Dr Dave Collins – Synergetics Consulting Engineers
74 videos found
David Chatto – Head of REMSAFE
ABSTRACT
Isolation of machinery is an everyday occurrence on mine sites, and practices have improved considerably over time. This presentation will explore some of the key advances in isolation
practices over many decades.
Up-to-date isolation-related incident data from Queensland will be presented and examined. It will be suggested that improvement has at best plateaued and that a shift is required in our approach to isolation practices – in particular: a focus on higher-order controls.
Human factors will be identified as the leading ongoing cause of isolation-related incidents. Highly effective, currently available treatment options will be discussed. In particular,
autonomous isolation (often called ‘remote isolation’), will be put forward as a key method of driving step-change improvement in this area. Using James Reason’s model of human error (slips,
lapses, mistakes and violations), it will be shown that autonomous isolation is highly effective in treating all forms of human error.
Case studies will be presented to demonstrate the benefits of autonomous isolation and a recent technical advancement will be introduced to demonstrate the continuing evolution of isolation.
Dr Fiona Clarkson – Research Scientist, Simtars
ABSTRACT
Mines routinely monitor the gas profiles in their goafs and roadways to determine the current status of the mine as part of their principle hazard management plan for spontaneous combustion. Many mines typically monitor for hydrogen, oxygen, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethane and ethylene using micro gas chromatographs.
This paper investigates the existence of other gases which may have the potential to be used to monitor the underground environment for early signs of a heating or developing spontaneous combustion event. Simtars collected goaf and roadway gas samples into Tedlar bags to determine the “normal” background levels of these gases.
The gases analysed for included aliphatic hydrocarbons to C10, Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and Xylene (BTEX) and aldehyde compounds. In addition to classical analytical techniques such as Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), a new micro gas chromatograph configuration previously developed by Simtars was used to conduct the analysis for aliphatic hydrocarbons to C6 and BTEX.
This paper provides a summary of the extended aliphatic hydrocarbon, BTEX and aldehyde gas profiles found in the longwall goafs and roadways of the surveyed Queensland and New South Wales mines.
Robert Cohen, MD – Clinical Professor, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.
Competencies for Mine Supervisors
Chair: Greg Dalliston – Industry Safety & Health Representative, CFMEU Mining and Energy Division Queensland Region
This is your opportunity to influence the standard of supervision in our industry. Over the last few years, the industry has had a number of serious and fatal accidents where effective supervision has been raised as a contributing factor.
This session will include a brief introduction to the reasons why the review into the three units of competency (Risk Management, Accident Investigation and Communications) is being undertaken, with Industry, Department and Unions represented.
It will then be open to give attendees a chance to have input into a review of what skills and competencies the industry sees as being required to assist persons appointed as supervisors to ensure that the work under their care is conducted to an acceptable level of risk, their responsibilities and obligations to the workers being supervised and that safety and health related information is passed on to those continuing with that work at the mine.
The session will conclude with a summary of the issues raised which will be fed back into the Project Committee through the IRC, SSO and PWC.
Conference Opening 2018
Introduction by Master of Ceremonies
Russell White, Managing Director, Driver Safety Australia
CONFERENCE WELCOME
Luca Rocchi, Co-Chair, Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference 2018
CONFERENCE OPENING
Nick Coplin – General Manager, Engineering Services, Orbital Australia Pty Ltd
ABSTRACT
Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) project C25073 was proposed by industry stakeholders seeking a solution that would both improve underground air quality and reduce the operational costs associated with currently implemented disposable filter technology used to control diesel particulate emissions in the underground coal mining environment. The follow-on C26070 project sought to industrialise the proof-of-concept (PoC) wall-flow diesel particulate filter (DPF) system to comply with relevant safety and health standards.
The technology has demonstrated significant DPM emissions reduction, comparable to the incumbent disposable technology, and has demonstrated the ability to meet NSW MDG43 requirements for year 2020. Testing noted that whilst the technology increased modal NO2 formation, it was compliant over typical operational duty cycles.
One of the key benefits with the use of a wall-flow DPF system is its tamper-proof design, mitigating the risk of operating unfiltered diesel plant in poorly ventilated areas. Elimination of the need for continual replacement of disposable filters provides significant operational savings estimated to be up to 80% of the incumbent technology.
The robustness of the aftertreatment solution can be maintained with both appropriate design and the use of embedded real-time, and near-real-time, electronic monitoring technology.
Kristie Davies – Occupational Hygienist, Anglo American
ABSTRACT
A number of different products that are used for ground consolidation works in the mining industry contain polymeric chemicals, predominantly isocyanates, phenols and formaldehydes.
Exposures to these chemicals have potential to cause occupational asthma, skin and eye irritation and some are classified as a Category 2 carcinogen.
Air monitoring can be conducted to determine inhalation risk; however this has its limitations due to available methodologies for sampling including the capacity to capture all isomers of chemicals in those products used.
Health effects from polymeric chemicals can also occur through skin contact. To assist in determining potential worker exposure and total body burden, Grosvenor Mine implemented an extensive urine sampling and analysis program as this will demonstrate exposure from both inhalation and skin contact. Start of tour, Pre and Post urine sampling was implemented.
The team at Grosvenor Mine and the Contracting Company worked together to implement engineering and administrative controls to minimize worker exposure to polymeric chemicals. An enclosed product delivery process was developed, trialed and implemented on site. This project is not yet finalized; however results from urine sampling and analysis have shown a reduction in worker exposures.
Also during this process we have been working closely with the laboratory performing analysis and have provided this project information to the Polymeric Chemicals RS Sub -committee.
André De Kock – Research Manager, Simtars
ABSTRACT
One of the major hazards in an underground coal mine is the interaction between mining equipment and humans. This is the result of limited vision around underground equipment and the confined space within which the equipment operates. To address this hazard, various proximity detection systems have been developed.
This paper describes a project that evaluated three proximity detection systems in an underground coal mine. The systems were subjected to a suite of nine scenarios, involving interaction between humans and continuous miners, shuttle cars and LHDs. In addition, the detection zones of the different proximity detection systems, were determined on surface as well as underground. The underground zones were determined under “normal conditions” (reference pattern), in the vicinity of an underground substation, tags at different heights, and multiple tags in zones.
The scenario results provide a documented comparison of the proximity detection systems performance when subjected to the same scenarios. This will allow a mine to make an informed selection of the most suitable proximity detection system. The detection zone results provide a graphical comparison between the performance of a proximity detection system on surface and underground. The results also present the comparison for “normal conditions” of the proximity detection system and when subjected to EMF radiation, multiple tags and tags at different heights.
The project also identified the need to develop a universal specification for a proximity detection system.
Almeroe de Nysschen – Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Glencore – Oaky Creek North Colliery
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