Regulation Part 10 - Specific Requirements for Underground Mines Flashcards
What do the Regulations require to be done in terms of geotechnical considerations, with respect to workplaces, travel ways and installations underground?
- Due consideration is given to local geological structure & its influence on rock stability.
- Rock damage to the excavation perimeter is minimised by careful drilling & blasting.
- Due consideration is given to size & geometry of openings.
- Appropriate equipment & procedures are used for scaling.
- Appropriate measures are taken to ensure proper design, installation, quality control & timing of installation of rock support.
What do the Regulations require regarding Remote Controlled Equipment?
- A written procedure is developed & followed that provides a standard system of operating remote controlled equipment that minimises risk of injury to operator & other persons.
- All persons operating remote control equipment & those working in vicinity of the equipment are fully trained & instructed in the procedure.
- Regular tests are carried out on the equipment in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.
- Except with Underground Coal Mines, all remote equipment must conform with AS4240.
- A safe means of retrieving immobilised remote controlled units in areas that cannot be safely reached by people is provided.
What is required of the manager when
(a) Persons are working alone?
(b) Hazardous conditions exist in the workplace?
(a) If a person is working alone in an underground mine & is not in frequent or easy communication of other workers, the Mine Manager must ensure that person is inspected / communicated with at least every 2 hours.
(b) The Mine Manager must ensure no employee works alone in a workplace & any employee working in a team is within sight of another employee at all times.
(a) What is required of the person in charge of the underground mine at the time when any part of the mine becomes dangerous from any cause?
(b) What must the underground manager ensure before allowing any person to enter the part of the mine considered dangerous?
(c) Under what circumstances can personnel be allowed into the part of the mine considered dangerous to resumption of normal mining operations?
(a) If the person in charge of the mine is of the opinion that any part of the mine is dangerous, that person must;
- Withdraw every person immediately from that part of the mine.
- As soon as practicable, report the matter to the Underground Manager who must record the withdrawal & reason for it in the Record Book.
(b) The Underground Manager must ensure that person:
- Has taken adequate safety precautions.
- Is adequately controlled & supervised if necessary.
(c) A person may not enter the part of the mine considered dangerous except with authorisation from the Underground Manager, for purposes of remedying the situation.
The manager of an underground mine must make provision for an escape route other than the hoisting shaft or normal means of entry or exit.
What specific requirements apply to the provision of the escape route?
- The Mine Manager must ensure that the mines escape route is properly maintained & adequately marked & signposted.
- During the time when the shaft / decline is the only means of escape, work on an escape route is carried out concurrently with mine development so that an escape route exists prior to stoping.
- If the escape route involves entering another mine, the Mine Manager must ensure appropriate written arrangements have been made with the other Mine Manager for use of their escape route.
The Mine Manager must provide a copy of the arrangement to the Senior Inspector as soon as possible.
What do the Regulations require regarding
(a) Communication - surface to underground?
(b) Shaft entrances?
(a) - Electronic communication must be provided between the surface & convenient places underground, unless exempted in writing by the District Inspector.
- The District Inspector may direct electronic communication to be installed in particular places underground & the Manager must ensure the direction is complied with.
(b) - The Manager must ensure the top of each level entrance to a shaft is kept securely fenced or protected by a gate.
- The fence or gate can be temporarily removed for the purposes of repairs if other precautions are taken.
What is required of the manager when an open dam or plug is constructed to restrict or close off water flow underground?
If any open dam is built in any workings or any plug is constructed to close off water flow in an underground mine, the mine manager must ensure:
- Competent engineering & geomechanical advice is obtained.
- The building or construction of the dam / plug is carried out to a standard of safety.
The Mine Manager must advise the District Inspector in writing before any building or construction commences & provide written confirmation the works have been completed to standard upon completion.
A person must not travel or work underground in an underground mine unless the person is wearing a cap lamp that is in good working condition.
Name the situations in which this regulation does not apply.
Cap lamps are not required while a person is:
- Working in a full illuminated workshop.
- In an underground crib room.
- Operating a vehicle or any other mobile equipment.
- Doing any other work which the Mining Manager has directed in writing as not required.
The Regulations require that a suitable permanent or fixed installation lighting is provided at specified locations in an underground mine.
List these locations:
The Mine Manager must ensure that suitable permanent or fixed lighting is provided for:
- Main Shaft plats, active shaft landings
- Workshops & service areas
- Fixed machinery installations
- Accessways to magazines
- Crib rooms & first aid rooms
- Major tips & loading points
- Conveyor galleries & transfer stations
- Workplaces where a cap lamp does not provide sufficient illumination
- Any other facility where lack of illumination could create a hazard
In underground mines what are the requirements for:
(a) Reflective material on clothing?
(b) Vertical opening safety procedures?
(a) The Mine Manager must ensure that all persons:
- Wear an outer vest or webbing harness fitted with reflective material.
- Have panels or strips of reflective material securely attached to their clothing.
(b) The Mine Manager must ensure that systems of work and precautions are taken to minimise any risks to persons required to work near vertical or sub-vertical openings.
What do the Regulations require regarding ‘rise operations’ in an underground mine?
Before any new method of rising involving drilling & blast and entry to the rise is undertaken at the mine, the method and equipment used are approved by the Senior Inspector.
In each rise under construction at the mine where normal travel to and from the face is by mechanical means:
- An alternative means of travel is provided for inspecting the rise and egress.
- Each person working at the face of the rise is provided with a signalling device or procedure or other means of communication to the level below / above.
What do the Regulations require regarding ‘safety nooks in travelling ways’ in an underground mine?
Pedestrian safety nooks of adequate size must be provided at intervals no more than 100m in all haulage drifts in the mine with trackless mining equipment and rail haulages if sufficient clearance has not been provided.
The manager must ensure each safety nook is kept clear and no person may place anything so as to prevent safe access to a safety nook.
