Matt Ramsay
Drilling Superintendent – Gas, Anglo American – Moranbah North Mine
The Problem
The rehabilitation of redundant Mine Service boreholes requires the shearing and removal of cemented 20” Steel casing at 1.5m below the ground surface.
This process previously required the entry into the excavation and the risk associated with the manual handling of a hydraulic saw device to cut the casing at required position.
During this cutting process the operators experienced several rotating blade failures that resulted in small shard of steel ejected from the saw blade and contacted the operator’s glove.
The Solution
The strategy to eliminate the hazards identified from investigation of the event; it was actioned to source an alternative device with the capacity to efficiently shear 20” cement encased steel casing, eliminating manual handling, exposure to excavation; via the functionality of remote operation.
The Diamond Wire Saw (DWS) device was identified, assessed and then progressed to primary design functional testing phase in December 2018. With positive observations of improved safety, efficiency and operational performance parameters.
During the trial and testing period, this involved collaboration and engagement of DWS OEM and test operators. The collaboration of stakeholders delivered engineering inputs combined with the collation of test operator feedback facilitated continuous improvement of the DWS device’s re-purposed application into an integrated mobile unit.
The Benefits
The field functional testing and operation of the DWS mobile unit demonstrated:
- Elimination – of traditional rotating blade failure hazard – Guarded Diamond impregnated cable
- Elimination – of manual handling – proximity protected – remotely controlled loader positions and retrieves DWS
- Elimination – CMW entry into excavation – DWS utilizes self-attachment / release function
- Elimination – of manual handling – proximity protected – remotely controlled loader secures the casing during cutting process and relocates to waste transport
- Separation – remote operator console – remove CMW exposure to line of fire
- Separation – remote operator console – remove CMW exposure to excavation
- Operational effectiveness performance realized an increase of 60% on previous methodology
Dr. Tilman Rasche
Principal Mining Engineer, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy
The Minerals Council of Australia has identified that tyre fitters at mining operations are ten times more likely to be killed at work than mine diesel mechanics (Hassal 2016). Rim disassembly is particularly hazardous and resulted in seven fatalities in the Australasian region, over the last 15 years.
To better control this fatal hazard a mechanical interference feature, often called the Surelock bead seat band, was patented in 1986. It aims to prevent the inflation and consequential dangerous disassembly of earthmover tyre and rim assemblies, should a lockring be incorrectly fitted.
This presentation, based on the authors recent Australian Coal Association Research Project C26036, aims to raise awareness of this safety feature, explain some of the advantages, disadvantages and misconceptions about this design.
It will also reinforce the urgent need for better industry-wide training approaches around tyre and rim maintenance and highlight a much needed review and update of the Australian Standard ‘AS 4457.1—2007 – Earth-moving machinery—Off-the-road wheels, rims and tyres’, particularly around an improved universal marking and labelling standard of rim componentry.
This seemingly modest change will allow tyre fitters to better identify matching rim and wheel componentry thereby significantly reducing the reoccurrence of rim related fatalities.
Michelle Ray
CEO and Founder, Certified Speaking Professional, Lead Yourself First Enterprise
Born in Australia and now residing in Vancouver, Michelle is a health and safety speaker renowned for her expertise on leadership, accountability, influence and building outstanding safety cultures.
Michelle has worked with hundreds of leaders and their teams in diverse industries including occupational health and safety within private and public enterprise, construction, mining, as well as oil and gas. She demonstrates a deep understanding of team dynamics, interpersonal communication and personal responsibility.
As an in-demand conference presenter, Michelle utilizes a dynamic, interactive and highly engaging style. She has earned the Certified Speaking Professional Designation, held by less than 800 people worldwide.
Luke Ripper
Senior Occupational Hygienist, GCG Health Safety & Hygiene
GCG has provided the Queensland Mining Industry with occupational hygiene services for over 10 years. In light of winning an innovation award from Spotless/Downer, GCG has also been involved in driving solutions around data analytics for positive pressure in cabins.
This year we’re doing things a bit different – ‘Whiteboard Sessions with GCG’. This is available for anyone who has a challenging occupational hygiene problem at hand and interested in an interactive discussion with a qualified hygienist. Come have a chat!
Prof. Naomi Rogers
Sleep and Fatigue Specialist, Naomi Rogers Fatigue
John Tate
Barrister, Crown Law
Prof Naomi Rogers
Naomi has an international reputation in the areas of circadian disruption, sleep loss and consequences on neurocognitive function and health. She has received numerous awards, including an NHMRC Howard Florey Centenary Research Fellowship and a Tall Poppy Award. She is a past President of the Australian Society for Medical Research, and past Director of the Australasian Sleep Association and the Sleep Health Foundation and served on the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Sleep Societies.
