A fire at an underground coal mine in New South Wales last week has drawn regulator attention to the condition of conveyor rollers across the state.
A work crew noticed sparks coming from an underground return roller while travelling inbye during a shift change.
The crew immediately stopped the belt, but not before flames broke out which were quickly extinguished.
The NSW Resources Regulator attended the scene.
“Mine operators must have systems to identify and change-out defective conveyor rollers,” the Regulator said.
“Workers conducting conveyor inspections must be aware of the increased risk of roller failure at high tension areas of conveyors.
“Mine operators must also diligently inspect for fire risks such as accumulation of material, failing or collapsed idlers and contact between conveyor belts and fixed structures.”
Underground coal miners must be especially vigilant to ensure the risk of fire is minimised. For most of July this year, a fire blazed underground at Anglo American’s Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland.
In response to the event, the NSW Resources Regulator issued a report assessing the risk of similar incidents at the state’s coal mines, which resulted in a number of pinch points being discovered.
Elsewhere in the state last week, an underground metals mine also drew the Regulator’s attention when an unattended light vehicle rolled and crashed into a wall.
A worker had left the vehicle in an underground area when it rolled about 20m away before colliding with the wall of the opposite drive. The operator then drove the vehicle back up the drive.
“Vehicles must at all times be safely parked as to eliminate the risk of roll away or unplanned movements,” the NSW Regulator said.
“Following any incident where a vehicle rolls away, under no circumstances should the vehicle be driven until the issue has been diagnosed and remedied.
“If the vehicle needs to be moved for repairs, adequate controls are to be implemented to move the vehicle to a safe place.”
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