1. Guards or decking must be provided at the back of the chute up to the tail-end of the C conveyor.

Transcription

1 This confirms that the Section 54 instruction issued on 17 January 2012 by Mr MO Poultney to Greenside Colliery is hereby lifted subject to the following conditions:- 1. Guards or decking must be provided at the back of the chute up to the tail-end of the C conveyor. 2. The engineer must personally ensure compliance to Regulation 8.9(1)(f), 8.8(3)(i), 8.8(3)(j) and 8.8(3)(k). 3. A program to provide visible means that would indicate that the power to conveyor belts is isolated, must be submitted to the Principal Inspector before 31 January Yours faithfully 1. TOPICAL ISSUES OF THE MONTH 1.1 OPENCAST BLASTING DECEMBER 2014 Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate: Monthly Regional Newsletter Lately, this office has become inundated with complaints from parties residing close to opencast mines. These complaints are normally as a result of blasting operations at the mines and it is disturbing to note that in a number of cases, blasting activities on the mine were undertaken without consultation with all affected parties. MPUMALANGA REGION It is also noted that where blasting operations at the mines are done in a responsible manner and all affected parties are consulted with, no complaints are lodged with this Department. Postal address, Private Bag X7279, Witbank, 1035 Physical address, Province House, cnr of Botha Ave and Paul Kruger Street, Witbank Enquiries : N Soya 1.2 INCREASED METHANE RELEASE RATES Tel: Fax: The change in ambient temperatures is often associated with dropping and widely fluctuating barometric pressures. loraine.coetzee@dmr.gov.za INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. TOPICAL ISSUES OF THE MONTH

2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. TOPICAL ISSUES OF THE MONTH 1.1 Machinery/Engineering 2. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 6. EXAMINATIONS 6.1 Mine Overseers Certificates. 6.2 Lampman and Onsetters Certificates. 2.1 Occupational Medicine a. Annual Medical reports b. Section 11.5 investigations 3. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY 3.1 Fatal accidents. 3.2 Accidents reported 3.3 Details of accidents per mining Groups 3.4 Accident comparison with previous years (Mpumalanga Region) ANNEXURE: Brief Accident Descriptions 4. AUDITS, INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS 4.1 Inspections 4.2 Audits 4.3 Non conformances found during audits and inspections 5. SECTION 54/55 INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED 5.1 Section 55 instructions 5.2 Section 54 stoppage /compliance instructions

3 1. TOPICAL ISSUES OF THE MONTH 1.1 ENGINEERING/MACHINERY Electrical Engineering Regulation violation In terms of Regulation all electrical apparatus shall be selected, installed, worked,marked amd maintained in such a manner as not to constitute a hazards and shall be placed and protected in such a manner that no person can be injured by inadvertent contact with any live portion thereof. It is disturbing to note that some of the mines are not complying to this regulation in that electrical apparatus are such that people/machinery are able to reach and touch live wires. This office has received a serious accident where an employee was electrocuted in an MCC due to unsafe practice. The metal structures were not earthed properly, there was no electrical leakage installed and all live electrical wires were within reach. Such practices will not be accepted by this office, as it may cause unnecessary accidents and loss if lives. 2. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2.1 OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE a. All operating mines are required to compile and submit an annual medical report to this office (DMR). You are reminded to submit an annual medical report by 28 February 2015 without delay. b. According to Section 11,5 of the MHSA, every employer must conduct an investigation into every accident,serious illness and health-threatening occurrence. The investigation must commenced within 10 days from the date of such accident, serious illness or health threatnening occurence. It has been noted that some investigations of serious illness including occupational diseases are not commenced in time and they are reported late to this office. All mine managers must ensure that such investigations are finalised and reported to this office as stpulated by the MHSA. 3. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY 3.1 FATAL ACCIDENTS No fatal accident occurred in December 2014.

