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Post by John on Jul 27, 2011 7:59:56 GMT -5
Not throwing mud at the only mines inspector in NZ, BUT, the government of NZ just hasn't a clue when it comes to Mining Regulation and Policing Mines and mining companies. My jaw dropped open and eyebrows went up reading this damning article!!' www.listener.co.nz/commentary/pike-river-mine-inquiry/pike-river-mine-inquiry-day-7/From the way I read this, why not get rid of all policemen, bar one??? They can then let the criminals police themselves!! Well not much different really!!
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Post by dazbt on Jul 27, 2011 10:39:38 GMT -5
It might be even worse than that J, from the transcripts of the enquiry it seems that the question of second egress and the feasability of being able to use it cropped up most days as various witnesses were asked about the subject, but nobody as far as I could make out gave a full and acceptable answer. There was also a further contradictory point made regarding other NZ mines and second egress facilities, a former Mines Inspector states that he believed that only one mine in NZ had a second exit whilst the previous day a statement was made that at least two other mines had more than one entry/exit, neither statement appear to have been questioned at this enquiry. Leaves a couple of questions in my mind, how many other mines are single entry and how come a fairly recently ex. Mines Inspector believed only one mine had multiple egress. Day 2 11.18am: "Dr Elder (Solid Energy Chief Exec) is now under cross-examination by Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union counsel Nigel Hampton QC. He says the Solid Energy Spring Creek and Huntly East underground coal mines both have two or more exits. Employees are involved in developing Solid Energy's health and safety proceedures and identifying potential mine hazards, he says." www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10737944&ref=rssDay 3 15:54 pm: "Hughes (Former Chief Inspector of Coal Mines) is discussing various safety features of mines, and whether a competent assessor could evaluate these features, including ventilation and emergency egresses. However he says in the case of emergency egresses, only one other mine in New Zealand had an emergency. (?). He believes an inspector could evaluate an emergency egress from the mine plans, though he believes he himself would potentially examine the egress." tvnz.co.nz/national-news/happened-pike-river-mine-inquiry-day-three-4300864
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Post by shropshirebloke on Jul 27, 2011 14:58:35 GMT -5
Not throwing mud at the only mines inspector in NZ, BUT, the government of NZ just hasn't a clue when it comes to Mining Regulation and Policing Mines and mining companies. My jaw dropped open and eyebrows went up reading this damning article!!' www.listener.co.nz/commentary/pike-river-mine-inquiry/pike-river-mine-inquiry-day-7/From the way I read this, why not get rid of all policemen, bar one??? They can then let the criminals police themselves!! Well not much different really!! Thanks for that link John - I've read through their stuff on the enquiry and like you say it's jaw-dropping stuff, this from IIRC Day 3 seems to some it up pretty well: "Historically, mines inspectors had been promoted from the coal face up through the ranks of the industry. They visited mines regularly, responded to incidents, offered advice and were able to close down mines that were non-compliant. They were also empowered to make recommendations on applications for new mining licences. After the reforms of the 1990s – which he said were opposed by many – “proactive inspections of coal mines were actively discouraged” and the inspectorate no longer had input into new licence applications. “OSH inspectors rarely attended coal mines other than to conduct investigations following accidents and incidents.” Health and safety was now regarded primarily as the responsibility of mine operators, and OSH thought inspectors should not offer guidance as it might legally compromise the department. Hughes said the reforms turned the inspectorate into “an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff and not a fence at the top”, and they were a direct cause of the Pike River tragedy. “The explosion at Pike River Mine on the 19th of November 2010 had its origins in the repealing of the Coal Mines Act and its Regulations in 1993. The unwillingness of government officials up to and including the Prime Minister of the day to act on the advice offered by a number of individuals, resulted in the loss of a robust coal mines inspectorate staffed by the most experienced and technically skilled personnel available.” Key lessons from past mining disasters were either ignored or consigned to history through “arrogance that assumes modern mining technology has superseded and somehow resolved the problems of the past. To regard coalmining as being ‘the same as any other industry’ for the purpose of statute is to ignore the findings of a number of commissions of inquiry, and the fact that it has been and continues to be a potential source of multiple fatalities in the workplace. No other land-based industry has the same potential.” Just after the explosion I made a few comments on here that even I thought were far-fetched about egress and ventilation at Pike River (based on info from the company's web site). It now seems that the reality was far worse. Welcome to the wonderful world of de-regulation and globalisation - i.e. - back to the early Victorian period.
