❓ Hon Robin Chapple asks a detailed question regarding the alleged practice of using "defecation kits" and disposing of waste in underground mines in WA. The Minister avoids direct answers, stating a proprietary product exists for emergencies and the described practices are not standard.
AnsweredQoN 2715Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a kit, that in order not to offend, I will call a defecation kit, and the completed purpose of that kit, which I will call a football, as both the aforementioned are common underground terminology in Western Australia, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that, with regards to the terminology referred to above, a defecation kit, is used widely throughout underground mines in Western Australia, and carried by employees on a daily basis in these mines, consisting of the following, -
(a) two plastic bags (green sample bags are the best as the more common Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) bag can cause a little bit of discomfort as they contain particles of ANFO and when applied to a wet surface it tends to hurt);
(b) six medium sized rags (three rags for a clean dry surface to accommodate the deposit, two rags to be used to clean yourself up after you are relieved, and one rag for a spare in case something goes wrong); and
(c) one roll of electrical tape?
(2) If no to (1), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that, with regards to the terminology referred to above, that a football is used widely throughout underground mines in Western Australia, and is the completed product and contains plastic bags rags electrical tape and excrement?
(4) If no to (3), what is correct concerning this matter?
(5) Is it correct that, with regards to the defecation kit referred to in (1), the procedure widely used by employees throughout underground mines in Western Australia is as follows, -
(a) to spread three pieces of rag evenly on the ground;
(b) to remove the overalls and defecate onto the rags;
(c) to clean up any remaining mess with two more rags, and then place those rags in the pile with the excrement;
(d) to roll the excrement and rags up together carefully;
(e) once the rags are carefully rolled, to secure them with electrical tape;
(f) once the rags are secured with electrical tape, to place them in a plastic bag;
(g) to then place the first plastic bag into a second plastic bag; and
(h) at the end of each shift to remove the full plastic bag known as a football from the mine to the surface for disposal?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(7) Is it correct that the practice referred to in (5), has been in use widely throughout underground mines in Western Australia since for at least 21 years?
(8) If no to (7), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(9) Is it correct that, within the last two years at Jundee Mine, a shift supervisor prepared a PowerPoint presentation with photographs clearly depicting the steps for proper use of the defecation kit, and disposal of the football as referred to in (5), because he was concerned that most employees did not understand how to use the defecation kit, in a hygienic and correct manner?
(10) If no to (9), what is correct concerning this matter?
(11) Is it correct that in mines throughout Western Australia, the practices described in (5) and (7), have come about because of, -
(a) the lack of toilets available underground;
(b) the absence of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in the toilets that are available underground;
(c) because of (a) and (b), employees had resorted to at times under specific instruction from the mine manager, defecating in a bogger bucket, so that the faeces would eventually be transported out of the underground mine, in the back of a truck to the surface either to the waste dump or to the ROM pad, and then through the mill?
(12) If no to (11), what is correct concerning this matter?
(13) Is it correct that the practice described in (5), has been reported as being adopted by employees at the following operations, -
(a) Tindalls - Coolgardie;
(b) Goldfields - Argo;
(c) Barrick - Raleigh;
(d) Barrick - Kanowna Belle;
(e) Lightening Nickel;
(f) other operations in the Mt Magnet district; and
(g) other operations in the Kambalda district?
(14) If no to (13), what is correct concerning this matter?
(15) Does the Minister, or any staff at the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) support and encourage any of the practices referred to in (5) and (11), in any mine in Western Australia?
(16) If yes to (15), why?
(17) If no to (15), why not?
(18) With regards to (11), can the Minister state and quote the relevant sections of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
that apply and the maximum penalty for a breach of each section?
(19) If no to (18), why not?
(1) Is it correct that, with regards to the terminology referred to above, a defecation kit, is used widely throughout underground mines in Western Australia, and carried by employees on a daily basis in these mines, consisting of the following, -
(a) two plastic bags (green sample bags are the best as the more common Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) bag can cause a little bit of discomfort as they contain particles of ANFO and when applied to a wet surface it tends to hurt);
(b) six medium sized rags (three rags for a clean dry surface to accommodate the deposit, two rags to be used to clean yourself up after you are relieved, and one rag for a spare in case something goes wrong); and
(c) one roll of electrical tape?
(2) If no to (1), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that, with regards to the terminology referred to above, that a football is used widely throughout underground mines in Western Australia, and is the completed product and contains plastic bags rags electrical tape and excrement?
(4) If no to (3), what is correct concerning this matter?
