❓ Hon Jon Ford questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding a reported incident at the KCGM Superpit involving a digger and a potential void collapse, seeking details on investigations, safety procedures, and past incidents. The Minister's response clarifies the incident details, safety protocols, and confirms no serious incidents of vehicles falling into voids.
AnsweredQoN 2444Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the KCGM operations owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Australia, commonly known as the Superpit in the Kalgoorlie region, and I ask -
(1) Was it reported both on the company’s internal reporting system or to the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP), that in the last 14 days a PC 8000 digger/shovel was operating inside a red and white zone, loading a truck when the void that the shovel was working on top of collapsed, causing the shovel to fall forwards and the claw of the shovel to pin the truck as the shovel was hanging over a void?
(2) If yes to (1), was this incident investigated?
(3) If yes to (2), what was the outcome of the investigation?
(4) If no to (1), will the Minister urgently require an investigation into this matter?
(5) Will the Minister state the purpose and function of the red and white zone in the abovementioned operations and there importance, if any?
(6) Will the Minister state whether the PC 8000 digger/shovel referred to in (1), was meant to be operating in the red and white zone in the abovementioned operations?
(7) What has the DMP done to eliminate a serious accident or fatality for the circumstances referred to in (1)?
(8) How many incidents with the specific dates that each occurred have been reported, both on the company’s internal reporting system or to the DMP, concerning heavy vehicles or light vehicles, including drill rigs, falling into a void in the last 60 months?
(9) Have any persons at KCGM ever been prosecuted for heavy vehicles or light vehicles falling into a void at these operations?
(10) Within the last 15 years have KCGM ever lost any heavy equipment, vehicles falling into voids at these operations?
(11) If yes to (9), on each occasion, what was lost or damaged?
(12) Within the last 15 years at the KCGM operations has anyone ever been killed or injured falling into underground voids at these operations?
(1) Was it reported both on the company’s internal reporting system or to the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP), that in the last 14 days a PC 8000 digger/shovel was operating inside a red and white zone, loading a truck when the void that the shovel was working on top of collapsed, causing the shovel to fall forwards and the claw of the shovel to pin the truck as the shovel was hanging over a void?
(2) If yes to (1), was this incident investigated?
(3) If yes to (2), what was the outcome of the investigation?
(4) If no to (1), will the Minister urgently require an investigation into this matter?
(5) Will the Minister state the purpose and function of the red and white zone in the abovementioned operations and there importance, if any?
(6) Will the Minister state whether the PC 8000 digger/shovel referred to in (1), was meant to be operating in the red and white zone in the abovementioned operations?
(7) What has the DMP done to eliminate a serious accident or fatality for the circumstances referred to in (1)?
(8) How many incidents with the specific dates that each occurred have been reported, both on the company’s internal reporting system or to the DMP, concerning heavy vehicles or light vehicles, including drill rigs, falling into a void in the last 60 months?
(9) Have any persons at KCGM ever been prosecuted for heavy vehicles or light vehicles falling into a void at these operations?
(10) Within the last 15 years have KCGM ever lost any heavy equipment, vehicles falling into voids at these operations?
(11) If yes to (9), on each occasion, what was lost or damaged?
(12) Within the last 15 years at the KCGM operations has anyone ever been killed or injured falling into underground voids at these operations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
30 days
1) There is an incident report on the company system for an incident which occurred in a black and white zone on the 17 May 2009 where a void subsidence occurred underneath the track of a digger causing it to drop and the bucket to rest on the back of Truck 254. This resulted in the truck and digger being unable to move.
2) Yes
3) The company investigation referred to a pillar area and re-assessing the zone as restricted black and white. Deep blast holes in the area were expected to collapse the crown pillar which would have allowed the void area to fill with broken rock. The pillar did not fail with the blast but failed about a month later in the mining cycle. The comment from the Void Technical Officer is " The 390 blast will take the top off the CALS (stope) and we should not have any more problems in this area."
4) Not applicable
5) The zones within the pit are determined by analysis of old mining plans and void probe drilling. Red and white zones are areas with restrictions as outlined in the company procedures. For example employees should not travel on foot and large equipment such as shovels would have specific operating plans including approved dig plans.
6) The digger was working in an area that had been designated as black and white. A shovel in a red and white zone would have a specific dig plan.
7) Procedures for the specification of zones were established in the early part of the Super Pit's operating life with consultation from the Department.
The Department has produced a guideline titled Open Pit Mining Through Underground Workings dated July 2000.
8) There are no reports of machinery falling into a void. There are six reports on the company system, two of which have been reported to the Department of Mines & Petroleum, involving wheels and tracks slumping into shallow depressions.
9) No
10) No
11) Not applicable
12) No
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2) Yes
3) The company investigation referred to a pillar area and re-assessing the zone as restricted black and white. Deep blast holes in the area were expected to collapse the crown pillar which would have allowed the void area to fill with broken rock. The pillar did not fail with the blast but failed about a month later in the mining cycle. The comment from the Void Technical Officer is " The 390 blast will take the top off the CALS (stope) and we should not have any more problems in this area."
4) Not applicable
5) The zones within the pit are determined by analysis of old mining plans and void probe drilling. Red and white zones are areas with restrictions as outlined in the company procedures. For example employees should not travel on foot and large equipment such as shovels would have specific operating plans including approved dig plans.
6) The digger was working in an area that had been designated as black and white. A shovel in a red and white zone would have a specific dig plan.
7) Procedures for the specification of zones were established in the early part of the Super Pit's operating life with consultation from the Department.
The Department has produced a guideline titled Open Pit Mining Through Underground Workings dated July 2000.
8) There are no reports of machinery falling into a void. There are six reports on the company system, two of which have been reported to the Department of Mines & Petroleum, involving wheels and tracks slumping into shallow depressions.
9) No
10) No
11) Not applicable
12) No
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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