4 3 3.2 ACCIDENTS REPORTED The mines in the region reported twenty six (26) accidents during December 2014 of which there was no fatal accident and nine (09) were non casualty accidents. The accidents per category were as follows: General accidents 10 Transport and mining 3 Fall of ground 1 Machinery 0 Other 3 Non-casualty 9 Total ACCIDENTS PER MINING GROUP (EXCLUDING NON-CASULATIES) DEC 2014 Year Progressive Rate/1000 Coal Mines Injured Fatals Injured Fatals Injured Fatals Sasol Coal Exxaro Coal Bhp Billiton Kangra Coal Anglo Coal Anker Coal Glencore Shanduka Coal Eyethu Coal Total Coal SA Jindal Africa Kuyasa Mining NuCoal Siphethe Coal Sudor Coal Msobo Coal Optimum Coal Private Mines Gold & Platinum Aquarius Plat Northam Platinum Pan African Resource Private Mines Other Mines Private Mines TOTAL

5 3.4 Accident comparison with previous years : Mpumalanga Region Accidents Stats JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Projected % Improvement FATALS % DISABLED % INJURIES % NON-CASUALTIES % TOTAL % UNDERGROUND % SURFACE % OPENCAST % TOTAL % FOG % MACHINERY % T&M % GENERAL % OTHER % TOTAL % COAL % GOLD % PLATINUM % OTHER % TOTAL %

6 5 FATAL ACCIDENTS DATE FAT INJ INSP Con Emp Coal Gold Other 1 Khanyisa Colliery 03-Jan A-Z His head was caught by a machine EGM 8 # 15-Jan MOP A rock dislodged and struck him Umzobanzi Coal 20-Feb ABN He was run over by bull dozer Fairview Gold Mine 12-Mar ABN LHD pinned him against the side wall Kiepersol Colliery 06-May MOP A rock dislodged and struck him Arnot Colliery 05-Jul GAG He was struck by a rolling rock Woestallen Colliery 31-Aug BLS Coal fell on him,whilst unblocking a bin Barbrook Gold Mine 05-Sep PPM He slip and fell down the open stope Project (Impumelelo) 24-Sep A-Z He was caught between the LHD and brow TOTAL NOTE: see attached annexure for brief descriptions of accident reports received during December 2014

7 4. AUDITS, INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS 4.1 Inspections: December PLANNED ACTUAL Mining inspections Occupational Hygiene inspections 15 6 Occupational Medicine inspections 6 6 Machinery inspections Audits: December 2014 PLANNED ACTUAL Mine Health and Safety Group Audits. 0 0 Occupational Health Audits (Occ Hygiene and Medical) 11 8 Occupational Safety Audits (Mining and Machinery) Non conformances found during inspections and audits: Mining Mining operations are done within 100 m from Eskom line without permission (MHSA Reg 17.7). Mine employees were working at the mine without doing induction and medical fitness. Shiftboss logbooks not being completed correctly. Miner s safety declations were not done at the opecast operations. Occupational Hygiene Fan substation was observed not locked Substation not properly ventilated, the temperature inside was very hot. One cable earth leakage was not done properly in the fan station. Gully rig at substation was not locked. Pyro shield unit next to the substation door was not locked. Signage on the toilets to indicate female or male must be affixed. Escape signs must be consistent current numerous signs are used. LHD was observed leaking hydraulic oil. LHD operator observed not wearing HPDs. Oil was observed decanted into appletizer bottle not demarcated. Hand wash soap in unmarked bottle. An open plug was observed in the workshop. Extraction fan system was observed liberating dust into atmosphere.

8 7 Employee observed working in a noisy area not wearing HPD. Lot of noise generated by the extraction fan. Noise need to be reduced. An electrician was observed working on a panel without have done mini risk assessment before commencing work. High wall around the offices is unsafe, two employees were observed sitting under bad areas. No relief lampsman appointed in the lamproom. Leak test on SCSRs not conducted as per the COP. GFG 333 gas instruments test procedure outdated. Three gas instruments were tested and not responding properly to gas. Escape route to be signed by the Mine Manager. Inside the stope, quite number of bad roof was observed and barring was done immediately. Machinery Poor and absence of guarding at the conveyor belt pulleys. Poor TMM key control system. Poor control of dust at crushing plants. Refuge bay with no refuge bay procedure Section with zero ventilation. TMM s are operated while no go items are faulty. No means to provide ventilation at the control room that were found to be extremely hot and noisy. Expired items in the first aid boxes. Occupational medicine Not all supervisors in possession of valid first aid certificates. Laundry facilities not provided for employees to decontaminate the working clothes. First aid boxes not controlled and maintained according to the standards. No drinking water available at the mine for employees. 5. INSTRUCTIONS IN TERMS OF SECTION 54 AND Compliance notices in terms of Section 55 Air conditioners not installed in the dump trucks. Pre-start alarms on conveyor rings less than 10 seconds. Feed bin tail-end pulley was inadequately guarded.

