QUEENSLAND AND NSW MINES RESCUE SERVICES

Emergency Mine Emergency Mine Entry/Re-entry and Entry/Re-entry and

Knowledge ManagementKnowledge ManagementPresenterPresenter

Geoff NugentGeoff Nugent

TOPICS

Experiences Experiences Managing the known unknownManaging the known unknown LegislationLegislation The Project.The Project.

EXPERIENCES

RECOMMENDATIONS

“Knowledge of conditions in a mine following an incident is essential in planning any rescue effort. Information systems must be provided to support implementation of the most appropriate rescue measures”.

Moura No.2 Inquiry Task Group 4 Report “Industry should develop an effective computer-based

emergency decision support system for incident management and training”.

Recommendation 17 Moura No.2 Inquiry Task Group 4 Report

RECOMMENDATIONS

QMRS should formalise the guidelines by using a risk based approach to develop a set of mine re-entry TARPS based on explosibility rather than percentage of UEL and LEL of explosive gases.

Grasstree Level 1 2007

MINES RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM

Response Activation Procedure

Ramp Down/conclude Operations

Continuity of Operations

Inertisation Response Operations

Fresh Air Base establish and operation Procedures

Mine Entry/Re-entry Procedure

On Site Establishment Procedure

Mine Rescue Team Operations

QMRS Emergency Response System

MANAGING THE KNOWN UNKNOWN

There are known knowns. These are things There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know. we don't know we don't know.

Donald Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld U.S. Defense SecretaryU.S. Defense Secretary

MANAGING THE KNOWN UNKNOWN

Effective emergency response Effective emergency response significantly depends on significantly depends on quantifying and mitigating the quantifying and mitigating the known-unknown risks (Un-known-unknown risks (Un-quantified Hazards) within a quantified Hazards) within a constrained time.constrained time.

MANAGING THE KNOWN UNKNOWN

Consequences and outcomes of a knowledgeConsequences and outcomes of a knowledgedeficit;deficit;1.1. Plans and Strategies are developed and implemented Plans and Strategies are developed and implemented

placing rescuers at an unacceptable level of risk.placing rescuers at an unacceptable level of risk.2.2. Rescue operations are excessively delayed establishing Rescue operations are excessively delayed establishing

information and facts resulting in;information and facts resulting in; Increased exposure of coal mine workers to the Increased exposure of coal mine workers to the

dangerdanger Potentially compounding the extent of the danger and Potentially compounding the extent of the danger and

the likelihood of its consequence/s being realized.the likelihood of its consequence/s being realized.3.3. Abandonment of any attempt of rescuing the coal mine Abandonment of any attempt of rescuing the coal mine

workers.workers.

LEGISLATION

CMSHA 219 Purposes of pt 13 Mines Rescue

The main purposes of this part are to—

(a) Ensure each coal mine operator of an underground coal mine provides a mines rescue capability for the mine; and

(b) provide for accreditation of corporations to help coal mine operators of underground coal mines provide a mines rescue capability; and

LEGISLATION

CMSHR 174 Mines rescue agreementA mines rescue agreement for an underground mine must state the following—

(d) the operational procedures developed by the accredited corporation to be followed by the corporation in carrying out the mines rescue services at the mine.

LEGISLATION

CMSHA 273 Withdrawal of persons in case of danger

(1) If a coal mine is dangerous, all persons exposed to the danger must withdraw to a place of safety.

(6) The minimum number of competent persons necessary to reduce the risk to an acceptable level may be readmitted to the coal mine or part of the coal mine if appropriate precautions are taken so that the risk to those persons is within acceptable limits.

LEGISLATION

CMSHR 366 Withdrawal of persons in case of danger(1) For section 27353 of the Act, a part of an underground mine

required to be ventilated under section 344(1)(b) that has a general body concentration of methane of at least 2.5% is taken to be dangerous.

(2) For section 273(6) of the Act, and without limiting thesubsection—

(a) mines rescue trained persons are taken to be competent persons; and

(b) appropriate precautions are taken to have been taken if the persons are working under mines rescue procedures developed by an accredited corporation.

LEGISLATION

CMSHA 38 How obligations can be discharged if no regulation or recognised standard made(1) This section applies if there is no regulation or recognised standard prescribing or stating a way to discharge the person’s safety and health obligation in relation to a risk.(2) The person may choose an appropriate way to discharge the person’s safety and health obligation in relation to the risk.(3) However, the person discharges the person’s safety and health obligation in relation to the risk only if the person takes reasonable precautions, and exercises proper diligence, to ensure the obligation is discharged.

LEGISLATION

No process or system for Mine re-entry and No process or system for Mine re-entry and knowledge management can discharge a knowledge management can discharge a person’s health and safety obligation unless person’s health and safety obligation unless it is founded on sound risk management it is founded on sound risk management logic and a thorough risk management logic and a thorough risk management processes.processes.

