Last week, a conveyor caught fire at an underground coal mine in New South Wales. The state’s safety watchdog said it could have been prevented.
The incident occurred when a worker detected smoke and subsequently discovered glowing embers below a conveyor near the drive head/loop take-up area.
The worker sprung into action, using a fire extinguisher to douse the flames. No injuries or loss of production was reported.
The NSW Resources Regulator attended the scene and determined that the cause appears to be related to the conveyor tracking through the area with the belt rubbing on the fixed structure.
“Workers conducting conveyor inspections must diligently inspect for fire risks such as accumulation of material, failing or collapsed idlers, and contact between conveyor belts and fixed structures,” the Regulator said.
“Mine operators must have systems in place to monitor, assess and prevent issues to avoid the risk of fire on conveyors, including belt wander devices in position and operating effectively to prevent contact between belt and structure.
“No worker should be hesitant to stop a conveyor if it poses a fire risk.”
Elsewhere in the state, another underground coal mine was contending with the outbreak of a fire last week.
A load haul dump machine (LHD) was involved in an incident which resulted in smoke and embers being emitted from the particulate filter canister from the explosion protected diesel engine system.
The Regulator’s investigation found the LHD failed to shut down on high exhaust temperature.
“This is the second incident involving fire in a particulate filter within a week,” the Regulator said.
“Mine operators need to ensure that explosion-protected diesel engine systems are compliant with their registration design.
“Particulate filters should be compliant with the temperature performance requirements for the registered filter design.”
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