Over the past 18 months there has been an increase in incidents involving pressurised systems in New South Wales mines.
The NSW Resources Regulator confirmed 15 incidents were reported related to pressurised systems, such as air, water, hydraulics, and tailings, that either caused injury or had the potential to lead to serious harm or death.
Despite industry-wide emphasis on isolation and energy dissipation, many of these incidents resulted from failures to properly release stored energy before work commenced.
Mine operators are being asked to prepare and implement the appropriate isolation of energies procedures.
Comments from the incident notifications included:
- “They thought isolation had occurred and pressure dissipated.”
- “It appears they did not isolate and dissipate the stored energy in the air line.”
- “The crew assumed that the services were successfully bled.”
- “It would appear that the accumulator circuit pressure wasn’t dissipated.”
“All mine operators must prepare and implement the appropriate isolation of energies procedures,” the state Regulator said.
“The procedures should include a step that requires workers to test and confirm that the pressurised systems they are about to work on have been deenergised.
“For pressurised systems, the use of a double block and bleed isolation is considered good practice.”
The Resources Regulator issued the following recommendations for both mine operators and workers:
Mine operators:
- Review their isolation of energies procedures to ensure scenarios associated with working on service pipework and hoses includes testing for deenergisation.
- Review application of double block and bleed isolations on service pipe work.
- Ensure all personnel are trained and competent in the sites isolation procedures
- Ensure adequate supervision of tasks associated with live pressurised systems.
Workers:
- Verify the isolation and dissipation process is effective on pressurised systems
- Ensure drain lines are clear when testing for dead
- Identify and implement controls for line of fire prior to disassembly/disconnection of components, pipes, or hoses
- Review and provide feedback to your supervisor on the suitability of existing isolation procedures
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