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Post by John on Jul 27, 2011 14:59:48 GMT -5
Not very good when the authorities who are supposed to maintain "our" safety, have no idea on how to read or interpret mining plans! Nor know why plans are sent to them by the mining companies. I thought it was fairly universal to send a new ventilation plan to the District Inspectors office for approval before they are allowed to proceed, same with electrical plans and mining plans, plus support plans.... Such a sad state of affairs when nobody seems to know what the other is supposed to be doing...No wonder those men lost their lives..
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Post by John on Jul 27, 2011 15:07:37 GMT -5
Not throwing mud at the only mines inspector in NZ, BUT, the government of NZ just hasn't a clue when it comes to Mining Regulation and Policing Mines and mining companies. My jaw dropped open and eyebrows went up reading this damning article!!' www.listener.co.nz/commentary/pike-river-mine-inquiry/pike-river-mine-inquiry-day-7/From the way I read this, why not get rid of all policemen, bar one??? They can then let the criminals police themselves!! Well not much different really!! Thanks for that link John - I've read through their stuff on the enquiry and like you say it's jaw-dropping stuff, this from IIRC Day 3 seems to some it up pretty well: "Historically, mines inspectors had been promoted from the coal face up through the ranks of the industry. They visited mines regularly, responded to incidents, offered advice and were able to close down mines that were non-compliant. They were also empowered to make recommendations on applications for new mining licences. After the reforms of the 1990s – which he said were opposed by many – “proactive inspections of coal mines were actively discouraged” and the inspectorate no longer had input into new licence applications. “OSH inspectors rarely attended coal mines other than to conduct investigations following accidents and incidents.” Health and safety was now regarded primarily as the responsibility of mine operators, and OSH thought inspectors should not offer guidance as it might legally compromise the department. Hughes said the reforms turned the inspectorate into “an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff and not a fence at the top”, and they were a direct cause of the Pike River tragedy. “The explosion at Pike River Mine on the 19th of November 2010 had its origins in the repealing of the Coal Mines Act and its Regulations in 1993. The unwillingness of government officials up to and including the Prime Minister of the day to act on the advice offered by a number of individuals, resulted in the loss of a robust coal mines inspectorate staffed by the most experienced and technically skilled personnel available.” Key lessons from past mining disasters were either ignored or consigned to history through “arrogance that assumes modern mining technology has superseded and somehow resolved the problems of the past. To regard coalmining as being ‘the same as any other industry’ for the purpose of statute is to ignore the findings of a number of commissions of inquiry, and the fact that it has been and continues to be a potential source of multiple fatalities in the workplace. No other land-based industry has the same potential.” Just after the explosion I made a few comments on here that even I thought were far-fetched about egress and ventilation at Pike River (based on info from the company's web site). It now seems that the reality was far worse. Welcome to the wonderful world of de-regulation and globalisation - i.e. - back to the early Victorian period. Not just promoted!!! They had to have a class 1 certificate of competency and actually have been a Mine Manager for a number of years. Electrical and Mechanical Inspectors also had to have the relevant certification and experience. My "old" Elec Engineer at Boulby, Dave Horner held a Bsc, he migrated to Queensland the year after I left to work as an Elec in Charge of a mine. He eventually went on to be a District Mines Inspector, Electrical based in Brisbane. Dave had served his apprenticeship as an electrician with the NCB and carried on academically after he'd completed his apprenticeship. A man we all respected highly. These were the fellers, although they could sometimes be a pain in the butt, we expected to watch over our safety and kick Managers butts when they didn't adhere to the rules..
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Post by John on Jul 28, 2011 8:35:46 GMT -5
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