THE PROJECT

The objective of the project is to The objective of the project is to establish a process, and a tool, for establish a process, and a tool, for both Mines and Mines Rescue Services both Mines and Mines Rescue Services to quickly obtain the relevant to quickly obtain the relevant knowledge (and validate it) to make an knowledge (and validate it) to make an informed decision on the risk to informed decision on the risk to rescuers entering the mine to preserve rescuers entering the mine to preserve life when a mine or part of a mine has life when a mine or part of a mine has become dangerousbecome dangerous

THE PROCESS

Three Stages Three Stages Stage 1 – Risk ManagementStage 1 – Risk Management Stage 2 – Guideline and Process Stage 2 – Guideline and Process

DevelopmentDevelopment Stage 3 – Software development.Stage 3 – Software development.

STAGE 1- RISK MANAGEMENT

The QuestionThe Question What would stop a Mines Rescue Team What would stop a Mines Rescue Team

entering a mine or part of a mine to entering a mine or part of a mine to preserve life during or after an incident?preserve life during or after an incident?

STAGE 1- RISK MANAGEMENT

The RA TeamThe RA Team QMRS, NSW MRS, Queensland DME,QMRS, NSW MRS, Queensland DME,

CFMEU ISHR, Operators Representatives, CFMEU ISHR, Operators Representatives, SIMTARS, Mines Rescue Volunteers and SIMTARS, Mines Rescue Volunteers and other third party industry stake holders. other third party industry stake holders.

4 Days duration4 Days duration

RISK ASSESSMENT SCHMATIC

STAGE 2 – GUIDELINE AND PROCES DEVELOPMENT

Task GroupTask Group Geoff Nugent (QMRS), Geoff Nugent (QMRS), Seamus Devlin (NSWMR),Seamus Devlin (NSWMR), Darren Brady (SIMTARS), Darren Brady (SIMTARS), Dr. David Cliff (MISCH). Dr. David Cliff (MISCH). John Grieves (New Hope Collieries). John Grieves (New Hope Collieries).

STAGE 2 – STEPS

1.1. Categorize controls from Risk Assessment.Categorize controls from Risk Assessment.

2.2. Develop audit tools from the risk assessment to Develop audit tools from the risk assessment to conduct gap analysis between what conduct gap analysis between what information/processes are commonly/typically information/processes are commonly/typically available at an operation (Qld and NSW) and available at an operation (Qld and NSW) and what is required to comply with developed what is required to comply with developed guidelines..guidelines..

3.3. Conduct Post-mortem of previous Emergency Conduct Post-mortem of previous Emergency and Emergency Exercisesand Emergency Exercises

STAGE 2 – STEPS

Continued,Continued,

4.4. Produce draft guidelines.Produce draft guidelines.

5.5. Disseminate guidelines to industry and seek Disseminate guidelines to industry and seek feedback through industry forum.feedback through industry forum.

6.6. Test guidelines within Level 1 or 2 Emergency Test guidelines within Level 1 or 2 Emergency Exercise.Exercise.

7.7. Scope software opportunities for Information Scope software opportunities for Information management. management.

STAGE 2 – GUIDELINE AND PROCES DEVELOPMENT

FundingFunding QMRS QMRS NSWMRSNSWMRS NSW Coal Services Health and NSW Coal Services Health and

Safety TrustSafety Trust Queensland DME Queensland DME

STAGE 3 – SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

ACARP application:ACARP application: Develop a functional specification for an Develop a functional specification for an

information collection and management system information collection and management system appropriate for efficient, effective implementation appropriate for efficient, effective implementation of the Mine Entry/Re-Entry Guidelinesof the Mine Entry/Re-Entry Guidelines

Raise awareness of Mine Entry/Re-Entry Raise awareness of Mine Entry/Re-Entry Guidelines and information collection and Guidelines and information collection and management systems appropriate for Emergency management systems appropriate for Emergency ResponsesResponses

STAGE 3 – KEY PRINCIPLES

To complete project under the QMRS/NSWMR To complete project under the QMRS/NSWMR bannerbanner

To maintain rights to software with To maintain rights to software with QMRS/NSWMR .QMRS/NSWMR .

The software will form part of QMRS and The software will form part of QMRS and NSWMR Emergency Response Management NSWMR Emergency Response Management System. System.

Software for mine sites must be cost effective and Software for mine sites must be cost effective and operationally compatible, advancing operational operationally compatible, advancing operational efficiency. efficiency.

BENEFITS

A significant improvement in A significant improvement in knowledge management both knowledge management both Australian Mines Rescue Services Australian Mines Rescue Services and Underground Coal Mines.and Underground Coal Mines.

Universal process for most levels Universal process for most levels of emergencies.of emergencies.

IMPLEMENTATION

Mines Rescue Guidelines.Mines Rescue Guidelines. Implement Guideline and process into Implement Guideline and process into

Emergency Management CoursesEmergency Management Courses Review competency standards for Review competency standards for

emergency management and Ventilation emergency management and Ventilation officersofficers

Promote guideline and tool through industry Promote guideline and tool through industry forums and workshops.forums and workshops.