying & Convertor Area
c)
20/04/10
: Main Stores. Work Shops, Acid Plant, Power House, Furnace, BIS Yard, Slag Dump & Area 41 & Convertors
10. Copies of the requested data are attached.
[tabled paper ________].
11. Not applicable.
12. Notification is not required and has not been requested.
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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