She works as a Specialist Fatigue Consultant in various industries including coal mining in Queensland and NSW, maritime, transport, defence, NASA and health care; and has served as an expert witness in coronial inquests and other legal cases. Naomi works extensively within the Queensland Mining Industry, with various companies and mine sites, the SSHRs and IHSRs and the Inspectorate.
John Tate
John was admitted to practice law as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1981. He has practiced both privately and in government in a number of Australian jurisdictions – in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Norfolk Island and Queensland.
Since 1996, John has acted as Counsel Assisting in Mining Warden’s and Coronial inquiries in virtually all mining, explosives, petroleum and gas fatalities in Queensland. Additionally, he has been retained in a range of other fatality inquiries where the primary issue has concerned hospital misadventure, aircraft failure, fatigue, or the suspicion of murder. To this point, John has acted as Counsel Assisting in over 90 public fatality inquiries.
For many years, John’s interests and experience have focused on the critical review of safety and health management and training systems, on accident investigation methodologies, and on compliance issues.
Assoc. Prof. John Schneider
Occupational Physician, James Cook University, Mackay Clinical Campus
Increasing awareness of workplace dust exposure due to media reporting of pneumoconioses such as “black lung” and silicosis, has resulted in increased health surveillance, radiological investigation and notification of possible work related lung disorders. The most common chronic lung condition associated with significant occupational dust exposure however, are not the pneumoconiosis.
Subsequent decisions associated with the workers continuing employment can pose problems in both human resource and occupational health supervision and management. The reporting of changes in pulmonary imaging do not necessarily need to result in departure from the industry. With comprehensive medical management including Pulmonary Rehabilitation if necessary, and coordinated Pulmonary Protection programs involving both the workplace and treating medical practitioner many workers can continue to work productively within the industry until retirement.</p .
The presentation will consider managing the health and workplace risks associated with continued employment of workers reported with positive health surveillance findings, including:-
- Work Related Lung Disorders
- Current dilemmas in employment management
- Interpretation and significance of medical reports
- Assessment and importance of lung function
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Fitness for Work
- Occupational Rehabilitation
- Pulmonary Protection Programs
- Risk management
- Control of hazardous work exposures
- Medical involvement in health management
Warren Smith
Executive Consultant, Dekra Insight Australia
Organisations commonly put controls in place to address typical workplace exposures that can cause harm. They also attempt to make use of human performance tools and other measures that aim to address human error. Unfortunately, these efforts often don’t yield tangible results as evidenced through operational upsets and unplanned events.
This session will explore Brain-Centred Hazards and will demonstrate how accurate, consistent and sustainable hazard recognition and situational awareness can only be achieved by first addressing these Brain-Centred Hazards in our workplaces. In particular, the audience will explore the difference between traditional hazard identification and an approach that increases deep noticing for optimal hazard ID.
Additionally, the audience will learn the hidden dangers of cognitive fatigue and how it diminishes situational awareness and hazard recognition, and simultaneously produces higher risk-taking actions that can lead to injury, upset, catastrophe, or reputational damage.
Paul Spinks is the Game Changer: The Wake Up Call: Paramedic + Trauma Counsellor + Speaker
Paramedic Paul Spinks intention was never to be just another stereotype wellbeing speaker, but to throw a hand grenade into the audience to make life changes.
A third party wrote:
“My husband attended your seminar through Glencore. You struck a chord with him leaving nothing but praise and wanting our two sons to hear your message.
He felt so strongly the relevance it had to him and his co-workers.
This is to thank you for being able to get through to an average man and to prioritise himself”.
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
Cristian Sylvestre
Managing Director, HabitSafe
There has been considerable research (empirical studies and academic papers) during the last 10 years investigating human decision making.
The most disruptive discovery is that what we think of as a deliberate choice (an “active” conscious decision) happens fundamentally in the subconscious and is fed to the conscious mind very late in the neurological process. This is why it feels like we only make conscious decisions.
Three thinking principles help explain human decision making and enable us to understand human behaviour better.
These are automatic thinking (autopilot), social thinking and mental thinking models. As such, they also provide valuable clues to determine how we can future-proof efforts by organisations to make behaviours safer.
The lessons from these three thinking principles can be applied to three different layers in organisations:
- Leadership
- Teams
- Individuals
The latest findings from studies in neuroscience, behaviour science, cognitive behavioural science and neuropsychology are used to explain how safety behaviour can be influenced more effectively.
