❓ A parliamentary question regarding potential overloading of dump trucks at the KCGM Superpit, focusing on safety protocols, independent verification of weighing systems, and compliance with mining regulations. The Minister's response indicates existing safety measures and a review of operating procedures.
AnsweredQoN 2317Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the KCGM Superpit operations owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining, and pictures of alleged overloaded dump trucks taken on 13 February 2010 and 2 March 2010, available at
http://robinchapple.org.au/node/460
[file: 2010-04-28 KCGM Overloaded Trucks.pdf], and ask -
(1) In the past 24 months can the Minister state, on what specific dates a workman’s inspector or district inspector, has independently checked that the ‘loadrite’ internal onboard weighing system, or similar system, on all of the trucks at KCGM has been calibrated independently of KCGM to ensure that the trucks are not being overloaded?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister and Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectorate support the practice of dump trucks being overloaded too far forward on the headboard of the tray causing the operators to conduct ‘jump loads’ given that some of the trucks have not been able to lift the load, because the lift ram is not capable of lifting the overweighted load beyond its design capacity?
(4) If no to (3), why?
(5) If yes to (3), why?
(6) Has the Minister or the DMP inspectorate received any concerns from any persons concerning overloaded dump trucks being operated beyond the design capacity in the last 24 months?
(7) If yes to (6), can the Minister state on what date(s), were these matters investigated to ensure that the trucks are not being overloaded beyond the design capacity of each truck, and how each of these matters were investigated?
(8) Can the Minister quote and state what section of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
prohibits dump trucks being overloaded beyond the design capacity at the KCGM superpit operations?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state the penalty under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1984 and Regulations 1995
for having overloaded dump trucks operating beyond the design capacity at the KCGM superpit operations?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) Will the Minister ensure that a DMP inspector expediently visits the KCGM operations to check all of the dump trucks ‘loadrite’ internal onboard weighing systems or similar to check that these have all recently been calibrated and tested independent of KCGM?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
http://robinchapple.org.au/node/460
[file: 2010-04-28 KCGM Overloaded Trucks.pdf], and ask -
(1) In the past 24 months can the Minister state, on what specific dates a workman’s inspector or district inspector, has independently checked that the ‘loadrite’ internal onboard weighing system, or similar system, on all of the trucks at KCGM has been calibrated independently of KCGM to ensure that the trucks are not being overloaded?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister and Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectorate support the practice of dump trucks being overloaded too far forward on the headboard of the tray causing the operators to conduct ‘jump loads’ given that some of the trucks have not been able to lift the load, because the lift ram is not capable of lifting the overweighted load beyond its design capacity?
(4) If no to (3), why?
(5) If yes to (3), why?
(6) Has the Minister or the DMP inspectorate received any concerns from any persons concerning overloaded dump trucks being operated beyond the design capacity in the last 24 months?
(7) If yes to (6), can the Minister state on what date(s), were these matters investigated to ensure that the trucks are not being overloaded beyond the design capacity of each truck, and how each of these matters were investigated?
(8) Can the Minister quote and state what section of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
prohibits dump trucks being overloaded beyond the design capacity at the KCGM superpit operations?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state the penalty under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1984 and Regulations 1995
for having overloaded dump trucks operating beyond the design capacity at the KCGM superpit operations?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) Will the Minister ensure that a DMP inspector expediently visits the KCGM operations to check all of the dump trucks ‘loadrite’ internal onboard weighing systems or similar to check that these have all recently been calibrated and tested independent of KCGM?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
(1)
The Department's mining inspectors do not verify that the onboard weighing systems on trucks are calibrated independently of the company.
(2) This is a management responsibility.
(3) No
(4) The practice of using inertia to assist in unloading a dump truck is not recommended by the truck manufacturers.
(5) Not Applicable
(6) No complaints have been made to the Department by employees at KCGM. If trucks are overloaded beyond the manufacturers recommendation an alarm sounds, the truck locks into 1
st
gear and the operator is required to dump the load on the bench.
(7) Not Applicable
(8) Section 9 (1) of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act
(MSIA) applies to the general duty for this activity. There are no specific regulations relating to overloading dump trucks but MSIA Regulation 6.2(1) reinforces the general duty to maintain and operate plant in a safe manner.
(9) Not Applicable
(10) The maximum penalty for breach of section 9 (1), without causing death or serious harm, is $200,000 for the first offence and $250,000 for a subsequent offence in case of a corporation.
(11) Not Applicable
(12) No
(13) Representative records of operating truck loads have been presented to the district inspector for the months of March and April 2010. There are no matters of concern from these results. There is no requirement for independent tests in the Act or Regulations.
The West Trac standard at which the overload alarm operates is 265 tonne. A warning is provided to the operator and the overload should be tipped in the pit area.
The target operating range is between 220T and 240T. Four digger loads of 60T would yield 240T. From 34,815 loads in March/April 0.8% were above manufacturer's recommended safe operating load. The operating procedure will be reviewed by KCGM to ensure that the exceedence rate is minimised.
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
The Department's mining inspectors do not verify that the onboard weighing systems on trucks are calibrated independently of the company.
(2) This is a management responsibility.
(3) No
(4) The practice of using inertia to assist in unloading a dump truck is not recommended by the truck manufacturers.
(5) Not Applicable
(6) No complaints have been made to the Department by employees at KCGM. If trucks are overloaded beyond the manufacturers recommendation an alarm sounds, the truck locks into 1
st
gear and the operator is required to dump the load on the bench.
(7) Not Applicable
(8) Section 9 (1) of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act
(MSIA) applies to the general duty for this activity. There are no specific regulations relating to overloading dump trucks but MSIA Regulation 6.2(1) reinforces the general duty to maintain and operate plant in a safe manner.
(9) Not Applicable
(10) The maximum penalty for breach of section 9 (1), without causing death or serious harm, is $200,000 for the first offence and $250,000 for a subsequent offence in case of a corporation.
(11) Not Applicable
(12) No
(13) Representative records of operating truck loads have been presented to the district inspector for the months of March and April 2010. There are no matters of concern from these results. There is no requirement for independent tests in the Act or Regulations.
The West Trac standard at which the overload alarm operates is 265 tonne. A warning is provided to the operator and the overload should be tipped in the pit area.
The target operating range is between 220T and 240T. Four digger loads of 60T would yield 240T. From 34,815 loads in March/April 0.8% were above manufacturer's recommended safe operating load. The operating procedure will be reviewed by KCGM to ensure that the exceedence rate is minimised.
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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