2019 Conference Presentations

Professor Jianming Wu Visiting Professor of University of Wollongong and Director of AST Australia A/Professor Ting Ren</br/>Director of Centre of Infrastructure Protection and Mining Safety, University of Wollongong Spontaneous combustion (sponcom) of coal remains a major safety issue for underground coal mining operations. Recent heating incidents in Australia further highlight the need of improving current knowledge and practices of sponcom management to ensure safety and productivity of coal mines extracting coal seams that are prone to spontaneous heating. This presentation will provide some the fundamental theory and practices in the early detection, prevention and control of spontaneous combustion of coal. Case studies based on Chinese and Australian coal mines will be presented to demonstrate a range of techniques, including radon detection, jel and fly ash injection materials, that can be practically used for coal heating and fire management. The presentation will also include studies of goaf gas flow dynamics based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. Based upon fundamental fluid flow governing equations, computational models are developed to investigate the impact of different ventilation layout and ventilation parameters on goaf gas flow characteristics and in particularly, oxygen leakage and ingress patterns, and hence identification of high sponcom risk zones. Inertisation strategies, using both nitrogen and carbon dioxide, are modelled to optimise operational parameters (e.g, injection flow rate and location etc) for active longwalls and seal-off operations.

Dr Snezana Bajic Technical Services Manager, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (Simtars) Reliable gas monitoring is a key element to ensure that the mine based controls are effective. Coal mines in Queensland and New South Wales have been facing issues in controlling tailgate methane levels and recently there have been two serious spontaneous combustion events. Legislation and Australian standards make specific requirements for the installation and maintenance of gas monitoring systems. This paper discusses the issues related to gas monitoring, tailgate methane control, alarm set points and proposals for feedback loops on alarm notifications and acknowledgements. The paper will not discuss individual mine events but will focus on reliable gas monitoring to enable early detection and proactive actions to be taken.

Adrian Clarke SHE Manager, Anglo American A proactive safety culture is the desired end state for Anglo American’s Dawson Mine. The journey relies upon the initiation of a strong system to promote embedding the desired safety behaviours within the organisation. At Dawson Mine, this system is “Recognition and Reward Scheme”. The scheme relies on hazard reporting and innovation drives, aligning with the core values of Safety and Innovation. Hazard reporting and associated rectification is critical to improve safety ownership. Prior to implementation, 60% of hazards were reported by the general workforce. This has now increased to 90%, with a total increase in hazard reporting of 20%. The success of the scheme can be attributed to two main factors; firstly, an easy to use system, responsive to feedback, and secondly an immediate reward implication, with those crews achieving high rates of genuine hazard notification receiving recognition. The second success of the scheme is the increase in innovation from the workforce. Innovations are submitted to the site’s Safety, Health and Environment Committee with nominees and award recipients celebrated quarterly across the site. The “Recognition and Reward Scheme” develops a culture of intervention and ‘speaking up’, encouraging employees not to be a bystander but be fully involved in behavioural safety.

Graham Houldsworth Principal Advisor – Strategy and Compliance, Glencore Copper Assets Andrew Russell Managing Director, Actrua Performance Cultures Over the course of the past two and a half years Glencore’s North Queensland Copper Operations have developed and implemented a new generation of integrated safety programs that combine behavioural and system based approaches. Initially a project designed to align best practices in the group and to re-invigorate a focus on behavioural based safety programs, a series of iterations has achieved a suite of integrated and aligned pre-start meetings, leadership development programs and common language for the entire workforce. Partnering with Performance Culture partner, Actrua, a model of co-creation and joint facilitation has allowed passionate employees to develop and own programs that are consistently applied and tailored to the cultural nuances of a large and complex operation spanning multiple geographies. This presentation aims to showcase the program that has been developed, to share the processes undertaken during development and provide insight into the changes in strategic direction and thinking that were required to make the program a success.

Mark Desira Inspector of Mines – Occupational Hygiene The underground mine environment may contain a number of airborne contaminants that affect worker health. This includes diesel plant exhaust (gases and particulate matter) that is emitted into the underground work environment. The classification of diesel exhaust as a Class 1 ‘confirmed human carcinogen’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) necessitates the management of the workers’ exposure to diesel exhaust. The Mines Inspectorate has undertaken a study of underground mines to evaluate the level of risk to mine workers and the effectiveness of differing management strategies for diesel exhaust. In the initial phase of this study, the monitoring results for mine worker exposure to diesel exhaust were collated for underground Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs). The characterisation of the exposure monitoring found that some SEGs (service crews and drilling operations) have higher exposure risk. In the second part of the study, the effectiveness of the control measures applicable to different SEGs were analysed to identify the optimal control strategies. This paper presents the finding that no single control measure is sufficient, and that a multifactorial approach incorporating complementary control measures is required to ensure the effective management of diesel exhaust in underground mines.