(5) Is it correct that, with regards to the defecation kit referred to in (1), the procedure widely used by employees throughout underground mines in Western Australia is as follows, -
(a) to spread three pieces of rag evenly on the ground;
(b) to remove the overalls and defecate onto the rags;
(c) to clean up any remaining mess with two more rags, and then place those rags in the pile with the excrement;
(d) to roll the excrement and rags up together carefully;
(e) once the rags are carefully rolled, to secure them with electrical tape;
(f) once the rags are secured with electrical tape, to place them in a plastic bag;
(g) to then place the first plastic bag into a second plastic bag; and
(h) at the end of each shift to remove the full plastic bag known as a football from the mine to the surface for disposal?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(7) Is it correct that the practice referred to in (5), has been in use widely throughout underground mines in Western Australia since for at least 21 years?
(8) If no to (7), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(9) Is it correct that, within the last two years at Jundee Mine, a shift supervisor prepared a PowerPoint presentation with photographs clearly depicting the steps for proper use of the defecation kit, and disposal of the football as referred to in (5), because he was concerned that most employees did not understand how to use the defecation kit, in a hygienic and correct manner?
(10) If no to (9), what is correct concerning this matter?
(11) Is it correct that in mines throughout Western Australia, the practices described in (5) and (7), have come about because of, -
(a) the lack of toilets available underground;
(b) the absence of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in the toilets that are available underground;
(c) because of (a) and (b), employees had resorted to at times under specific instruction from the mine manager, defecating in a bogger bucket, so that the faeces would eventually be transported out of the underground mine, in the back of a truck to the surface either to the waste dump or to the ROM pad, and then through the mill?
(12) If no to (11), what is correct concerning this matter?
(13) Is it correct that the practice described in (5), has been reported as being adopted by employees at the following operations, -
(a) Tindalls - Coolgardie;
(b) Goldfields - Argo;
(c) Barrick - Raleigh;
(d) Barrick - Kanowna Belle;
(e) Lightening Nickel;
(f) other operations in the Mt Magnet district; and
(g) other operations in the Kambalda district?
(14) If no to (13), what is correct concerning this matter?
(15) Does the Minister, or any staff at the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) support and encourage any of the practices referred to in (5) and (11), in any mine in Western Australia?
(16) If yes to (15), why?
(17) If no to (15), why not?
(18) With regards to (11), can the Minister state and quote the relevant sections of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Regulations 1995,
that apply and the maximum penalty for a breach of each section?
(19) If no to (18), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 October 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
35 days
(1) - (14)
I do not intend to answer this question by addressing each point that the Honourable Member has raised but rather to make the facts known that relate to the provision of a proprietary product on mine sites within Western Australia.
Mullen Industries have marketed a product known as the Miner's Mate. These portable Toilet Bags are intended for use only in an emergency.
For those interested I table the product information and Material Safety Data Sheet for this product
[see tabled paper .....].
These products are not being issued and used in place of normal toilet facilities located within reasonable access to working areas.
This product is a recent innovation and the practices described by the Honourable Member have not been custom and practice in the State's mines now or at any time within the past 21 years. I am however unable to rule out that on occasions individuals employed in underground mines may have defecated in places other than within a toilet.
(15) The use of a purpose-designed proprietary product in an emergency situation is of course supported where such use is appropriate.
(16) Refer to Answer (15)
(17) Not applicable
(18) Under Mine Safety and Inspection Regulation 7.14 it is an offence to pollute underground workings. The legislation provides for a maximum general penalty of $6,250 for an employee, any other individual of $31,250 and $62,000 for a corporation.
(19) Not applicable
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I do not intend to answer this question by addressing each point that the Honourable Member has raised but rather to make the facts known that relate to the provision of a proprietary product on mine sites within Western Australia.
Mullen Industries have marketed a product known as the Miner's Mate. These portable Toilet Bags are intended for use only in an emergency.
For those interested I table the product information and Material Safety Data Sheet for this product
[see tabled paper .....].
These products are not being issued and used in place of normal toilet facilities located within reasonable access to working areas.
This product is a recent innovation and the practices described by the Honourable Member have not been custom and practice in the State's mines now or at any time within the past 21 years. I am however unable to rule out that on occasions individuals employed in underground mines may have defecated in places other than within a toilet.
(15) The use of a purpose-designed proprietary product in an emergency situation is of course supported where such use is appropriate.
(16) Refer to Answer (15)
(17) Not applicable
(18) Under Mine Safety and Inspection Regulation 7.14 it is an offence to pollute underground workings. The legislation provides for a maximum general penalty of $6,250 for an employee, any other individual of $31,250 and $62,000 for a corporation.
(19) 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
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