Inspectorate issues safety report after coal mine death

Two coal mine workers were using a QDS Bolter to drill application holes for a cavity fill product when a deadly roof fall happened at Crinum mine last week, an early report from the safety regulator says. Resources Health and Safety Queensland has released a safety alert stemming from the fatal incident that occurred about 11pm on September 14. The body of Mastermyne employee Graham Dawson was recovered from the collapsed area on Saturday afternoon and the site remains secured as investigations continue. Mastermyne Group has been contracted to bring the mothballed Crinum underground site near Emerald back into operation for owner Sojitz Blue. A Coal Inspectorate alert on the incident said three coal mine workers were conducting work in a conveyor drift at Crinum underground coal mine when a significant fall of ground from the roof area occurred. "Initial indications are that two coal mine workers were drilling Rocsil application holes into the roof of the drift using a QDS Bolter," the alert stated. "Whilst drilling the application holes, a large quantity of roof material has dislodged from the roof and fallen onto two of the workers. A third coal mine worker, who was working in the adjacent area, initiated the emergency response." Manufacturer Wilson Mining describes Rocsil foam as a resin product used for cavity filling, air and gas sealing, fire fighting and stabilisation of highly fractured strata - with its most common use being to fill roof cavities formed by longwall roof falls. The Coal Inspectorate has issued a number of recommendations to the industry as a result of the incident, but stresses that these are general recommendations relating to the management of strata hazards in underground coal mines, and are not direct findings relating to the cause of the accident at the Crinum mine. The mine operator should ensure that the site senior executive and underground mine manager at their underground coal mines reviewed their principal hazard management plan for strata control to ensure this was effective to prevent any potential for a similar incident, the Inspectorate says. It recommends consideration be given to the following: Having sufficient geological and geotechnical information to adequately assess the requirements for the strata at each mine.The design of the strata support system, based on relevant geological and geotechnical data, being implemented provides a factor of safety appropriate to the life cycle of the strata support for the excavation.The minimum design considerations of the support system must consider strata properties, the properties of the support system, potential failure surfaces and appropriate factors of safety.Strata support has been installed as per design specifications and detailed in the approved support plan.The strata monitoring system is adequate to provide effective monitoring to ensure the integrity of strata support over time in all circumstances.Mine management must develop and implement a suitable quality control process to ensure that the standard of installation meets that required by the design criteria for ground conditions at the mine.The integrity of the strata support system has not been compromised due to the life span of the components originally installed for providing effective strata support and monitoring.The changes of any other factors, particularly relating to but not limited to, shallow depth underground excavations associated with mine entries with a long life cycle that may impact on the installed strata support such as changes in surface topography, water control and catchment, erosion, weathering, and the potential for water ingress.Ensure that the assessment and review of the strata PHMP is conducted by a suitably qualified, independent and competent geotechnical engineer.

Inspectorate issues safety report after coal mine death

Industry Queensland

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