Dr. Rolf Gomes Founder and Cardiologist, Heart of Australia Corporate Health Initiative Despite the enormous resources committed by the Mining Industry in developing workplace health and safety initiatives, the average health of the mining workforce still lags white collar employees. Drivers of poor physical and psychological health amongst mining workers are often ‘external’ and lifestylerelated, commonly developing during the ‘crunch years’ (i.e. 25-50 when juggling increasing workplace and family responsibilities). These preventable health issues not only impact the growing burden of chronic illness in Australia but increase health and safety risks and contribute to diminished workplace performance. Traditional attempts to address this issue have not commonly delivered long-term tangible outcomes for the individual or organisation. A more effective early intervention approach is required, incorporating contemporary biomedical, lifestyle, social and organisational research data. As well as having a rigorous clinical underpinning, new health screening programs need to be packaged into cost-effective and operationally efficient delivery models that enable democratised access across large workforces. Successful early-intervention health programs across the Mining Industry offer significant mutual benefit to employees, workplaces and local communities alike (particularly via ‘network effects’ that exist within close-knit mining communities). Although currently lagging, the Mining Industry has the potential to become a recognised leader in this critical workplace and societal issue.

Genevieve Hey Director/Principal Consultant, Genevieve Hey Consulting Pty Ltd A mines’ safety and health management system must provide protocols for physical and psychological impairment; but what does this mean? A protocol, like a standard operating procedure, governs behaviour and the performance of tasks; therefore, it should be underpinned by a sound risk management process that identifies and controls hazards within the given context. Unfortunately, studies show that industry more readily applies risk management processes to physical rather than psychological hazards; nevertheless, both must be considered for health and safety obligations to be fully discharged. To complicate matters further, the analysis of psychological risk differs from that of physical risk due to its complexity. Psychological risk factors are multi-causal, not directly observable and their severity is largely determined by individual perception. With this in mind, how is psychological risk quantified without bias and in a way that facilitates its systematic analysis? Additionally, how are protocols that reflect a mines’ unique psychosocial risk profile developed? This paper provides the answer by discussing two workplace psychosocial risk assessment tools that are freely available online and grounded in evidence-based psychological research. Furthermore, these tools can be easily applied at your mine by your own Human Resource or Health and Safety specialists.

Mick Storch Managing Director, 4PS Software 4PS software is an innovative Australian owned and operated company since 2009. Streamlining business processes and compliance management of People, Plant, Processes and Procedures in your workplace. Access employees training and competencies with a click of a button, automated notifications to alert you before competencies and inspections expire, generated equipment registers and employee matrixes, project management tools, and so much more. Ensuring your people and plant get on to the work site on time, every time. Check it out here:www.4ps.com.au

Melton White Mideco Mideco provide dust control products and solutions for mines, quarries and any commercial environment. We are an Australian owned company and have been operating since 1950. With over sixty years of successful dust collection experience behind us, Mideco has designed Bat Booth, the system for cleaning workers’ clothes after the shifts, helping prevent dust related conditions like silicosis and black lung. Approved and recommended by NIOSH, UL certified and installed on sites all over the world, Bat Booth provides the highest value for OHS in mining and quarrying.

Eric Tomicek Sales Manager, Australian Diversified Engineering ADE is passionate about haul roads and efficient water truck operations. The ADE Spray system consistently sprays at a specific water rate to manage overwatering and underwatering and can safely deliver more water to more of the mine. Friction Plus by ADE is a free phone app for measuring haul road friction so that risks associated with wet roads can be objectively measured and the risks effectively managed.

Michael Tamone State Sales Manager – Queensland, uvex safety Australia uvex is established as a world leading manufacturer of sports and safety PPE with more than 90 years’ manufacturing experience. The uvex mission is protecting people, with our three core values being quality, leadership and enthusiasm. Our focus is on science-based innovation to create Personal Protective Equipment including safety eyewear, hand, respiratory and hearing protection for people at work. Over the past year uvex Safety Australia has officially launched our global partnership with Grand Rapids Michigan based protective product manufacturer, HexArmor. HexArmor are the global leaders in extreme cut, impact, puncture and needlestick resistance hand and body PPE. Our dedicated team welcome your visit to our stand #19 at the conference.

Tim Mills Product Manager – Environmental Monitoring, Ampcontrol Ampcontrol delivers integrated electrical, electronic and control solutions to improve safety and efficiency in mining, renewable, infrastructure and industrial applications. From the most complex electrical infrastructure to the most hazardous industrial environments, we engineer solutions which focus on whole of life optimisation. Drawing on the multi-disciplined technical resources within our business, we step outside the conventions of traditional problem solving, and seek new ways to improve electrical infrastructure design through smart electronics, intelligent data gathering, and operational networking and control.