9 8 5.2 Stoppage instructions in terms of Section 54 The mine did not have a appointee. No compliance to the TMM COP. The mine does not have a safety representatives as required by the MHSA. No proof could be provided on the consultation of the SHE Committee w.r.t drafting/revision of the TMM & Highwall instability COP S. No portable water supplied for drinking and no water for showers. Front end loaders air conditioners not working. Poor ventilation at the control room. Control room extremely hot. Control room generator emitting high noise, heat and smoke. Pulleys not guarded at all or not effectively. Pull wire at conveyor belts not provided through out the whole length. Mining within 100m from Eskom power lines without permission. Mine employees not done medicals and induction training. No change house, toilet and drinking water at the mine. TMM used without pre-use checklist. Area was charged with explosives without providing training/induction for mine site employees. Sand off or safe area from high wall for the mine was not adhered to (shot hole drlled and charged at 1.5m from highwall. Slope failure and Eskom power line within mining area not reported to DMR or Eskom. Safety declaration for highwall and pit not done. Stand off or safe area from highwall or dangerous area not done. Operator operating TMM with A hazards. 6. EXAMINATIONS 6.1 MINE OVERSEER CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY EXAMINATIONS No Mine Overseer Board Examinations were held during December LAMPSMAN CERTIFICATE AND ONSETTERS CERTIFICATE No examinations conducted. EL LETSOKO PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR MPUMALANGA REGION

10 9 FATAL ACCIDENTS ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION MPUMALANGA REGION ACCIDENTS RECEIVED DURING DECEMBER No fatal accident occurred REPORTABLE ACCIDENTS 1 He stepped on a rock inside the kibble and twisted his ankle. 2 He was busy changing the drill bit on a Flexi Roc D65 Drill rig and he tried to remove the shock sub that was stuck on the drill bit, whilst hitting it with a two pound hammer a piece of metal dislodged from hammer, penetrating his left eye. 3 A LDV drove into the corner of a sidewall in the main travel road and he sustained a laceration to his scalp. 4 Whilst he was attempting to bar down a rock on the side wall the rock came sliding on the pinch bar and hit the gasket and went and hit him on his left eye. 5 He slipped and fell from the ADT bonnet to the ground. 6 He was constructing a stopper plate for mechanical loader and his finger was caught between the frame and steel plate. 7 He was busy removing the FEL bucket pin, he hit the pin with a steel shaft to remove it and his left hand thumb, index finger was caught between the bucket clevis. 8 A rock dislodged from the hanging wall and struck him. 9 He was working on a C5 pump as he loosen a suction cover and a cover fell and pinches him between the pipes, amputating his finger. 10 He took the scraper rope off from the snatch block so that he could adjust it and he was pulled against the pack with the scraper rope and it causes the Contusion. 11 He was busy removing vitolic pipes, when two suspended pipes were dismantled; one pipe struck him his left hand against the hanging wall. 12 He was busy installing the slats on a new steel roll-up door in the workshops, the door recoiled catching his hand between the door slats and the side frame.

11 10 13 His hand was struck against the CM frame while busy breaking the slabbing on top of the CM. 14 A dozer operator collapsed on the dragline shoe and sustained injuries. 15 He was installing roof on the explosives bay structure, in the process a sudden gust of wind forced him of balance and fell to the concrete floor. 16 He was busy sealing the brattice with spud nails; he accidentally hit his left hand index finger. 17 His left middle finger was caught between the pump and the door frame, while busy removing a hydraulic pump from Excavator. NON CASUALTIES 1 CH4 detected in BR (1.5%) and R1 (3%) section mining towards dyke. 2 Whilst replacing temporary bank cover plates with permanent mentis grating covers, a piece of square tubing detached from temporary cover plate when it was lifted and fell down the shaft. 3 The LHD engine caught fire. 4 The Excavator caught fire. 5 Frond End Loader in the blasting radius during blasting of 2 seam coal ramp. 6 A fall of ground occurred at the back bye. 7 Bearing on snub pulley failed, overheated and collapsed. The heat ignited the bearing grease only. 8 During early examination, the miner detected methane of 1.3%. 9 Tail End pulley bearing caught fire.